The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 25, July 1921 - April, 1922 Page: 10
306 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
More far-reaching in its effects so far as the outcome of the
election was concerned, was the aggressive campaign carried on
by the group of party leaders whose names have been mentioned
above.
Among these was Jefferson Davis, who was one of the pres-
idential electors on the Democratic ticket. In his public utter-
ances Davis by no means confined himself to the Texas question, but
took up one by one the issues which divided the two parties, deal-
ing with them in a clear and convincing manner. High hopes
were entertained by democratic journals of the future which
awaited Davis as the favorable impression which he made upon
his hearers increased from day to day. "He is the pride of old
Warren, and is destined soon to be the pride of the State and of
the whole country." "Mr. Davis is the impersonation of the true
spirit of the South. He will do. more to win back the former
spirit and admiration of the world to her, than any man we could
send to public life. We predict that he becomes the Calhoun of
Mississippi."28 At a democratic meeting held at Natchez on July
the House to the effect that a select committee of five members be in-
structed to bring in a bill declaring war against Mexico; the resolution
was promptly rejected. Not quite two weeks later the Senate by a
unanimous vote, including eight Whigs, adopted a set of resolutions on
annexation. On February 10 the House considered the Senate resolutions
concerning annexation which had been referred to a committee of eleven
members. According to the Free Trader the theme called forth some of
the "tallest speaking" which had been heard in the legislature up to that
time. Among prominent Whigs who opposed the measure were J. S.
Yerger, of Vicksburg. and Luke Lea, of Hinds county. A minority report
was presented by George Winchester, of Natchez, the "citadel of whiggery,"
to the effect that it was incompatible with the rights and interests of the
United States for any European government to obtain possession of the
territory of Texas, or to interfere in its domestic affairs; the motion
was lost by a vote of 58 to 15. An amendment to the majority report
offered by Yerger of Vicksburg was also lost by a vote of 55 to 15. A
leading Whig lawyer of Jackson writing to Robert J. Walker commented
upon the action of the Whig members as follows: "I regret to say that
the want of unanimity in our late legislature was occasioned by a few,
a very few Whigs, who have thereby sealed their political destiny, and
incurred universal condemnation." House Journal, 120, 622-623; Senate
Journal, 195; Free Trader, Feb. 21, 1844.
O80ne of the Democratic organs made mention of his "eagle look, his
bold, free form and gesture," and spoke of the gentlemanly deportment
and kindly feelings that marked his canvass. Davis did not escape
criticism at the hands of the opposition journals, but the shafts aimed at
him were devoid of malice and coarseness, in striking contrast to the
attacks made upon some of the other leaders, as Foote. One Whig
journal after referring to his eulogy of Calhoun at the Jackson conven-
tion, "which made some of the friends of 'Old Hickory' look sick," spoke
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 25, July 1921 - April, 1922, periodical, 1922; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101082/m1/16/?rotate=90: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.