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A Long and Eventful Career in Business, War and Politics. FQt’R SCOEK TEAKS AND MORE. | The Two K*ntn<;k]r Both, Lincoln and { Pot la —Oa the Northern frontier - A ( nlUa Planter —Kilters Cimgreu - Th« , Me*loan War—Preaidit of the Southern Confederacy —Impriaonment, Release and Old ip. More than eighty y«ar» ago two Kentucky bnya, born In widely different social spheres, ! entered upon still more widely diverse careers: Abraham Lincoln, In Hardin (now Larue) county, and Jefferson Davis, in Christian ! ' mow Todd) county; Lincoln Iwirn February ' 12. 1809, and Davis on the 3d ot June pre ceding. JKTFERHOS DAVIS, [From a war time portrait.) Ifo dark sibyl hailed them nt then' birth a the coming exponents of an awful struggle ’No prophet would have dared predict in the days of their prominence that the rugged 4 Lincoln was soon to fall, while tiie debated, an invalid during a third of his life, would survive his great antagonist, for a quarter of a century, outliving ail the actors of his age in the great struggle, yet such wav ro lie ihe irony of fate. History presents many para doxes, hut none greater than this: Unit tiie 1 victor should fall in the \ ry' hour of victory anil the defeated live till almost every tr ice of the conflict had vanished, to die of mere old age. The nneesfors of .Jefferson Davis were of pure English stock, but do long resident in : America that the type hud become thorough ly southern American. On ' w>th sides t ey served in the war for American independ ence, his father, Samuel Davis winning some distinction in the mounted troops of Georgia. Of his two sons. Jefferson early be came a soldier, while Jo> >ph, a man of talent. Scarcely, i? a: all, infei .or. gained a local ' success as lawyer and planter in Mississippi. Tiie brothers were notably affectionate in childhood, and remained through life devoted bo each other. Soon after the birth of Jeffeison. Samuel Davis' removed to Mississippi, locating nenT Woodville.dn Wilkinson county: The sons there- acquired an unusually gcad* English ‘educatin’! for the time, and at at:' • arK ‘age • Jefferftivn efiterv l Transylvania ebllejie,' Ken • tucky. 'ln 1824, however. President Monroe appointed hint a cadet at West Point, whence : he was graduated in 1328, at flje early age oT >2b. >He had stood high iu his class, and at once entered on active duty, though for some ‘ time commissioned only as a brevet second 'lieutenant. Promotion was very slow in those 'peaceful times, but he soon won his full cohi tmission, and itvthe next three years demon strated Ids* di'gaiilxfng capacity, both as in >fantrv and staff' otHoer oi. the northwestern fromier. Tne year 1831 brought a surprise mid many promotions Black Hawk tint red on his fa ! tubuscampaign, and Jeff, son Davis was at once giv.-u an active and r -sponsible po-iti >n •to mutter in and organize the new recruits. | ! There has loug been a tra lition that in this capacity he mini creel in the company of llii •nois volunteers from New Salem and vicinity (commanded bv ( apt. Abranam Lincoln, but • there is no record of it. f CAMPAIGNS AGAINST Tint INDIANS. Early in 18.1:1 Lieut. Davis was transferred from his place in Company B. First Unit • 1 States infantry, and in recognii ion of iiis service# in the Black Hawk war was promo ted to a first lieutenancy in the First Unit i Htntes dragoons, of which command hew.vs soon made adjutant In this position he made a very brilliant record, not only as an •organizer und elHcient administrator m g:i: rison life, imt in several a<-rive ca.upai ns agu ost the Coninnches, Pn w ees and oth - (Indians. And it is at iV-sm no."!o- ■*» ’hat active, one might sa;. c*Tid. crili- :: first concerns itself with Jefferson tTh<*awriters who p-rsisr in attributing i downfall of the Southern Coni' c > ‘President Davis allege tuar tuns early > • hibired the same faults and virtues w.., u ’marked his administration ii greu: r an ■ * (pe-iter degree with e ic.i successive me: of rank and |»>wer The greatest fault a •legist, perhaps, is unreason-vile attae in- i'i To a few friends and curresp >udmg preju in- - against otlter fiersons. it was while In this service that Licit. 1) i vis wis-ed und won n daughter of tiie e ui general and president, Zacll.ii*>' T »'. i fath-T was in oomitrmd- of Fort ('raw: near Prairie Du Ciiiea, und ais dan .In r, b uutiful na>l refined you lsd\, w is center of attraction am*>;i;; ~ie s. Ivirdn •off!