RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 1844--MR. DAVIS ELECTED TO CONGRESS--HIS FIRST SESSION--PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE--DOUGLAS, HUNTER, SEDDON, ETC.--DAVIS' RAPID ADVANCEMENT IN REPUTATION-- RESOLUTIONS OFFERED BY HIM--SPEECHES ON THE OREGON EXCITEMENT, AND ON THE RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO GENERAL TAYLOR AND HIS ARMY--NATIONAL SENTIMENTS EMBODIED IN THESE AND OTHER SPEECHES--A CONTRAST IN THE MATTER OF PATRIOTISM--MASSACHUSETTS AND MISSISSIPPI IN THE MEXICAN WAR--DEBATE WITH ANDREW JOHNSON--JOHN QUINCY ADAMS' ESTIMATE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. CHAPTER III. (Page 49-67.) THE NAME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS INSEPARABLE FROM THE HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN WAR--HIS ESSENTIALLY MILITARY CHARACTER AND TASTES--JOINS GENERAL TAYLOR'S ARMY ON THE RIO GRANDE, AS COLONEL OF THE FAMOUS "MISSISSIPPI RIFLES"--MONTEREY--BUENA VISTA--GENERAL TAYLOR'S ACCOUNT OF DAVIS' CONDUCT--DAVIS' REPORT OF THE ACTION--NOVELTY AND ORIGINALITY OF HIS STRATEGY AT BUENA VISTA--INTERESTING STATEMENT OF HON. CALEB CUSHING--RETURN OF DAVIS TO THE UNITED STATES--TRIUMPHANT RECEPTION AT HOME--PRESIDENT POLK TENDERS HIM A BRIGADIER'S COMMISSION, WHICH HE DECLINES ON PRINCIPLE. CHAPTER IV. (Page 68-84.) MR. DAVIS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, FIRST BY EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BY UNANIMOUS CHOICE OF THE LEGISLATURE OF HIS STATE--POPULAR ADMIRATION NOT LESS FOR HIS CIVIC TALENTS THAN HIS MILITARY SERVICES--FEATURES OF HIS PUBLIC CAREER--HIS CHARACTER AND CONDUCT AS A SENATOR--AS AN ORATOR AND PARLIAMENTARY LEADER--HIS INTREPIDITY--AN INCIDENT WITH HENRY CLAY--DAVIS THE LEADER OF THE STATES' RIGHTS PARTY IN CONGRESS--THE AGITATION OF 1850--DAVIS OPPOSES THE COMPROMISE--FOLLY OF THE SOUTH IN ASSENTING TO THAT SETTLEMENT--DAVIS NOT A DISUNIONIST IN 1850, NOR A REBEL IN 1861--HIS CONCEPTION OF THE CHARACTER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT--LOGICAL ABSURDITY OF CLAY'S POSITION EXPOSED BY DAVIS--THE IDEAL UNION OF THE LATTER--WHY HE OPPOSED THE COMPROMISE--THE NEW MEXICO BILL--DAVIS' GROWING FAME AT THIS PERIOD--HIS FREQUENT ENCOUNTERS WITH CLAY, AND WARM FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THEM--SIGNAL TRIUMPH OF THE UNION SENTIMENT, AND ACQUIESCENCE OF THE SOUTH. CHAPTER V. (Page 85-97.) OPPOSITION TO THE COMPROMISE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND MISSISSIPPI--DAVIS A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR--HIS DEFEAT REALLY A PERSONAL TRIUMPH--IN RETIREMENT, SUPPORTS GENERAL PIERCE'S ELECTION--DECLINES AN APPOINTMENT IN PIERCE'S CABINET, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY ACCEPTS SECRETARYSHIP OF WAR--REMARKABLE UNITY OF PIERCE'S ADMINISTRATION, AND HIGH CHARACTER OF THE EXECUTIVE--DAVIS AS SECRETARY OF WAR-- KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL AND THE EXCITEMENT WHICH FOLLOWED--DAVIS AGAIN ELECTED TO THE SENATE--SPEECHES AT PASS CHRISTIAN AND OTHER POINTS WHILE ON HIS WAY TO WASHINGTON. CHAPTER VI. (Page 98-191.)