Davis more in his character as a soldier
than a statesman. Mr. Davis was undoubtedly an able soldier. He was
the head and front, the very life and soul of the men in the South.
Born to those qualities of pride, self-esteem, and self-will, all
of which produce confidence in the possessor, he grew up feeling
himself superior, as he was, to the ordinary men of his age. He
inherited at the same time great fixedness of purpose and
determination; and so prominent were these traits of his character,
that they impressed every one who came in contact with him.
These, my son, were the attributes that gave wings to the man's
ambition and found him aspiring to one of the high places in the
temple of fame. The nation gave him a thorough military education at
West Point, and he afterwards learned the practical duties of a
soldier in the Black Hawk war. On the return of peace, he resigned
and sought distinction in political life. He had succeeded in
reaching the House of Representatives when the war with Mexico broke
out, and he resigned and again went to the field. And,
notwithstanding what has been said to the contrary, he won great
distinction in this war.
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