He only, with his great mental and moral
endowments, with his intense but ever
gentle strength, could, have held our.south
so long against such odds. Jefferson Davis,
as brave and true a knight as ever w’eilded
a lance or had his name emblazoned on
History’s pages! Though numbered among
earth’s mighty warriors, he was also a true
“’soldier of the cross,” and when slandered
by his enemies he followed the law of the
gentle Nazarene, who bade him do good
tor evil.
With his matchless eloquence and kingly
presence, he graced our senate hall, a per
lect model for his own colleagues and those
of succeeding generations, not because he
was a southerner, but because he was a
man!
His rigid discipline, his valor and discre
tion proved him a born leader of men.
Those noble Mississippians, the gallant
••Rifles,” with their great leader, were the
heroes of the day and will live forever in
the hearts of their countrymen.
Ever true to his principles, he, in the
senate, never voted for a bill, unless he
could heartily endorse it as the best
measure for his country’s good. His faith
ful efforts to secure an able United States
army met with the best success and many
of his best measures are now enjoyed by
us—alas! by some with thankless learts!
In the war with Mexico he was the lead
ing officer of his rank, brave even to reck
lessness, dashing against the Mexican army
with his handful of men, but with the shock
of a thunderbolt and the fearlessness of a
lion.