*--rs Innumerable aro the roman: ~ riesof tla irrivniries, theltn-it success of L: .. •Davis, tiie hitter opposition of me "s' parent ' and old Indian fi n r, an 1 the’•”■*. f. pi.ruiie by niglit of ii • oung eoupl" t- De married uy a priest on Mie western nans < JF.ffKHS >N DAVIS* BIRTHPLACE, the Missur-ippi |/>t The youug und romantic con:ti,n. *to i*eail and te*li »ve Sutii -e it that tiie father remain 1 obdurate for seine time and was not completely r -conciled to his sou in-law till The latter lav wounded in his t' o after the battle of Bnena Vista. There are as many accounts of what was said there as of the battle of Shiloh Gm. Taylor s words appear to have been these, or very n°ar them “Colonel, you have saved the day—God bless vou! Whan Dolly would have you, she wa» a better jud?. * of a man than I was EIGHT \ EARS A FLANTKR Jem 80. 1835, Lieut. Davis resign V ho lived tor eight years the quiet Iff© of a cotton planter Then came a “crisis;” the oi' nexation of Texas mnv be taken as the aiwt issue ove- w hich distinctively, northern bf’i'i southern parlies confronted ttich other, in 1443 Lieut Davis too;, an active and most effective in i m tho state campaign and in lii44 he »a# one of the Democratic elector# for Mississippi. In 1843 he was elected a representative iu congress, and in December of that year took his seat in the house, it wa# called then a “stormy session,” but in retrospect after the long session of 1849-'SO, it was thought mild. Mr. Davis took an active part in the dis cussions on the tariff, the Oregon boundary issue, the Mexican imbroglio, and the slavery question so far as it came up, but his speeches at that time indicate a position far more moderate than was afterwards attributed to him. It is of uu great consequence now, but worth noting as curious matter of history, that in the heated discussions regarding Texas the threats of disunion came largely from the extreme northern men, while the most eloquent eulogies upon the union came from the south in a speech on the Oregon question. Feb <5, 1849, Mr Davis said: “From sire to son has descended the love of union in our hearts, as in our history are mingled the names of Concord and Camden, of Yorktowu and Saratoga, of Moultrie and Plattsburg, of Chippewa and Erie, of New Orleans and Bunker Hill. Grouped together they form a monument to4he common glory of our common country, and where is the southern man who would wish that that iiioiiuuiojit were less by one of the uorthurn names that constitute the mass*” ' COL. JEFFERSON DAVIS. tils Heroic and Successful Action at Bnena Vista. While Mr Davis wns active in congress in July, the First regiment of Mississippi volun- U-crs enrolled for the Mexican war elected . iin their colonel He resigned at once, over rook his regiment at New Orleans, organized and drilled it to a high state of efficiency, nnd early in September was ou the Hio Grande, in the army of his father-in-law, (fen Zachary Taylor A few days later he bore a conspicuous part in the siege and •tonningof Monterey, and, as commissioner, iried in drawing up the terms of capitula ion. Five months of oompn native quiet followed, lid then crime the crowning glory of his mlitary career, the achievement of which, ■io:-e than till else, fixed him firmly iu the '••clious of the southern people, aided hiiu (•lively at each turning point in his subse . nt career, made him secretary of war aud ily president of the Southern Confeder \ iiis was his gallantry, coolness in dan •r «i * soldierly skill at the battlo of Buena i.-ta, :'eh 23, 1847 !n J; ly, 184(1 Mr. Davis was in congress, in •m pteniber he was leading liis regiment gainst Monterey, in February, 1847, be was t Buena Vista,-and July of tiie same year • omul him again a peaceful planter, the regi ment’s term of service having expired. In August, 1847, the governor of Mississippi ap pointed him u United States senator to fill a vacancy: the legislature iti 1848 re-elected him to complete the term, and in 1850 re ek .ted him for a full term. The ever mem orable congress of 1849-’sl, at its long session, had adopted the noted "compromise meas ure,” but fully sal istied neither party. Jgj fl\ '(EMMINGER WALKER, MALLORY ftTKPHENs It RAGAN. BRN.IAIIN, TOOMBS. CONI Et'ERATE CABINET AND VICE PRESIDENT. Tfie result was tiie famous Fo*ite-Davis gubernatorial campaign of 1851. The “Union” party, as it was called, carried tiie state by 7.500 majority on the convention question, but Mr Foote's majority for governor was but 999—a remarkable proof of the popular ity o? Col. Davis. He had resigned Ids seat in tin* senate, und now remained in retire ment till 1852, when he canvassed several states for the Democratic candidates. WAR SECRETARY DAVIS. His Able Administration «r the XVar De pai t ment. March 4, 18153. President Franklin Pierce named (’oL Jefferson Davis as secretary of war That of