The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-03-27
TILE laws MEMOIR
The Story Of His 1ifs Written BY
His Wife.

A Monument Of Historic Literature
and Wifsly Devotion. New Light
Thrown Upon Dark Places.
"The Memoir of jefferson Davis" by
His Wife, published in Vols, adorned
with many illustrations, by BELFoRn
COMPANY, New York, is more than the
mere story of a mans life, even though
that man was perhaps the most promi-
nent figure of the remarkable period ia
which Inc 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 h sgcer, form also the
BllIe 80 -
their political ana . |bcisi status which
has ever been puo3ished. Before his
death Jefferson Davis contemplated an
autobiography which would place his
career, his character, and his public acts
before the world in their true light. He
prepared many notes and memoranda,
collected many letters and documents.
and had made some progress in the work
when it was cut short by bis death. He
LETT it, however, in such S, pc that Mrs.
Davis was enabled to proc, !, with aud
complete the undertaking IN the lines
laid down by her husband. The work
may therefore be said to he largely auto.
biographical, and Mrs. Davis has wisely
made use of Mr.. Davis's own letters o,
memoranda wherever the scope aud aim
OF the work would best be furthcrcd
thereby. . But her own part of the two
large volumes is splendid performance.
proving the possession of rare historic
genius, discrimination, and literary and
editorial powers, not only altogether cx
ccptional among women, but rema, kablc
u'srous- trafnV,t -1fOyrupnyrx.
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. 3-5:
shortly before his last journey to
Brareld 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 in Philadelphia
The youngest of the brothers, Evan Da
Wis, removed to Georgia, then colony
Of Great Britain. He was the grandfath
er of. Jefferson Davis He married Il
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, 1907, in
what was then Christian County. The
spot is now in Todd County, and ups~s
the exact site of my bi.:1plsoe has since
been built the aRsptiA shurch of Fair
view. My first tuitioh Was in the usual
log cabin school-house; though in tho
summer, when was seven years old,
was sent on horseback through what was
then called The Wilderness'-by the
country of the Choctaw, and Chickasaw
nations-to Kentucky, Gnd was placed in
Catholic institution then known as ST.
Thomas, in Washington County, nca;
the town of Springfield"
In November, 1923, Mr.. Davis was ap
pointed to n cadetship at West Point
lie graduated in July, 1923.
Volume III, of the "MEMoIR" continues
the story of Mr.. 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 unsuspoorea:-.{ftt 10 tbis .sain9,.
especially which will command universal
attention and no doubt occasion much
controversy, inasmuch as many act rs
in the great drama on both sides arc set
in a new and frequently unfavorabc
light. In this particular Mrs. Davis has
felt it to be her duty to her husbands
memory and to herself as historian ="
"nothing eXtcnuate and set down naught
in MALICE; and however hot the contro.
vcrsy this volume may cause, in the end
it can only work for good as violent
thunder-storms clear the air.
"Thc task" says Mrs. Davis, Vol. IT.,
p. l., "of relating my husbands life in
the Confederacy is approached with anx-
ious diffidencc, but it must be fairly set
forth for his Justification I am unwill.
ing ncedlessly 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:
'In May, 1866. an indictment was pro
asai-s-wts1ssss1sr-,.a t1ss1r- n :hieftain in the
United States District Court of Virginia,
held in Richmond. On June nth, OF
the same year, on motion Of Mr.. Bout
well, the House of Representatives, by a
vote of 1O5 yeas to 10 nays, resolved that
Nj. Davis should De heid in custody as 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 6,
1882:
''But there is no ground for argument
with any man who impugns the person i
integrity of Jefferson Davis. The charge
recoifs upon the author. For twenty
years, President Davis has breasted q
storm of obloguy and calumny from every
quarter. Yet, to-day, he stands un-
scathed, the representative man man OF
ho M ,oof frlnr;n,,u o,>n,l of Cn,,tI,orr H.,