The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-06-02

From the Kalida (O.) Sentinel.
The event of last week was the exhibition
in this place of a historical cane, the prop.
erty of jefferson Davis, which was '.eonfs-
Gated during the war. There was great
deal OF curiosity manifested to look at the
venerable and valuable relic Of the past
which was no other than the veritable cane
presented TO Gen. Jefferson Davis, by the
Hon. Franklin Pierce, i'm the year 1856. Ii
| was presented to Mr.. Davis for his bravery
/ in saving our army at the battle of Buena
| VISTA during the Mexican war, when the
Indiana and Illinois troops stampeded and
| the battle was about to be lost. The cane
was made from oak taken from the hull OF
the war-ship Constitution" which was
| one of the oldest and most renowned shins
In our navy. The cane is mounted with n
massive geld head. estimated to contain
| precious metal to the value of $50 or SIS.
On the mounting is the inscription: .-5en-
eral Davis from Franklin Pierce, 1856" and
pelow it on tie side are the words; ''Old
1ronsides." The history of how this cane
found Its way north and how 1t came to
turn up IN this part of the State, may be
briefly stated by saying that il was captured
IN Georgia during the late war. and brought
here by an individual who was in the fed
eral army.
some time since j. r. Linn, Esq. of this
place, ascertained incidentally that jeff
Davis cane was in the hands Of a minister
OF the gospel residing in a neighboring
NOAhbgs anu MI l@lUH having reInem DprRU
reading at the time of the presentation of a
cane to MIR. Davis, presumed that this was
the Identical one, and therefore made inoui-
ries in regard to the matter, and found that
he was correct in his surmises. Mr.. Linn
regarding the cane as of being Infinitely
more valuable to Mr.. Davis than 10 any
other person, and feeling that it would only
be doing TO others as we would have others
do unto us, wrote to Mr.. Davis concerning
the matter, and as the answer of Mr.. Davis
aSf md .
capture, and at the same time expresses
more fully the feelings of the owner in re-
gard TO II, than we can, we feel il no breach
OF courtesy TO publish Mr.. Davis own Lam
guage, which is as follows:
MEMPHIS, Tenn, May l0 1870.
j. Il. Linn, Attorney at Law. etc.-Dear
Sir Accept my thanks for your kind let
ter of the llth inst. l had gold-headed
cane such as you describe, which, with 9TH
eers, was placed with my books at country
house in Kinds county, Mississippi
The man who had charge of them repre-
sented to me that the United States troops
came to his house, broke oTen the boxes
other things, and took away part and scat
tered the rest about the fields and woods
adjacent.
The particular cane described by you was
much valued by me as the gift of my dear
friend, the great and good franklin Pierce
Its value to me has increased by the death
of the ex-president and the loss of other
mementoes of him, which were taken at the
same time and in the same manner as stated
in regard to the cane. You will greatly
oblige me by obtaining the cane, as YOU
kindly propose, and sending il to me. .
Very respectfully yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Upon receiving this authority, Mr.. Linn. |
an attorney of this place, prepared the ne |
cessary papers to take the aforesaid cane by |
a writ of replevin, and proceeded to the To- |
cality between Toledo and Cleveland, where |
the property was said to be detained. Find /
ing it in the hands ofa former acquaintance,
who was rather well disposed minister, he |
was not compelled to resort to legal mea.
sures to obtain it, although such a course |
had to be limited at. The interview is said |
to have been in the highest degree interest |
ing. the aforesaid minister claiming as
authority for holding said cane the laws of |
nations and the rules of war, and the afore-
said attorney falling back on the divine law
for his authority. The reverend gentleman
insisted on retaining the property until the
questions discussed between the parties
could be referred to the Hon. Judge Law
renee, NJ. G. The attorney denied the right
Of appeal from the ten commandments to
Judge Lawrence. The minister no doubt
the attorney to be about halfright,
did not take his appeal, but yielded up the
contraband that had fought so nobly.