Pierce was a strong cabinet, and secretary Davis was certainly among the strongest tnc:i in i . Men of all parti -s agree that iiis 'ut’m. inis tra. Lion of the war depart ment was marked by ability and energy, and many of 1 officers testify tiiat of all secre taries in the’r time 001. Davis was (save for liis quarrel «ith Gen. Scott) most popular with the army. He reorganized almost the entire service, drafted a new code of armv regulations, introduced the light infantry rifle system < t t lelics.Aried the experiment of camels for trail portation on the south western deserts, added four regiments to the regular army, and i nprnved tiie entire svs teni of sea coast defenses, lie also had the boundaries bet ween M-xico and the Unite*! States fixed accural* ly, ami secured the com plete survey ami almost, the adoption of the >iiu ti rii route for a Pacific railroad. He -ul Gap! George B McClellan and two other officers to the Crimea to study the inili !;irv tactics of the armies thero fln 1854-’si uni pleased with their report that In .•pteiiied- warm (tors ial feelings for them even t’trough the civil war With tne events of President Pierce’s ad ministration congress and the country ma. be sai l to have entered ui full course upon the proceedings which led to the civil war It is not to lie expected that any American could at this time taka a dispassionate ami philosophical \ iew of that part of history \ii i hat remains then is to recite the pri ici pni events and quote briefly tiie matured judgment of friends aud foes At ins retirement from the cabinet In March. 1v57,l v 57, ttie legislature of Mississippi huo emoted Mr. Davis B*-* United States seimto: f**r the term to close Marcu 4. 189.5 H* plunged a* once ititotue uee.ed deliaiesof tin time. ui:i ui* aining the miner extreme southern view, and witiiHit ability ami courtesy which e»icite<i warm praise even from his foes The editor of Harper’s Weekly lia> this sketch oi him in 1858: "In the north. Col Davis is regarded— somewhat unjustly, jie.r . ips—a-a type of the southei n lire eater. Many |iersoiis who liave never seen him fancy him quarrelsome, petn lant, hot liead.sl, turbulent. His appearance ia the does not justify these views. A prim, smooth looking man, with a precise manner, stiff soldierly carriage, ami cold expression, his head full-r. seemingly, of statistics and hard, dry print-inles than anything else, his voice cool and firm, without tremor or ex citetaent. be is the last person a spectator would pick oht as ‘Uie fire eater.' Iu hisowu country he is intensely Imioved, chiefly from his kind and gentle disposition. He is a man of whom Mississippi may well be proud." He also took an active nart iu opposing the French spoliation bill, and advocating the southern route for the Pacific railroad, He led the so-cailed “Lecompton party" in con grass in opposition to Senator Douglas, and iu debate with the latter pro|Htunded the once celebrated queries and propositions which drew from the Illinois senator his famous theory as to the right of a territorial legisla ture to adopt “unfriendly legislation’’against slavery, and Ins article in Harper’s Magazine, which set forth the creed of the "Douglas Democrats.” The breach was now complete. Meantime, in the summer of 1858, he made a tour tor health and pleasure through the eastern states, delivt dug several addresses, in which the warmest attachment to the union was avowed—always, however, with a proviso, expressed or implied, that aggres sions upon the south would certainly be met with resistance. Some of these addresses have a strange sound now in a letter ac knowledging an invitation u> join ma Boston celebration of the birthday ot bumel U'eb ; ster, in January. 1859, be wrote: “1 send you my cordial greetings to the ! friends of the constitution, and ask to be en rolled among those whose mission is, by fra ternity and good faith to every constitu tionaJ obligation, to insure tiiat, from the Aroostook to Ban Diego, from Ivey West to Puget sound, the grand arch of our political temple shall stand unshaken." did war bkgin in 1859? Ap event w as at Hand, however, which was to precipitate the conflict— naijely. the en terprise of J >bn Brown A million southern men and women, who pad laughed at the idea of danger from “northern aggression.” were suddenly converted, saying, as one of them expressed it "We can no longer live in peace with the north, our allies have become our enemies, and v mu-t seek release from the connection while we can do so with safety." The feelings of Jefferson Davis for the next fifteen months may be gathered from the fol lowing letter, written at the close of the dis cussiou to his