The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-12
Jefferson Davis.

From ZelFs tsnes ei4ppaia.
jefferson Davis was born Ia Kentucky IN
1909, During his childhood his father re-
moved lnty she State of Mississippi, and
his sons education esHaenced ut 1ransyl-
vania College, Kentucky, which he left in
1924 to enter the U. S. Military Aosdemy
at West Point. After graduating from that
place, four years afterwards, Mr.. Davis
was placed on the list of Second Lieuten-
ants, ara the first part of his military ca
reer iasted seytu .sars, during
which period he served SsiA dis
tinction against several hostile Indian
tribes. Resigning lis commission in
1885. he returned to Mississippi mar
ried the daughter of Gen. Taylor, and
became aet!t,t PLANTER, an occupation he
pursued until l64S, %'Gep Is interested
himself in politics as 4 Damoctat. and
took a prominent part In the election OF
Polk and Dallas. He was returned By his
State to Congress III 1915. and assisted IL
the debstes on the tariff, the Oregon cues
ton, military affairs. and upon the pre-
paratiops for the MeIjea.t yql" pom the
breaking cut of this CONTEST, NJ Davis
was elected Colonel OF the Mississippi
Volunteers when he at once resigned has
seat in Congress and proceeded 10 join
Gen. Taylor's Army on the Rio Grande
He was eLgagad in the storming of Monte
rsy. was one OF t4ls cSIH H,lsS!nners appoint
ed to arrange the capitulaiiop Vi ftlst Gity'
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. be
was offered by President Polk the
rank of bE;gadie-z general of volunteers
which he declined o. tbs ground that
the appointment of sBch Offices bFl9pged
to individual States Only. and net 10 the
Federal executive. In 1S47 he was elected
Senator for Mississippi In 1850 he be
came Chairman of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, and he was distinguished by
the energy gith which he defended the
peculiar institutions Of 1hs South and by
his zsalogs advocacy of STATES Il. g5ts. IN
1851 he resigned his seat in the Senate to
undertake a personal Ganyass for Mr..
Franklin Pierce, who on isela4 elect
Ell President, nominated Mr.. Davis
his Secretary of War. He introduced
important reforms both into this depart
msnt and tho military service generally.
On the Of accession Dir buchanan ne quilted
o aine and was reelected to i4ls sFHats, but
the election; of Mr.. Lincoln ia 1850 ana the
secession movement. caused him to with
draw. When the movement --"neiYel shape
and form Mr.. Davis was chosen President al
the Confederate States, February 4, 1866,
inaugurated FebFa&ry -. and reelected
for six years, in 1852. ard the mastery
manner in which the new Constitution was
drawn up by him, as we'll as his military
talents, afforded the best evidence of the
sagacity of those who fixed upon him as
their leader. After the collapse of the
Confedfrssy. Mr., Davis was captured, May
10, 1865, and taken ts Fortress Monroe.
where Ire remained a ps1senyr until 1868,
when he was liberated on bail. On Decem-
Der % of the same year, full and complete
amnesty was accorded him by President
johnson, before which, however, ne pro-
ceeded t. Europe where he sojourned for
a time for the recruitment of his health.
He has since resided ut Memphis, Tenn,
and for the last several years has resided /!
On the Mississippi Coast at Beauvoir, Har-
riSOn comfy