everywhere the most signal attestations that his principle of action, in its comprehensive range, is determined by nothing narrower than the general welfare of the whole people.

"Resolved, That in the purity of the public career and private life of Mr. Dallas,-in his tried Democracy, which, through evil report and through good report, from first to last, has been without shadow of change, in his intellectual strength and moral worth,-in his steadfastness of purpose and independence of action,-and, above all, in the national character of his statesmanship and his devoted regard to the Federal Constitution and the union of the States,- -we have ample assurance that he is, to an eminent degree, practically qualified, in the present critical condition of our beloved country, to fulfil with sincerity, wisdom, and boldness the responsibilities of the chief magistracy; and we do therefore, for these reasons, proclaim him as our chosen candidate, and recommend him as such to the National Democracy."

Mr. Dallas has sometimes indulged his fine literary taste, which has lent whatever he has performed in the way of orations and pamphlets* a beauty and felicity of diction which indicate at once the man of refinement and cultivated endowments.

*Allibone's "Critical Dictionary of Authors" contains a list of thirty publications, extending over an interval of forty years, commencing with "An Essay on the Expediency of Erecting any Monument to Washington except that Involved in the Preservation of the American Union," printed in 1811, and ending with "Speech in Maintenance of the Legal Right of the Corporation of Philadelphia to Subscribe to the North Pennsylvania Railroad Company," 1853.

JEFFERSON DAVIS,

OF MISSISSIPPI.

JEFFERSON DAVIS, son of Samuel Davis, a planter who served during the Revolutionary War in the mounted force of Georgia, was born June 3, 1808, in that part of Christian County which now forms Todd County, Kentucky. In early childhood he was removed with the whole family to the Territory of Mississippi,—his father settling near Woodville, Wilkinson County. After an academic course at home, young Davis entered Transylvania University, Kentucky, and remained there until he was appointed a cadet, and removed to the Military Academy at West Point, in 1824. He was graduated in June, 1828, and was appointed brevet second lieutenant.

He followed the fife and drum with distinction for seven years, and served with such ability as an infantry and staff officer on the Northwest frontier in 1831-32, that on the formation of the new regiment of dragoons he was promoted to a first lieutenancy, March 4, 1833. In the Black Hawk War he was often detailed upon duties of an important and dangerous character. While the famous Indian warrior Black Hawk was a prisoner, he formed an attachment for the gallant young officer which only terminated with the life of the red chief. As a dragoon-officer, Davis was employed from 1833 to 1835 on the Western frontier, and actively participated in the expeditions against the Comanches, Pawnees, and other Indian tribes there. He was in the first expedition that penetrated their mountainfastnesses and reduced them into the desire for peace on any

terms.

Resigning his commission, June 31, 1835, Lieutenant Davis returned to Mississippi and occupied himself on another field of operations, the cultivation of cotton,-the peaceful occupation of a planter allowing him sufficient leisure for the prosecution of

those studies in political history and economy which have since so largely contributed to place and keep his name prominently before the people, not only of his own State, but of the South. Thus engaged with his plantation and his books, he lived a life of great quiet for several years, scarcely known beyond his immediate neighborhood. Emerging from his privacy in 1843, when active preparations were being initiated for the ensuing Presidential campaign, he enlisted himself publicly under the Democratic banner, served it effectively, and made so general and favorable an impression upon the people that he was chosen a Presidential Elector in 1844, on the Polk and Dallas ticket.

In November of the following year, Mr. Davis was elected to the House of Representatives, and took his seat in December, at the commencement of the Twenty-Ninth Congress. Although circumstances prevented any lengthy participation in the business of legislation, Mr. Davis was prominent in the debates on the Tariff, the Oregon question, military affairs, and especially on the preparations for the Mexican War and the organization of militia when called into the service of the General Government. While engaged in these discussions, he was called to give the benefit of his experience to the carrying out of the plans he suggested. In July, 1846, on the enrolment of the First Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers for the war, he was unanimously elected colonel. He promptly answered the appeal, resigned his seat, and procuring for his regiment, in the face of much opposition, the arms which were used with such deadly effect and made the name of the "Mississippi Rifles" so famous, he overtook his men at New Orleans en route for the theatre of and soon reinforced General Taylor on the Rio Grande. In the storming of Monterey Colonel Davis and his riflemen played a most gallant part. The storming of one of its strongest forts (Teneria) on the 21st of September was a desperate and hard-fought fight. The Mexicans had dealt such death by their cross-fires that they ran up a new flag in exultation, and in defiance of the assault which, at this time, was being made in front and rear. The Fourth Infantry, in the advance, had been terribly cut up, but the Mississippians and Tennesseeans steadily pressed forward under a galling fire of copper grape. They approached to within a hundred yards of the fort, when they were lost in a