long time friend, ex-President Pierce Washington, D C., Jan 20, 1861. My Dear Friend 1 have often and sadly turned my thoughts to you during the troublous times through which we have been passing, and now I come to the hard task of announcing to you that the hour is at hand w hich closes my connec-tiotf with the United States, for the independence and union of which my father toiled mid in the service of which 1 have sought to emulate the example he set for my guidance. Mississippi, not as a matter of choice, hut of necessity, has resolved to ] enter on the trial of secession Those who have driven her to this alternative threaten to deprive her of tiie right to require that her government shall rest on l.ie consent of the governed, to sub stftute foreign force for domestic support, to re duce a state to the condition from w hich the cot oily rose In the attempt to avoid tiie issue which find been Joined Gy the country, the present ad ministration has complicated and precipitated the question Even now, if the duty “to preserve the public property’’ was rath am!' v regarded, the prooablecollision at Charleston would be avoided. Security far better than any widen the Federal tr ips can give might he obtained in considera tion of tho little garrison of Fort Sumter If the disavowal of any purpose to cocrco South Caro lina be sincere, the possession of a work to com mand tiie hurl tor it worse than us -less. When Lincoln comes in he will have but to con tinue in the path of his predecessor to inaugurate a civil war, and leave a soi-disant Democratic ad ministration responsible for tne fact Ueu Cush ing was here last week, and w en he parted it seemed like taking a last leave of a brother. I leave immediately for Mississippi, anil know not what may devolve upon me after my return, Civil war has only horror for me, but whatever circumstances muy demand shall bo met as a duty, and 1 trust lie so discharged that you will not be ashamed of our former uouuectkm or cease to be my friend. Mrs. Davis joins kind remembrance m Mis. uieive, iimi me expression or tho hope.taar we may yet have you bqth at ou* country home. Do me the favor to write to me often. Address Hurricane I’. <)., Warren county, Miss. May God bless you. is ever the prayer of your friend. Jeff’s Davis. President F Pierce. £ In fifteen months events had moved rn j fid ly®'wards tiie dread culmination. In the first Democratic convention of 18(50, Mr. Davis received some votes, Benjamin F. Butler voting for him 57 times. In the subsequent election the "two northern candi dates,” as Mr. i .lame styles them, received all the votes of the northern states save a mere handful, less than 109,090, while Breckin ridge and Bel) received tiie almost solid vote of the southern states. “In truth as well us in appearance,” adds Mr. Biaiiie, "it was a sectional contest, in which the north support ed northern candidates and the south south ern candidates.” “Disunion was already completed in tiie hearts of the people,” says Tourgee, “the sections simply fell apart be cause there wa- no cohesion.” Tnese opinions, of philosophic observers long after the strug gle. have their value. THE CONFEDERACY FORMEa Jefferson Oatis Sees Wash i list ton for the Last Time. South Carolina led off in ser »ssion. Mis sissippi soon follow ed. and five more states. It is idle to recount the futile attempts at compromise. Senator Davis wa> named one of the committee of thirteen, in the senate, blit asked to be excused on the ground that propositions for compromise at -nich a tune ought to come from northern men, ami men whose pany standing was a guar antee of good faith —a position highly praised in the tiorth at the time. A lutie laier he consented to assist, saying: THE WHITE HOUSE Off THE CONKEDKRAOT. "if. hi me opinion of others, it t** |s-;siliie for tne to do nnytliing for the public good, the moment while i stand hero is ut the command of the senate if I could si e nay means by which I could avert the cat tst.ro pile of a -druggie lietween the sections of the union, ni' past life, i hope, gives evidence of the readiness v ith which 1 would make the effort. If mere 1)0 any sacrifice wl ich I could offer ou the altar of my country to heal all the evils, present or prospective, no man has the ri„ht to doubt my readiness to *l*> it." With only two nr th-ee exceptions the de parture of southern statesmen as their states seceded was singularly calm and digniff d. On the 21st of January. Dstll, the senators from Florida, Alabama and Mi-sissippi wuh drew Mr Blame praises rite manner of Ben ator Davis, adding: “No man gave up more than Mr. Davis in jolting the revolt against the Union, in his farewell