Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-05-31
IHfTrrson Davis Of Nississl,ni.

JtH. laws WAS porn III tne same IidCe
Kentucky and in the same year (lS0S)
that gave birth TO Abraham Lincoln
Davis was born on June Sd and was the
illegitmatc son of James Davis, noted
horse trader, Of Hopkinsvillc, XIV
The father fell under suspicion as
horse thief, and was forced to fly from
Justice. He settled, when JEFF was very
young, near Nicksbure Mississippi. At
that time horse and negro traders and
horse thieves, when rich, were admissible
to good (Mississippi) society, and old
Davis had little difficulty in establishing
himself in life He was able n few years
after to send his son to Kentucky to com
plcte his education at the Transylvania
University Lexington He had, in fact.
became so popular through the influence
Of his money and popular manners, as to
be able to secure for his hopeful progeny
an appointment at West Point which
young JEFF entered at sixteen. forming
part Of the graduating class Of 1928. lie
graduated near the foot Of the class, and
was commissioned in the lst infantry as
Brevet Second Lieutenant, IT, e lowest rank
that could lie given him.
He was sent to Florida and served very
creditably with Zach Taylor, in the Black
Hawk war, for which he cot a commission
as First Lieutenant in the lst Dragons.
In 1871 he offended Gen Tavlor by run~
ming away with and marrying his daurh
ter. and the old General never recognized
Da,is until they happened to meet on the
battle field of Buena Vista, Mexico In
1888, Davis having resigned hls c, mmis~
sion, settled near Eickshurr and entered
upon the arena Of politics, in which he
was so far successful rs to be elected 10
- ;.
Mexican war broke out, Davis raised and
commanded the first regiment Of Mis-
sissippi Rifles The only significant fea-
ture in his career was the fact that he
declined 6 United States commission as
/ Brigadicr General of volunteers, on the
ground that such an appointment by the
/ Federal Executive was violation Of State
. rights
/ He re-eutered political life in lSf7, hav-
ing been appointed by the Governor Of
I Mississippi to fill the vacancy in the Uni
I ted States Senate caused hv the death Of
7 Mr. Spei.ht At the ensuing election, in
Z iS4S. he was elected to ill the term eXpir-
( inc in 1851 On his return to Mississippi
/ he became the State rights candidate for
/ Governor. but was defeated ~ Little
/ Fidmet' FOote his lifetime enemy, who
is now living in Ludlow street Jail, in New
York city. About the same time he
stunned the State for the purpose Of ad-
vocatin@ the repudiating of the State debt
and was subsequently honored as the
,ouiginator and prime mover Of that grea
4 swindlc In 1853 he Has called by Fierce
/ to a seat in his Cabinet, as Secretary o
War. In 1857 he was reelected Onitet
States Senator from Mississippi, which ht
held until his resignation, {JanGary, 1861,
on the secession of his State.
He was chosen Provisional Presiden
Of the rebel confederation Of States, FEB
ruarv 4. 1861. was inaugurated Fehruar'
%. 1861, and was re-elected in 1862 70
the term of six wears, for only bali 0
which time he vi be permitted to act
His administration of the affairs Of tht
rebellious States has been marked by n
great briliancy or judgement lie ha
been the Mar plot Of almost every one o
: the rebel campaigns, and has done NOR
by his obstinacv, envy. jealousy ana mai
; ice. to DESTROY the uuitv and effectiveness
: Of his Government and his armies tha
any other Of its leaders If the Conted
, eracv had possessed n leader less obsti
: nate in the pursuit Of bad plans, less Ell
; vious Of the fame of his subordinates- an
! less quarreIsome generally, 1t might ha7
: existed a few months longer.
I What evidence the Government has {
r the completely Of Davis in the consPiraC
] Of the assassination Of Nh. Lincoln ha
q not vet been diyeulced. Davis Is not
4 whit too good or too wise to engage
= any similar infamous or hopeless unde
y taking.