war,

volume of smoke. McClung, inciting a company which formerly had been under his command, dashed on, followed by Captain Willis. Anticipating General Quitman, Colonel Davis about the same time gave the order to charge. With wild desperation his men followed him. The escalade was made with the fury of a tempest, the men flinging themselves upon the guns of the enemy. Sword in hand, McClung has sprung over the ditch. After him dashes Davis, cheering on the Mississippians, and then Campbell with his Tennesseeans and others, brothers in the fight and rivals for its honors. Then was wild work. The assault was irresistible. The Mexicans, terror-stricken, fled like an Alpine village from the avalanche, and, taking position in a strongly-fortified building some seventy-five yards in the rear, opened a heavy fire of musketry. But, like their mighty river, nothing could stay the Mississippians. They are after the Mexicans. Davis and McClung are simultaneously masters of the fortification, having got in by different entrances. In the fervor of victory, the brigade does not halt, but, led on by Colonel Davis, are preparing to charge on the second fort, El Diablo, about three hundred yards in the rear, when they are restrained by Quitman. This desperate conflict lasted over two hours. The charge of the Mississippi Rifle Regiment, without bayonets, upon Fort Teneria, gained for the State a triumph which stands unparalleled.

Placed in possession of El Diablo, on the dawn of the 23d Colonel Davis was exposed to a sharp fire from a half-moon redoubt about one hundred and fifty yards distant, which was connected with heavy stone buildings and walls adjoining a block of the city. Returning the fire, he proceeded with eight men to reconnoitre the ground in advance. Having reported, he was ordered, with three companies of his regiment and one of Tennesseeans, to advance on the works.

When they reached the half-moon work, a tremendous fire was opened from the stone buildings in the rear. Taking a less exposed position, Davis was reinforced, and, the balance of the Mississippians coming up, the engagement became general in the street, while from the house-tops a heavy fire was kept up by the Mexicans. "The gallant Davis, leading the advance with detached parties, was rapidly entering the city, penetrating into buildings, and gradually driving the enemy from the positions,"

when General Henderson and the Texan Rangers, dismounted, entered the city, and, through musketry and grape, made their way to the advance. The conflict increased, and still Davis continued to lead his command through the streets to within a square of the Grand Plaza, when, the afternoon being far advanced, General Taylor withdrew the Americans to the captured forts.*

The next day-the 24th of September-General Ampudia entered into negotiations with General Taylor, and a commission was appointed to arrange the terms of capitulation. Colonel Davis, who had done so much to force the enemy to this step, was rewarded by an appointment on this commission.† His memoranda of the transactions which transpired in the conferences are part of the history of the war.

Buena Vista added another laurel to the brow of Davis. Against greatly superior force he held his ground on the famous 23d of February, 1847. In his report the commander-in-chief recommended him to the special notice of the Government for his distinguished coolness and gallantry at the head of his regiment on that day. Though severely wounded, he remained in the saddle until the close of the action. Colonel Davis's gallantry and capacity at Buena Vista derive an additional interest from the historical parallel drawn by the Hon. Caleb Cushing. He writes, "In another of the dramatic incidents of that field a man of Celtic race, Jefferson Davis, at the head of the Rifles of Mississippi, had ventured to do that of which there is perhaps but one other example in the military history of modern times. In the desperate conflicts of the Crimea, at the battle of Inkermann, in one of those desperate charges, there was a British officer who ventured to receive the charge of the enemy without the precaution of having his men formed in a hollow square. They were drawn up in two lines, meeting at a point like an open fan, and received the charge of the Russians at the

*For an extended and detailed narration of the movements in and about Monterey, see the admirable account given in "Scouting Expeditions of the Texas Rangers," &c. &c., by Samuel C. Reid, Jr., Philadelphia, 1848. It is said by distinguished authorities to be as accurate as it spirited.

† It consisted of General Worth, General J. Pinckney Henderson, and Colonel Jefferson Davis, on the part of General Taylor, and J. M. Ortega, T. Requeña, and Manuel M. Llano, on the part of General Ampudia.