address to the senate there was a tone of moderation and iignity not unmixed with regretful and ten der emotions." Before Senator Davit could reach home Mississippi bail app tinted him commander in chief of all her fortus, w ith the rank of major general. On the 4th of February, I3tu, dele gates from several states convened in Mont gomery, Ala., aud soon adopted a constitu tion for the Confederate states. On the 9lb the convention unanimously elected Jefferson Davis president. Alexander li. Stephens was named for vice president and inaugurated at om:e. On the 115th Mr. Davis arrived; on the 18th he was inaugurated. THE CONFEDERATE OABINTT. He named for his cabinet: Robert Toombs, of Georgia, secretary of state; Leroy Pope Walker, of Alabama, secretary of war; Charles G. Menuninger, of South Carolina, secretary of the treasury, Stephen R. Mal lory, of Florida, secretary of the tia vy. J udah P. Benjamin, attorney general, and John H. Reagan, of Texas, postmaster general. In the divisions which soon arose, Messrs. Toombs, Walker and Memminger retired, the others remained in the cabinet to the last Mr. Benjamin was popularly credited with being the “ruling spirit.” He was among tiie last to leave Richmond and to pan. with President Davis, he escaped arrest and im prisonment by Plight to Guidon, where he became a British stibji-ct, and soon entered on a career at the bar so brilliant und successful that it caused his American failures lo be ul : most forgotten, A. ry_ jifil *V'>- I DAVIS IN PRISON. The inaugural address of President Davis was read with breathless interest iu every part of the country, as, in the prevalent Ignorance and confusion, men sought in it the indications of peace or war. But it was uot in the power of any man, however wise, nt that time to give assurances. The most sip. niiieant passage in it, perhaps, was this: “We have entered upon a career of indc* peudence, aud it must lie inflexibly pursued Through many years of controversy with our late associates of the northern slates we have vainly endeavored to secure tranquil lity, and obtain respect for the rights to which we are entitled. As a necessity, not of choice we have resorted to the remedy of separai ion md henceforth our energies must be dirpeteo to the conduct of our own and tic •erpetuity of the Confederacy which we Ini', ornied. Commissioners were sent to Washingtr id fruitless negotiations conducted B vijn the inauguration and tiie Ist of .V • iblie opinion in hot i notions turned to ’ itemplation of war In vain did Presi I, icoln proclaim that he “certainly had i ire and be.ieved tie had no authority t. ; ter fere with slavery ’’ In vaiu did Presi -•it Davis reiterate that he longed to avoid la effusion of blood. On (he 12th of April, 1, the war began with the attack ou Fort ; an ter. “The uprising of the north”—that most larvelous of all recent popular phenomena— ...lowed at once. Tiie uprising of the south us scarcely, if at all, less prompt and unatii •orts, save iu the northern tier of states. Tginia seceded April 17. Tennessee and jr.ansas followed May (5, and on May 20 orth Carolina completed the list of eleven ,‘oufederate states. May 20 the Confederate overnment was transferred to Richmond, .:i l President Davis followed in a few days. - journey was a co dinned ovation, his inches were chief! v exnortacions to unity id courage, with brief arguments which ere merely variations of the clause in _,s first message to congress April ’29 iz., “All we ask is-to tie let alone—that lose who never held power over u ,all not attempt our subjugation by arms ’his we will, we must, resist to the direst ctremity ’’ At Montgomery the congress ha 1 alrea irovided for "a vigorous pros““ution of t var”—that is, for a loan of $5 ).<:,)•.»,<i;h) a. )«r cent., in addition io a previous loan . 415,0UU.000. and tiie or ui >•? of an arn:-. which “might, m tbedt civtion of tiie . re.-.i dent, be increased to Ibd.Oik) men 1 ’ Pri -a leering was also organized The people re gponded with such alacrity that Prom Jen Davis, on arriving at itici mond, had only P officially confirm their action In u siii-pris ingly short time <»> '.“.m icn were orgaa.se>. in Virginia, and fifteen vessels conuni sionel as privateers. Tne Federal government wr. also moving with a celerity that nq-.v see wonderful, hut to the impatient |>e<>p! it! ! time seemed criminal slackness Ab! c:> of all Confederate ports was proem:.,u April 19, ami nearly 100 vessels mi , anneil to enforce it By the Ist of ,Jn i Federal army of over 290.000 men was o. gautzed. A PERSONAL DIGRESSION Faults of Administration Urge*! (gains' President Davis. And here the biographer of Jefferson 1). vis is compelled to take notice of a <»•> iti versv which went on in a quiet wav *i i the war and more openly afterwards. * reached a furious climax, ami is still e, . • with much bitterness Witii iit md ir-m; the harsh philippics of Edwin Bollard in i Gen. Thomas Jordan, or even tut- milder criticisms of Gens. Johnston and Beanre.