The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-09-17

Davis. though severely wounded, re-
senate on many important commit
tees, principally those on military
! affairs. Mr. Davis served in the
Thirty-frst congress, 1S49-5O. 1t
was this congress that Mr.. Clay pre-
sented his famous compromise bill.
This was a congress of giants, con-
sisting of Clay, Calhoun. NJ. c. But
ler of South Carolina, Hunter of Vlr-
ginia, these from the South; Web
ster. Hamlin and Seward OF the
North: Benton and Douglas of the
West In this congress came the
| first blow struck at the Union, the
anti-slavery movement spreading SO
rapidly that it became aggressive
and arrogant.
HonorS Conferred Upon Him.
In 1853 President Pierce made Mr..
/ Davis his secretary of war. a posi-
! ton which he held most ably, being
one of the best and most able secre-
taries of war who ever held that
portfolio. On March Mr.. Davis
resigned his Office as secretary of
war. but we find him again in the
senare under Mr.. Buchanan.
Tie John Brown raid in Virginia,
October 16, 1859, and Helper's in
famous book. The Impending Cri-
Sis intensified feeling already
mained in the saddle until the close
of the battle; that his distinguished
GOODNESS and courage and the heavy
loss of his regiment on this day en-,
titled him to particular notice of the
government.
After the Mexican war was over
Mr.. Davis returned to his home.
fully determined to settle down to
private life, but the people of Missls-
sippi had other work for him and
wanted his services in the United
States senate When Gov. Brown
appointed Mr.. Davis United States
senator just two months after his
return from Mexico there was gen.
eral approval throughout the State.
When Mr.. Davis took his seat in the
senate he was suffering from his
wound and was compelled to use
crutches. The members of the
Twenty-ninth congress gave the
Mississippian cordial and unre-
served welcome Mr.. Davis had won
a reputation as brilliant young
member, and as a gallant soldier he
had won his spurs in his country's
defense. He was appointed in the
kindled between the North and the
South. The whole country was in a
state of intense excitement, many
foreseeing that the tide must dash
the ship Of the Union to pieces upon
the rocks of fanaticism.
After the election of Lincoln, No
vember, 1860, the whole South was
in state of great agitation and un-
rest. South Carolina seceeded De-
cember 1860, Mississippi following
next and the rest of the Southern
States in quick succession. Mr.. Da-
Wis withdrew from the senate on
learning of the secession of his
State. He made, on taking fare
we'll of that body, one of the most
pathetic appeals ever made before it
for the Union. Mr.. Davis sent tele-
grams and letters all over the South
begging for postponement of action,
hoping by his love for the Union to
save it from ruin and destruction.
When all hope was gone, Mr.. Davis
left Washington, his heart bowed IL
sorrow.
The Montgomery convention,
which met February, 1861, to organ
ize the Confederate government, a.
once elected Mr.. Davis as the ideal
man for the high Office of leader, a
man fully competent to steer the
ship of state clear of the wrecks and
breakers ahead of her. Mr.. Davis
did not seek the position, it sought
him. No man, said an eminent
writer. unless it was Washington,
was ever placed in position SO
fraught with danger, so burdened
with cares and responsibilities, as
was Mr.. Davis when he became presi-
dent of the Confederacy/ His high
character, genial nature, honesty OF
purpose, adherence to principle made
him the ideal of our people. Facts
are coming daily to the surface that
should prove to those who love truth
in history that it would have been
just as impossible for the Confeder-
acy to have succeeded under the
leadership of any other man, as it
was under the leadership of Mr.. Da-
Wis. Human nature could not have
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