The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

rather robust, his step spring, resembling the tread of an Indian bound on the war path"
 After graduation he was assigned to duty as second lieutenant of the Sixth infantry. and stationed on the northwest ern frontier In 1885, he resigned from the army and returned to his farm in Mis- sissippi where he lived seven years in se- eluslon, devoting the most of this time to study. His first entrance into politics was in 1S43 when he was a candidate for the legislature. In 1S45 he was elected to Congress from the state at large.
 When war with Mexico was declared, he resigned his seat in Congress and was elected colonel of the First Mississippi regiment, and was assigned to duty with General Taylor. He displayed great skill as commander and saved the day at Buena Vista, where the tide of battle was going against the Americans.
 After the close of the Mexican war, Colonel Davis returned home and was sent to the Senate to fill an unexpired term. In 1883, he was appointed Secre- tary of War by President Pierce. After his term of office expired, he was re- turned to the United States Senate where he remained until 1861. when he resigned after Mississippi seeded from the union. His farewell address to the Senate was most respectful and dignified and con tained not one word of bitterness for
 
 States government. As Secretary of War during President Pierces administration he managed the affairs of the office so successfully as to demonstrate business ability of a high or der. He made material changes in the department which were productive of much good to the service He built an aqueduct to bring water into the District of Columbia and superintended the ex- tension of the capital. He had several surveys made for railroad to the Pacific coast, which would be of immense value to the government in time of war, for otherwise the Pacific coast states would be isolated from the rest of the coun- try. During his term of office, two regiments each of cavalry and infantry were added to the army. He introduced Iron gun carriages and rifled muskets minnie balls and larger grain powder, and heavy guns were cast hollow instead of boring them after casting. The seacoast and frontier defenses were strengthened, and he did everything in his power to add to the efficiency of the service.
 He was misunderstood by his own peo- pie. He was criticised and denounced for depriving General Joseph F. Johnston of his command and giving 1t to General Hood. Senator Hill of Georgia, who was familiar with all the circumstances. said: He did this in difference to the wishes of his cabinet" He also said Mr. Davis recognized General Johnston's ability as commander and 1t was with deep regret 1 that he found 1t necessary to make the | change.
 l He was also accused of cruelty to pris- | oners but the charge was false. Federal l prisoners endured a great many hardships | in Confederate prisons, and too many of them died, but the deaths were not as numerous the Confederates that died in ] northern prisons The south held, dur l ing the four years of war, 27O,00O pris- oners and 22,570 of them died, while there were only 220O00 Confederates in northern | prisons and 26,436 of them died There was a mortality of 12 per cent in north ern prisons and 9 per cent in southern prisons.
 | He believed with Jefferson that there was enough territory in the United States | for two republics, and saw no reason why they should not live side by side in peace.
 When the union was first formed it's
 populaton was S,500Ooo, and contained an
 area of SO0,O10 square miles, divided be-
 tween 13 states. Subsequently, 21S5 OUO square miles of territory was added to , the public domain during the adminis-
 traitor of southern men. At the begin- , ming of the civil war the population of 1 the United States had increased to 32
 ooo'ooo After the southern states seeded
 the United States was left with a popu-
 lat1on of 22,t31, 159 and area of 941, ,149
 square miles and 1,294,949 square miles to
 be divided between the United States and the Confederate states. The assessed l value of property fin the United States was S6,S22, 439901. So you see the United States was much larger and more popu- lous and wealthy than when originally formed They had an organized govern ment with consuls and mbassadors to all foreign countries. An army and navy, gun factories and arsenals and open ports l through which to draw supplies from all parts of the world. To admit that such a government could not exist independent of the seeding states was the greatest compliment that could have been paid the southern people. Neither Mir Davis nor the southern people desired war. All they asked was to be let alone. In his first Inaugural address he said: Through many years of controversy with our late iassociates-the northern states-we have daily endeavored to secure tranquility and to obtain respect for the rights to which we are entitled. As a necessity, not a choice, we have resorted to the remedy of separation and if a Just perception of mutual interest shall permit us peace ably to pursue our separate political ca reer, my most earnest desire shall have been fulfi1led.'
 I The south did not fight for the perpetua- ton of slavery. but for the right of local self government. which was won in the
 war of independence by our forefathers
 The southern people were not responsible
 for the introduction of slavery into the
 country. Massachusetts enjoys the dis
 tinction of being the first state to send
 out slave ship, the Desire. from Marble
 head, and the first community in America
 to adopt a fugitive slave law for the rem
 dition of fugitive Indian slaves from a
 Dutch settlement in New York One of the first things the Confederate govern
 ment did was to prohibit the importation
 of African slaves into the Confederate
 states. and if the southern people had
 been let alone slavery would have been
 abolished.
 Gradual emancipation was more hu-
 mane, as it gave the negro an oppor-
 tunity to adjust himself to his new condi-
 tion and would not have disturbed the
 industrial conditions in the south
 | Whether as private citizens. enjoying the peace and quiet of his home in Mis-
 sissippi, or as officer leading United States
 troops on the battlefield of Beuna Vista
 or as President, directing the victorious
 armies of the Confederacy. he was al
 ways courteous and dignified gentleman
 commanding the respect of all with whom
 he came in contact Possessing a quiet
 dignity and repose of manner, which
 marked the man of culture and refine
 ment. 1t was wrongly interpreted by some
 as an indication of nervousness, bigotry
 and selfishness." Can the Christian who
 follows devotedly the footsteps of tho
 lowly Nazarene. and whose consistent lift
 is a living example of his profession, b, t selfish? Neither mock humanity nor os tenfati0tS nf lie xrtvk,,