The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-03-27
THE DAVIS MEMOIR.
The Story Of His Life Written By
His Wife.

The Story Of His Life Written By
His Wife.
"A Monument of Historic Literature
and Wifely Devotion. New Light
Thrown Upon Dark Places.
The Memoir of jefferson Davis.n by
His Wife, published in 2 Vols. adorned
with many illustrations, by BELFoRn
COMPANY, New York, is more than the
mere story of mans life, even though
that man was perhaps; the most promi-
nent figure of the remarkable period in
which he lived. Jefferson Davis was the
heart and head of the Confederacy, the
representative of those principles to up
hold which the South fought for four
years In one of the bitterest struggles of
modern times, and these volumes, which
tell the story of b, rsareer, form also the
fstkse 7IIzs 3 ;s1sIl >(s &c ~ s2ssheys s
their political and social status Which
mas ever been published. Before his
ucath Jefferson Davis contemplated an
autoDiogrrapby which would place his
career, his character, and his public acts
before the world in their true light. He
prepared many notes and memoranda,
coiiected many letters and documents,
ana mad made some progress in the work
wnen 1t was cut short by his death. He
,Sit IL, however, in such shape that Mrs.
DAVIS was enabled to proceed with and
complete the undertaking on the lines
'aid down by her husband. The work
may therefore be said to he largely auto
biographical, and Mrs. Davis has wisely
made use OF MIR. Davis's own letters @,
memoranda wherever the scope and aim
oi the work would best be furthered
thereby. . But her own part of the two
largo. volumes is a splendid performance.
proving the possession of rare historic
genius, Discrimination, and literary and
editorial powers, not only altogether ex.
ceptlonal among women, but remal kable
Volume I, includes the period of Mr..
Davis's life up to his retirement from the
Senate. A comprehensive sketch of his
ancestry and boyhood is given. Vol. ].
PIP. So:
Shortly before his last journey to
Briareld he dictated to friend an ac-
count of his ancestry and early boyhood.
Three brothers came to America from
Wales i'll the early part of the eighteenth
century. They settled a. a. Philadelphia
The youngest of the brothers, Evan Da.
Wis, removed to Georgia, then a colony
of Great Britain. He was the grandfath
er of. Jefferson Davis. He married
widow, whose family name was Emory.
BY her he had one son, Samuel Davis,
the father of Jefferson Davis.
was born on the Sd Of June, 1S0a, in
what was then Christian County. The
spot is now in Todd County, and upon
the exact site of my bi,s;oplace has since
been built .he RsptiAz lhurch of Fair
view. Ny first tuition Mas in the usual
logcabin school-house; though in the
summer, when was seven years old, l
was sent on horseback through what was
then called The Wilderness'-by the
country of the Choctaw{ and Chickasaw
nations-to Kentucky, 3Ghd was placed in
Catholic institution then known as ST.
Thomas, in Washingtbn County, nea;
the town of Springfeld"
In November, 1898, Mr.. Davis was ap.
pointed to a cadetship at West Point
He graduated in. July, 1928.
Volume ii, of the "MEMoIR" continues
the story of MIR. Davis's career after his
resignation from the Senate and his re-
turn to Mississippi, and includes the mo.
mentous period of his presidential in
cumbency, the Civil War; his arrest and
imprisonment, and closes with his death.
Mrs. Davis has wisely elaborated this
portion of the "Memoir," and has collect.
ed an immense mass of data from sources
hitherto Ghstrspeefe s@t is this .Yolum,
especially which will command universal
attention and no doubt occasion much
in the great drama on both sides are set
light. In this particular Mrs. Davis has
felt 1T to be her duty to her husbands S
memory and to herself as historian to
'nothing extenuate and set down naught
in malice"; and however hot the contro.
versy this volume may cause, in the end
it can only work for good as violent
thunder-storms clear the air.
"The task, says Mrs. Davis, Vol. H.,
p. L., "of relating my husbands life in
the Confederacy is approached with anx-
ious diffidence, but it must be fairly set
forth for his justification. I am unwill-
ing needlessly to antagonize any part of
the country, but love my own with devo.
tion proportionate to the great sacrifices
made in its behalf"
VOL H., p. 776: 80
'In May, 1865. an Indictment was pro
cntea a as.s "a nhieftain in the
United States District Court of Virginia
held in Richmond On June 18th, OF
the same year, on motion of Mr. Bout
well, the House of Representatives, by a
qote of 105 yeas to 10 nays, resolved that
Mr.. Davis should be held in custody rs a
prisoner, and subjected to trial accord
ing to the laws of the land Mr.. Davis
in the meantime, was exceedingly anx-
ious to meet the questions arising on any
indictment which might be presented"
The following is quoted from William
Preston Johnston's letter of January g.,
1889:
..But there is no ground for argument
with any man who impugns the person i
integrity Of Jefferson Davis. The charge
recoils upon the author. For twenty
years, President Davis has breasted a
storm Of obloquy and calumny from every
I