The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-03-11
Jefferson Davis.

From Zell's Encyclopedia.
Jefferson Davis was born in Kntucky in
1908. Daring his childhood hiafather re-
moved into the State of Mississippi, and
his sons education commenced & Transyl-
vania College, Kentucky, whichh lief. in
1924 10 enter the U. 5. Military Academy
at West Point. After graduating from that
place, four years afterwards, Mr.. Davis
was placed on the list of Secoid Leuten-
ants, and the first part Of his military ca
reer lasted seven years during
which period he served with dis
tinction against several hostile Indian
tribes. Resigning his commission in
1885, he returned 10 Mississippi mar
ried the daughter Of Gen. Taylor, and
became a cotton planter, an occupation he
pursued until 1543, when be interested
himself in politics as q Democrat, and
took a prominent part in tie election Of
Polk and Dallas. He was returned by his
State TO Congress in lS45, and assisted in
the debates on the tariff, the Oregon ques-
ton, military affairs, and gpon the 'pre-
parations for the Mexican war" Upon the
breaking out Of this contest, Mr.. Davis
was elected Colonel OF the Mississippi
| Volunteers when no at once resigned his
seat in Congress and proceeded to join
Gen. Taylor's Army on the Rio Grande.
He was engaged in the storming Of Monte
rey, was one Of the commissioners appoint
cd 10 arrange the capitulation of that city,
and greatly distinguished himself at the
battle Of Buena Vista, on which occasion
he was complimented in the official dis.
patches. At the close of the war, he
was offered by President Polk the
rank of brigadier- general of volunteers
which no declined on the ground thai
the appointment Of such offices belonged
TO individual States only, and not TO thu
Federal executive. In lS47 he was elected
Senator for Mississippi In 1850 he be
came Chairman of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, and he was distinguished b.
the energy with which no defended thu
peculiar institutions of tho South and BY
his Jealous advocacy Of States Rights. II
1851 he resigned his seat in the Senate K
undertake personal canvass for Mr.
Franklin Pierce, who on being elect
cd President, nominated Mr.. Davi
his Secretary of War. He introduce,
| important reforms both into this depart
ment and the military service generally
On the Of accession Mr.. Buchanan he quilted
Office and was reelected to the Senate, bu
the election Of Mr.. Lincoln in 1860, and tn
secession movement, caused him to with
draw. When the movement received shap
and form Mr.. Davis was chosen President o
the Confederate States, February 4, 1861
inaugurated February %, and reelected
for six years, in 1862, and the masterl
manner in which the new Constitution wa
drawn up by him, as we'll as his militar.
talents, afforded the best evidence of tn
sagacity of those who fixed upon him Il
their leader. After the collapse of tn
Confederacy, Mr.. Davis was captured, Ma.
10, 1865, and taken TO Fortress Monroe
where he remained a psisoner until 1865
when no was liberated on bail. On Decem
Der 90 Of the same year, full and complet
amnesty was accorded him by Presiden
Johnson, before which, however, no pro
ceeded to Europe whore he sojourned TO
time for the recruitment of his health
lie has since resided at Memphis, Tenn
and for the last several years has reside'
on the Mississippi Coast at Beauvoir, Har
risOn county.