In 1858, Daniel resigned his commission to begin a career as a planter in Louisiana, joining his father who had moved there following his last term in Congress in 1851.
I 1857 trak Daniel sig ud af hæren for at indlede en karriere som plantageejer i Louisiana, hvor han sluttede sig til sin far, som var flyttet dertil efter at hans sidste periode i Kongressen sluttede i 1851.