-.ruri Federal ami Confederate mnv now !'!••• that President Davis made two sen i • should one say fatal? —mt-staxei tfli-o , common to hi n ami nearlv ail the it, both sides, the other pecuii iry his o-,v.i was a manifestation of that spirit win often praised as the quality ot “a! sticking to one’s friends”—a very j u quality indeed in a private man. Ini which in a commander-in-chief in :i • war may be a criminal folly A most u happy instance As thus set forth by u , Thomas Jordan, cfc ef of stuff to Gen B'*av regard: “Mr Davis had been at West Point, and subse(]uenti v served for severe.! veal’s in ih dragoons at a frontier post witn a Lieut. Nor throp. to whom ho became attached Tn latter was disabled by an accident, wen! m bis home and turned parish doctor Mr Davis hecamp m time a politician Lieiu Northrop grew so eccentric aud full of mentai crotchets as to be generally regarded ill Charleston as of unsoti iff intellect and unfit for the management of his own small affairs He had not served long enou-n m th° ar tiv to ncjhire familiarity with military ndminis tration. "either had his avocation in Charles ton brought him in relation with men enga ’-ed in large coniine-cia! affairs This man. w ith whom Davis hail no personal association since they were cavalry lieutenants together on the Indian frontier he dm not hesitate to make his chief of subsistence, nor scruple to intrust with tiie organization aud aamum,tration of s oureau u|s»ii whicu the very' exi-tenet- ui U't Confederate arum < 'mst depend aud foi Ur* laoors of which if L apparent tlii**zound esl practical order of intellect was essential It would bo easy to find Confederates of fugli rank and approved judgment in mill j tary affairs who still look upon this appoint j ment and two utktr a- th** main causes of the downfall of the Confederacy WHO FORESAW A LONG WAR? As to the other charges*) persistently urged, that Mr Davis was “not able to £Oiiq re head the proportions of the struggle impend ing,” the obvious answer is, it ho was? A few. a very few, thoughtful men in tiie north, who drew their conclusions largely from his tory, predicted a long and tatter struggle, in the south it is exceedingly doubtful if there were fifty men who believed the contest would outlast a year If there was one who, from the beginning, anticqjated a four years’ war, he succeeded admirably in concealing his views. T hat President Davis, his cabinet and all his advisers shared ttie current delu sion tlmi, the war would be short and its thea tre confined principally to the coast anil (lie border between the two sections. Is certain. , Such belief was the parent ot many errors. lit Ihe first place, it was estimated that I tie south had almost arms enough, ami the first or der sent lo Eurojx* was for but 19.999 Enfi*!d rifles Itelore the blockade could Itc uiicie effective it was urged llial the CoiiJ[ederaCe govei'umeiil should take the cotton and io liacco. of which a large •stock was still on hand, issue Is links to pay the owners, ex isn't the stuff to Eiiri)[*e. and make It the base of u fund to liraw H|a>u The owners generally Wi re w illing, amt ihe effect would haxr lieen tremeuiipus Al rile same tune a cdßsidera l)k* amount of foreign cxi-h inge in in# tmuks whs offertsj to tne government on favorable terms. Both propositions were rejected *>r ignored, and the golden opportunity soon passed, never to return it should t>e noted also that the legislation of the provisional congress, and of the first session of tiie regu lar congress at Richmond, shows the same lack of perception as to the greatness of th« Impending struggle. Oil the Federal side of the line much of the froth ami nonsense about “a short war” was swept away by the battle of Bull Run, tiie rest was done for at Shiloh. After the latter thoughtful men both north and soqtb made up their minds tiiat the issue was to be tena ciously fought Ui u close The north erred often In expecting great aud decisive victo ries, the south quite as often iu expecting foreign interference or a division iu the north. True, Mr. Benjamin at Richmond continued to promise “pacification iu ninety days" long after Mr. Seward ut Washington hqd ceased to do so. but he found few echoes. an appalling pifficlltv. The victory of Bull Uin produced great exultation in the south, but appears to ha v« Imd a decidedly