Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-05-20
Tie ArcIi-COnspirator, Jefferson
Davis,
J. II. WILSON,
Breyet Major. General.

Tie Arch-COnspiratOr Jefferson
Davis.
Jefferson Davis, the man who, with his
Staff has been taken by the United States
authorities, is very generally known rs hav-
ing been the represcntatiyc-head Of the
great Rebellion. On that account, it is true
that some interest attaches to his antece.
dents and while everybody knows who he
is, there may be some who care to know
who he was JEFF. Davis was born in the
same State (Kentucky) and in the same
year QS0S) that gave birth to Abraham
Lincoln. Davis was born on June 3D., and
was the son of James Davis, u horse trader
of llopkinsviile, Kentucky.
The father fell under suspsion as Il horse
thief, and was forced to fly from justice. lie
settled, when jeff was very young, near
Vicksburg, Miss. At that time horse and
negro traders and horse thieves, when rich,
were admissible to Mississippi society, and
| old Davis had little difficulty in establish
ment himself in life. lie was able, Il few
years after, to send his son to Kentucky, to
complete his education at the Transy ylvUGia
| University, Lexington. He had, in fact, be-
| come SO popular through the influence of
his money and popular manners as to bc
able to secure for his hopeful progeny an
appointment to West Point, which young
jeff entered at sixteen, forming part OF the
graduating class of 1923. He graduated
near the foot of the class, and was commits
stoned in the First Infantry as brcvct second
lieutenant, the lowest rank that could be
| given him.
He was sent to Florida and served very
credita5ly with Zach. Taylor, in the Black
Hawk war, for which he got n commission
as first lieutenant in the First Dragons. In
1882 he offended General Taylor by running
away with and marrying his daughter, and
the old General Never recognized Davis
until they happened to meet on the battle
field of Buena Vista, Mexico. In 1885, Davis
haveing resigned his commission settled
near Vicksburg and entered upon the arena
OF politics, in which he was so far successful
as to be elected to the lower house of Con
gress. When the Mexican war broke out,
Davis raised and commanded the First Rcgi-
ment of Mississippi liifles. The only signii-
cant featurein mis- career was the fact that
he declined United States commission as
gadier.General of Volunteers on the
ground that such an appointment by the
Federal Executive was violation of State
rights.
He re.entered political life in 1S47, hav-
ing been appointed by the Governor Of Mis-
sissippi to ill vacancy in the United States
| causcu Dy inc ueatn cl hr. SpelSnt. At the
ensuing election, in 1S4S, he was elected to
ill the term expiring in 1851. On his re-
turn to Mississippi he became the State
Rights candidate for Governor, but was de
feated by Little Fidget" Foot, his lifetime
enemy who is now lying in Ludlow street
Jail, New York. About .he same time he
stumped the State for the purpose of advo-
eating the reputation of the State debt, and
was subsequently honored as the originator
and,prime mover of that great swindle. In
1853 he was re elected United States Sena-
tor from Mississippi, which he held until
his resignation (January, 1861 on the seces-
sion of his State. He was chosen Provision
al President of the Rebel Confederation of
States, FEBRUARY %, 1861, and re elected in
1862 for the term of six years, for only half
OF which he will be permitted to act. On
the fall of Richmond, Davis, acknowledging
the hopelessness of his cause, fled southwark
stopping for few days at Danville, but
soor atterward pushing for the Florida
coast He passed through Charleston, N.
c., on April %, and Yorkville, on the gath,
closely pursued by Stoneman's Cavalry, and
guarded by Il brigade OF cavalry, under Gen.
q. G. DibLrell, and was finally taken as de-
tailed by telegraph.