Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-23
Joseph Emerson Davis.

oldest brother of Hon. JEFF. Davis, died
at his residence in Vicksburg, in the
eighty-seventh year of his age. From an
I'm Memoriam" which appeared In the
Vlcksburg Herald of Tuesday, we learn
that the death OF Mr.. Davis sewers the last
link between the Mississippi of the pres
ent. and Mississippi in its territorial con-
dition. A native of the once proud State
of south Carolina, born in the last quar-
ter of the last century, be migrated to the
then infant territory OF Mississippi, more
than sixtv-fv years ego, and from that
hour to the present, the State of his adop-
tion and affection has been his home.
Carefully educated by his father, a highly
esteemed clergyman of the Baptist
Church, Mr. DHvis adopted the law
as bis profession, and established him
self at the city OF Natchez, then,
aud for many years afterwari,
the most important point in the State,
aud boasting a Bar unsurpassed for abil-
ity. After residence of few years in
Nstebez, he removed to- Greenviile, JET
ferson county, then hourishins and
prosperous town, but long since fallen
into decay and forgetfulness, where he
continued the practice Of his profession
untn he removed TO Warren county and
opsped that magnificent plantation the
"Hurrieane, =" upon which he amaSsed
princely fortune, and where he continued
to reside until 1882 when the occupation
QI the MISSISSIPPI river ny bhO hdNdl
forces Of the United states compelled
him 70 abandon his home. Since the
close of the war he has resided in this
CITY. When the people of the territory of
Mississippi were authorized TO frame
Z constitution for State government, in
1917. Mr.. Davis was chosen one Of the DEL
egstes from Jefferson county, and this,
we telieve, was his only public service
but the Instrument then framed bears
abundant evidence of the superior sbility
and guiding spirit Of Joseph =. Davis.
or his colleagues in that Convention, he
was the last survivor. He saw them all
descend 10 the grave. lie saw q feeble
territory expand into great, prosperous
and powerful commonwealth, and he
lived to see the Stale he loved so well.
PROSTATE beneath the heel OF power, and
her people reduced to poverty and
slavery.
In politics Mr.. Davis was a discinle of
Jefferson, and cOnseqently he was a con-
sistent and steadfast Democrat, and few
men have lived who were more success /
ful in iInpressiong their views and opin-
ions upon those with whom they were
brought in contact, than was the subject
of this brief sketch. Though he had not
a long life of public service tohoInt 10 as
a memorial of hiucsef, the people of
Mississippi, and of the whole SOuth, owe
him q debt Of gratitude for discovering
and cultivating the greatest intellect Of
the sge, an intellect that added new lus-
ter TO Senatorial elOquence, and shed1m-
perishable honor upon American arms. |
We refer, of course, TO Jefferson Davis
the Bsyard of America-the younger and !
idolized brother Of the deceased. To him
he was not only an elder brother, he
was a father, friend, protector and sd-
wiser. It was our venerable and departed |
friend who early discovered the won
drous intellect Of Jefferson Davis, and |
over its culture and development he !
watched with more than parental pride. |
and though We cannot know, we may
readily Imagine how proudly the old |
xnzn's heart throbbed and swelled |
when he saw his young brother leap |
into the Senatorial arena, the |
acknowledged peer, in genius and |
elOquence, of the proudest in that body, |
AT q time when giants filled the seats now
occupied by pigmies. When the united !
voice Of the Southern people called JEFF |
ferson Davis 10 preside over our infant 1
government, no one looked 10 him with |
more interest, confidence and affection /
thsn did the elder brother who had /
guided his earlier years, snd taught 1
"young ambition how to climb its little I
ladder" And when the final catastrophe /
came-in that sad hour when the govern /
ment and its beloved chief went down to-
gether-wben the first became q memory,
and the second a manscled prisoner, none \
save God can know the anguish which \
Wrung the heart of him who had been
more than father to the conquered Tri-
bune of his people. This devotion to his 4
younger brother, was a beautiful feature
in the character Of Mr.. Davis, for there
was something at once knightly, chiyal-
rOus, and tender in Il, something so much |
higher, more delicate, and gentle, thsu is
usually Witnessed in this work-dsy world, |
that it touched aud impressed al who
knew the man. To say that this devotion /
was repaid by the warmsst gratitude and 4
the strongest love, on the part of Jeffsr-
son Davis, Is merely y 10 say what all who
know that distinguished gentleman will
readily attest.
In Whatever light he may be regarded,
J Joseph L. Davis was q remarkable man.
Endowed with splendid and highly cul-
tivated intellect, his mind was q vast
storehouse of Information, which be
could always make available in the To-
rum, and which rendered him q most
charming and fascinating companion in
society. bis energy was equal TO his in
tsllec' and his culture, and whether at
the bar, before the people, or in the pur-
suits Of business, his ability, Judgment |
success in every thing he attempted. AS
q lawyer he achieved success, while en-
cOuntering the acutest End ablsst men,
bers Of profession in which was num-
Dered the most brilliant minds of his day. |
AS citizen be won the respect and con-
fndence Of all who knew him, and as q
planter he Owued one of the finest estates
in the country. Simple in his hab-
its, modest and retiring in his manners,
devoted 70 study and reflection, he had
no taste for the cares and turmoils of
public life, no desire for office, and pro-
found contempt for the petty arts by
which small men crawl into positions
above their merit. OF his gentle dispo-
sitiOn, his great charity, his uniform cour-
tesy, the kindness of his heart, and his
liberal benefactions TO the poor, need
not speak. There ars thousands living
to-day who can bear witness to each and
all.
In obedience to his wishes, his last rest
ing place Is upon the bank of the great
river upon which, for more than half a
century, he made his home. There, by
the side of his kindred, with the eternal
murmur Of the worlds grsndest river, as
1t sweeps onward TO the SEA, for his re-
QUEEN all that is mortal of what was
once Joseph +. Davis, awaits the final
trump which will call the world TO juig-