soliering effect upon Presi dent Davis ami cabinet. It may now be con sidered proved that he was in for aggressive action immediately after that battle, but yielded to the adverse opinions of Johnston and Beauregard, and thereafter, with rare exceptions, insisted upon a defensive policy. During tlie long jieriod of inaction which fol io we* i he embraced every opi>ortunity to de clare his earnest desire f**r peace. lie even excited criticism l»y suggesting conciliatory measures, for many mouths all iiis utter ances were amplifications of that passage in his first regular message. "The moment that tiiis pretense of our subjugation is abandoned, the sword w ill drop from our grasp and we shall be ready to enter mlo treaties of amity ami friendship.” — , m -w'-> •* *•» - **>. " MIL DAVIS’ HOUSE, BBAUVOIK. in November, 1 Sti!, a general election was held, and President Davis and Vice President Stephens were re-elected for the full term of six years. Feb. 18, 18(52, the fir.->t congress under the permanent constitution assembled in Richmond, on the 22d, Presi lent Davis was inaugurated, und delivered a carefully prepared message. Disasters had already set in, to continue with scarcely an intermission for three months. Before President Davis was tiiis ominous situation in all the Con federate states there were not quite (5,090,00 white people, among whom the per cent, of men capable of liearing arms wua sin-pria itigly small. In the Federal or “adhering states,” excluding all the doubtful and dis puted strip, were at least 18,090,900 white people, among whom the |ier cent, of adult man s was phono.neualiy, one might say un naturally, large By the census of 18(10 the south contained about ’100,00) more women than men, the north about 400.000 more men than women; so ihe north could send into the field J 100,090 men and still nave at home a percentage of inen equal to that of the south in peace Of tiie enormous immigration of 184.V61, con sisting largely of young and strong men, only 3 per cent, had located in the south This explains the paradox that such states as Kan sas and Nevada sent a larger per cent of their total population into tho field than anv state of the south, aud yet had many more men left at home than older states ever have during the longest peace The disparity in wealth was far greater—by some estimates four times ius gre it. Without accepting so strong a statement it may vet t>e admitted that the Fedej-als were turej times us numer oils and eigtit times as rich as the Uoilfeder at os. “the lost cause.” The Confederacy Overthrown—T venty-flye Years In I’eitce. Nevertheless hope and confidence were strong. President Davis’ first sttila papers showed grout ability, an I lie assented, some what reluctantly, to a conscription law. which was among the first nets passed by the congress. It excited much opposition, of course, aud a little 15.ter (lie haix-as corpus was suspended in a district ten md.w around Richmond, an ! n military police organized under Gen Winder, whicii continued during the remainder of the war The summer closed favorably to the Confederates though they regained little or none of the ground lost m (he spring, and in Lecend>er Presi (lent Davis m?i ie a tour of the we.-tern camps, from which he returned greatly en (^ou raged In April, iS*>; h- issued a rather exulting address to the people, but tn - claims in it were just The Confederacy was then at its maximum as a military power The disasters of that summer from Gettys burg to Vicksburg ntas 1 uot tie detailed The year closed under the black shadow...' coming doom The reui greatness of Jefferson Davis about conspicuously as disasters thickened He resolutely defended tiis appointees, and as sur led tiie respoiiMibility wli“iwer it was not clearly tli. irs tie regained :he hearts of ihe people and almost nuiliiled the opposition i the congress Acm mnttee ..f investi-’ft >*'■' ‘ tin m i;.. w»ri: in a hostile spirit nri«« i idorsi:,; u I most -very one oi (he president s acts, an i even exonerated him from serious blame in the ma&.y.' of Com i nissary Northrop He siciie? oiinsclf ht-roioally in preparing fot tie campaign of isfti ami i> o|«cned *vi n some alighi successes All tiie rest of the year presents a painful record of desperate struggle against the inevitable eve,ry “ic tory was barren every defeat irremediable As the ship of state sank deeper in the vortex, mutual recriminations naturally multiplied The removal of Joe Johnston, the enterprise of Hoisl und the restoration of Johnston the ‘slielving ’ of Beauregard and the tireax «itti Governor Brown, of Georgia there is not space to discuss them. Are they not argued and reargued nt length in tiie magazines? (Jen Hood came nobly to the rescue tsv as suming full responsibility and Governor Brown was so far reconciled as to cease -eri •ms opposition. FLIGHT AND CAPTURE. The wild projects m the t’s»ii*c.