Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-07
HIS cAREna.
A Youth Of Distinguished Promise, A.
Man he Won UDenviable Fame In
Leading the Lost Cause.

Jefferson Davis was born in that part Of
Christian county, KY. shich now forms
Todd county, June 8. 1903. He entered
Transylvania college, Kentucky, but left In
1924, on his appointment by President Mon.
roe TO the United States military academy
On his graduation in 1928 he was assigned to
the lst lnfantr, and served on the frontier,
taking part in the Black Hawk war of 1872
He wa. promoted to first heu,ena of
Dragons on March 4, 1888, but after II ore
service against the Indians, abruptly resigned
on June 80, 1885, having married, after a
romantic elOpem. Mt, the daughter Of Zachary
Taylor, then q colonel, and afterward be-
came q cotton planter in ls43. lie then
began to interest himself in politics a.
democrat and took 4 prominent PAR. In the
election of Mr.. Polk. He was returned to
congress in ls45, and took part in the de-
bates on the tariff the "Oregon question 4"
military affairs" and upon the ''prepara-
,ions for the Mexican War"
Upon the breaking out of this contest, he
was elected colonel of the Mississippi regi-
ment of volunteers. when he resigned his
seat in Congress, and joined the army of
General Taylor on the Rio Grande He was
engaged at the storming Of Monterey, and in
the battle of Buepa Vista. In ls47, he was
elected Senator for Mississippi; IN 1850 he
became chairman Of the committee on mill
tary affairs, and was distinguished by the
energy with which he defended slavery, and
BY his Jealous advocacy of State rights. In
1851 he resigned his seat in the Senate to en-
ter upon a canvass for Franklin Pierce, who,
on being elected President, appointed Mr..
Davis as secretary of war He WAS again
elected senator in 1858; but the election of
Mr.. Lincoln in 1860, and the secess sion move
ment caused him 70 withdraw
In the year 1858 he made tour of the
eastern States. making speeches in the larger
cities. among them Portland. At thar time
he was given the honorary degree Of Doctor
of Laws by BOwdoin college.
Before Congress nj in the fail of 1860
Mr.. Davis was summoned to Washington by
President Buchanan's cabinet TO make sug-
gestions in regard to the forthcoming mes
sage. His suggestions were sdop ed. In
the Senate during that session he made two
speeches on the state of the country.
In the second, Jan. 10, 1861. he asserted
the right Of secession. Mississippi had Sc
ceded the day before and on Jan. %. Mr.
Davis, having been informed of the fact,
withdrew from the Senate and went to his
home, after making 4 speech defending the
cause. He was then appointed commander
in-chief Of the Confederate forces and was
soon afteward made president Of the Confed-
crate Staes. The attack Oh Sumter precip-
itated the war, and Mr.. Davis in q message
to the provisional Confederate Congress
commended the act He thus became the
leader of the Rebellion. Lee surrendered
and the Confederate President became =
prisoner of the government.
In 1865 Jefferson Davis was taken to For
T. e
two years. On May, 1866. Mr.. Davis was
indicted for treason BY grand jury in the
United States Court for the district of Vir-
g,nia, sitting at Norfolk under Judge Under
wood. the charge Of completely in the asssssi-
nation Of the President having been dropped.
On the 5,h Of June at = session OF the cour;
held in Richmond, James r. Brady. one Of
Mr.. Davis counsel. urged that the trial be
held without delay; but the government de-
ciined to proceed on the indictment. urging
| the importance of the trial and the necessity
Of preparation for it The court refused
| to admit the prisoner 10 bail. On the 18th
| Of May, 1867, he was brought before the
| court at Richmond on writ Of haSeas corpus
| and admitted to bail in the amount of $780,
| COO, the first name Of the baii-bond being
H,race Greedy.
| Davis release gave much satisfaction Ia
the Southern people. The interest taken in
him during his imprisonment and their pre-
valent idea that be vss 70 suffer - . repre-
sentative Of the South rather than for the
sins Of his own, and was .sthe nations pris
ouer.' had made him more popular than he
had been since the first d Of the var
| After an enthusiastic reception ss Richmond
he went to New York, then to Canada. ant
in the summer Of 1865 visited England, {