The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-09-29
From the Nicksburg Herald.
IN RIEHEORIAN.

IN NEHsORIAI.
Died. at his residence in this city SUNDAY
,,oreiug sept. Is. 1870, after a protractei
.rn rainful illness. JOSEPH EMERSON DAVIS
W. elder brother Of the Hon. jefferson Da
ii. IA the S7th year Of his age, and for fifty
vear- citizen Of this county.
The death of Mr.. Davis, sewers the las
link between the Mississippi Of the present
ana Mississippi in its territorial condition
4 native of the once proud state of South
carolina born in the last quarter OF the last
century be emigrated to the then Territory
ofNIi-si.,ippi. more thon sixty years ago
and from that hour 10 the present, the State
NJ hi adoption and affection has been his
home Carefully educated by his father. 4
hgblg esteemed clergyman of the Baptist
rFurfh Mr. Davis adopted the law as hi.
or6fc--i0 ion, and established himself at tho
-itv al NatcheZ, then, for many years after
wards, the mo~s important point in the
state and Boosting a Bar unsurpassed for
ability. After a residence of a few years in
Ns,chpz, he removed to Greenville, Jefier-
En- county. then flourishing and prosper
g1s t0NU, but long since fallen into decay
led fnrgctfulncss, where he continued the
raatlcc OF his profession until lie removed
t5 Warren county and opened that magniii-
cent plantation the Hurricane, upon which
br ama-sed a princely fortune. and where
ID continued to reside until 1852. when the
naval forces of the United States. compelled
hin to abandon his home. Since the close
aftEe war he has resided in this city
IN whatever light he may be regarded.
Joseph +. Davis, was remarkable man.
Endowed with "A splendid aud highly Guilt
waited intellect. his mind was vast store
hbqse OF information. which lie could al
wara make available in the forum, and
which, rendered him most charming and
aeinating companion in sociey. His ener-
oy yaS eopai ~ his intellect and his culture
9nI whether at the bar. before the people
erip the pursuits OF business, his ability
Indictment and energy, made him man Of
marked success in everything he attempted
asa lawyer he achieved success, while en-
,ourtpring the acutEst and ablest members
afa profession in which was numbered the
t,1st brilliant minds OF his day. A. a Uiti-
I'D won the respect and confidence Of
m Who knew him, and as planter he
,sssad cr1 Of the finest estates in the
snnr+rc Simn e in his habits. modest and
4 rqfiri8t IN his ma"ueFs. devoted to study
and reflection. he had 10 taste Ior the cares
ani turmOils Of public life, no desire lot Of
f1a anJ = profound contpmpt for the petty
arts by which small men craN't INTO posi-
tons above their merit. When tbs people
Il Of the Territory of Mississippi were aulhor-
lied 10 frame i constitution for State gov
i erument in 1917, Mr.. Davis was chosen
one Of the delegates from Jefferson county,
i ,eryice-but the instrument then framed
bears abundant evidence of the superior
ability aud guiding spirit of Jos. Il. Davis.
OF his colleagues in that Convention. he
was the last survivor. He saw them all de-
scend to the grave. He saw a feeble terri
tory expand into great, prosperous, and
powerful commonwealth, and he lived TO
see the State he loved so well, PROSTATE be-
meath the heel Of power. and the people re-
dueed to poverty and slavery.
In politics Mr. Davis was disciple of JEFF
ferson, and consequently he was 2 consist
eut and steadfast Democrat and few men
who have lived who were more successful in
\ mpressiHg their views and opinions upon
hose with whom they were brought in con-
tar'. than was the subject of this briefsketch.
Thou.~l he had not long life Of public
service IN Uoiut to as a memorial of himself,
the people o. Mississippi and OF the whole
South. owe him debt of gratitude for dis
COVERING and cui waiting the greatest intel
lect of the are. an in teilect that added new
lastre 10 Senatorial eIoqC cnce- ana shed I'M
perishable honor upon Arhefica2 arms
We refer of course to jefferson lafAs the
Bayard OF America--the Younger hild t1o4-
lied brother of the deceased. To nm le
was not only an elder brother-he was sather
friend protector and advisor. 1t was our
venerable friend and departed friend who
early discovered the Wondrou< intellect OF
jefferson Davis. and over its culture ana de-
Fl "
ternal pride and though we cannot know,
we NAV readily imagine, how proudly the
old mans heart throbbed and sweiled, when
\ he saw his young brother leap into the Sen
atOrial arena, the acknowledged peer. in
genius and elOuuence. of the proudeSt in thai
\ body at a time when giants filled the seats
now occupied by pigmies. When the unl-
led voice OF the Southern people called JET
ierson Davis TO preside over our infant gov
ernmeut, no one looked to him with more
interest, confidence Hnd affection. than dId
The elder brother WHO had guided his early
years. taught young ambition how to climb
lis little ladder" And when the final
catastrophe came-in that sad hour when
me government and its beloved chief went
down together--when the first became
memory, and the second a manacled prison
er, none save God can know the anguish
which wrung the heart of him who had
oeen more than father 10 the conquered Tri-
Vune Of his people. This devotion TO his
II 1ungcT brother. was a beautiful feature i'll
#ibe character Of MIR. Davis, for there was
sSome,hing at 6iaee hnightly, chiValrouS, and
#iend6r in If something so much higher.
delicate and oertis, THAI is usually witness
FL IN this work-a>ey world, that it touched
and impressed ali !, TO knew the man 10
Fly that this devotion was repaid by the
Y armest gratitude and the >trongest Io>e'oh
e "a, part of Jefferson Davis. is merely 10 say
1911, my III Who know that disHnglS tsiie" gen
II the social circle. Mr.. Davis was most
sthial and fascinating compan ion, and 1t
a. mere IN the eompanionship OF frlen0e,
49, MS admirable qualities shOne most con-
pWaouSly. Ills intellect and his vast infor-
nation MS quiet humor and kindly natu
~33iihoihea 10 make hlmone of the most agree
so1e and entertaining gentlemen the writer
- ever known. OF his gentle disposition.
ls great charity, his uniform courtesy, the
sSAaness of his heart and his liberal bene-
Trctons to the poor. | need not speak
mere are thousands living to-day who can
81 war witness to each ana all.
An obedience to his wishes his last resting
I.4ce is upon the bank of the great river
Spoh which. for more than half p century.
y made his home. There, by the side of
IN Madred, with the eternal murmur of the
eoudS grandeSt river. as it sweeps onward
Me sea, for his requiem. all that is
srdisai Of what was once Joseph f. Davis,
@S the final trump which will call the
'gF.d to Judgment.
~ nave not sought II represent the venera-
- tead as perfect. To say that he was not
4efely to admit that he was human. He
III man of great qualities, strong pas
US lie was brave, honorable, truthful.
49, and generous He never deserted a
l. 5 Cd or avoided a foe. Judged by strict
SArlStian standard, he had doubtless many
~'.s cut prefer to linger lovingly upon
U.s. Sd qualities, rather than to seek for
eilrs al flaws in character where there
S2s 50 mn, h to admire and revere. Those
Without sirr may ''cast stones" upon the
gave OF the de I'd: for myself, prefer TO
,sapore nasoe co. the departed, and
aeHce l saw ca,m no the SAUNDERS, and
tslql the dreams of the AIn1 t 9,o s nnr
tss,e I, De the grass, and sw, bra;v, ana ma
ssri. bloom above the sburnt Or ILL tr nal
'F'ess einders" of one who deve. Wy y "S'
After life's fitful fever sleeps well