(er(9te (-.'>n rrcss in the winter of 1894-’5 were tint the ficn/aes of dissolution nnd despair Military movements really decided everything aud iu JEFFERSON DAVIS. [From a recent |x>rtrait | them fhis fact was ev.*r prominent: A man ist tiy Grant could be replaced if desired by ice, a limn lost by was a final loss. i the 2d of April. 1395, seated in his pew .* i it. F'aul’s church, Richmond, President jvis received the dispatch from Gen I-ee inouncuig iiis complete discomfiture. At 3 m. the president, cabinet and other ofii -,ls lefi for Danville, at which point Presi ent Davis issued his last proclamation, his ■st -.tate paper. Ten days later he was at reeusboro, N C., a week later he haltcl at narlotle, where he first lenrneil that 4>199.- iXXJ reward bail lieen offered for his capture as uu instigator of tiie assassination of Presi dent Lincoln. All men now admit that the charge was false. Another week found him almost alone, a fugitive in the forests of Georgia, with liis wife ami a few devoted adherents. On the 10th of May no was raptured neur Irwins ville, Gu., by a bo.v >f cavalry under l.ieut. • Cot. Pritchard. “Mr. Davis,” suys one of his •aptors, “had on when arrested an ordinary suit, with a very long raglan overcoat and i shawl on his shoulders.” In the dim light <>f morning ho was at first taken for u woman, hence the story so widely published. He was conveyed at once to Fortress Monroe, which he entered on Uie l'Jth of May, to remain a captive for nearly two years. And so all was over. The Southern Con federacy bad dropped to pieces like a house of cards, and its president, once the beloved colouel, the honored senator, (he Federal sec retary of war, the successful statesman and aspiring politician, was u prisoner—in irons! Vas, all that was bright and hopeful was gone; nothing now remumed but to hang tiie prisoner, as nad been so often promised; to write his history so ns to fix his name in in famy, ami iu no long lime his own people would disown him as the cause of their woes. All this, in tne opinion of many sanguine ones, was soon lo tie. Only it did not prove so. Tiie-world was now to witness another of those revulsions in popular feeling which so often delight tiie cmol i mal und puzzle ii.o philosophic. At sight, of this sorely stricken man uii southern c: iticism was instantly hushed, and in due time thougius of some thing i,*r uobler than vengeance pervaded tiie uoriu. Mr Davis bore his sufferings with such Roman fortitude that southern Uearts were knitted to him as never before. His critics apologized, eveu wlieu ti um »; s on their side. His w ife shared Ins captivity nnd excited the world’s interest in bis ease. His first wife, daughter of Gen. Tuyior, hud died many years t-iefore.but tbeone w liomliuh i his fortunes as official and us captive aas a lady of rtfinement and intellect worthv of any station. His oldest and most iuvetei tie oiiidineiits were first to soften, tiie Atiolitioii ists asked clemency, and in May, 1897 i re the United States circuit court al lUclnn d, Horace Greeley ami Gcrritt Snnili joi. ed with many southern men in signing his ill bond. He had been formally indicted 'or Ucuson, but, m December, lsti», by tbesjime court, a nolle jirosequi was entered, and the case of “The United States y.s Jcli'ei "ii Davis” was cndi d forever and to the sal iso. o* lion of almost every American. RETIREMENT A.Nb A qt lEF LIFE. After a brief four in Europe he loomed at Memphis as president of a lde iusu.amecni pany. but soon re- —. (Mjv l li-ej to private life, to emerge only nt long intervals, each % time to receive re- . '7 lie wed expi'cs.-ioiis J of affection aud g x X sympathy A tsv "TL, quest by a southern jßp£g7 lady gave him a Beauvoir, Miss..on '■'u If "The loss' of ms son. a manly N - geutl an. bv vel W,NN,K ~AV,S' low fever at Mem Tl ”' ni,M ,h " I »nis, was h severe blow, but his wife and two *iaiigh-.t>rs re mained to It mi Of tlase the younger, Varum Davis, affection ilely known as R m uie. is styled “ I’he ( 'hii*i of tii(*l 'oiifisierni-v '* having been tsiru iu the pre.Mdeii:ial umnsioii in Richmond during the war She h.-is in;* - shown jliterury übiiiry o a tngli order, and may vet rank among the noted authore-si*- of America J li Blague. Annie Ptishkiti. the grainidtiugliter of Uie cclelirated Russian poet, is now confined ill t-lie dreaded prison of St Peter and St. Paul at St. Petersburg on u charge of complicity m a Nihilistic cuiispiracy