The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-14
Mr.. DAVIS RESTING PLACE.
Approval Expressed at the Selection Of
Richmond.
MRS. DAVIS REPLY TO THE COMMITTEE.
A Conference VIII Soon be Held to Discuss
an. mo.t Desirable Sites offered for the
Interment of tho Remains.

N
er-Congressman, Senator and Secretary OF War
~ tho TTnited States, and ex-President OF the
Confederate States Of America will rest in VIZ
oinia's soil. and at the former capital OF the
Confederacy.
There il little need TO recall tho well-known
claims of Virginia, and more especially OF Rich
mond to the right to furnish for the Confed-
crate President last resting place.
In Richmond, the very seat OF war ne
spent the prime OF his life amid the
rattle OF musketry, the roar OF cannon, and OF
the sound of bursting she is; from Richmond
the capital OF the Coniederacy, ne sent ms or
ders far and wide all through the southern
States, and when Rlchmonda and with II the Con
federacy, fell il was still IN Virginia that ne was
kept prisoner for high crimes and mlsde;
meanors against the Government OF the United
Statos. Veterans from all parts OF the south
recognizing the appropriateness OF Rlchmonds
claims, added their appeals to those OF VIZ
glniss sons and MIS- Davis sctl9r wil De in
now is, Where shall be the sepulchre? mrs.
Davis, it is understood, desires that the body
shall rest in the. grounds OF the DAVIS Mansion;
The selection Of the place OF lnterment WILL OF
course. be left with her.
THE LAST RESTING PLACE
There will be many competitors for the honor
of furnishing lasting resting place Tor Mr.
Davis remains, as well as for the site OF the
The executive committee Of Hollywood.
at Superintendent Hoopers suggestion more
than a year ago. and soon after the death OF Mr.
Davis wrote to Mrs Davis Offering her sec.
ton i'll Hollywood cemetery FOR the remains OF
the late COnfederacy's ex-Presldent ana 1amiiy.
Mrs. Davis. while expressing her gratitude tor
the offer, declined 10 answer at once, as she de-
sired years time to decide the complicated ana
conflicting claims OF the various states WneIe
Mr.. Davis had passed the active scenes OF MS
Her final reply to the committee of citizens
and the Davis Monument Association Is as toI-
lows:
HER REPLY.
General Joseph r. Anderson, J. Taylor Ellyson'
General IeytOn Wise, Judge George l.. CnTls-
tian, Colonel John b Cary:
Gentlemen, Through you return the CRATE
full acknowledgment Of my children ana lnyseli
to President }. j. urceu and the Chamber OF
Commerce OF Richmond, well as 10 the state
Of Virginia, for the many CORDIAL utterances
they have made regarding ex-President DAVIS
While he lived and strOye viii powerful zoe
their moral support was equal 10 their supytan-
tial aid. and went very far towards strengthen
ing his soul for the conflict. unequal as ~ was
In answer TO your invitation, yield my nus
band mortal remains TO the care or virginia
secure in the certainty that they viii rest among
his friends who stood firm in defeat, as they
did in the dawn OF the Confederate states eG-
stence ana prefer Richmond as the place OF MS
interment.
Enclosed is an open letter setting forth the
rea ons FOR my choice OF sepulchre IN virginia
and it only remains for me 10 thank you, his
old and tired friends, for the tender man
fNN"N%f"~N~
Jaw ''''' Believe me faithfully yours,
N.JEFFERsON DAVIS.
New York Hotel, n. Y, July 9, 1891.
A CONFERENCE.
Mayor Ellyson yesterday morning informed
TEE IMRs reporter that on the return 10 the
city of President }. Il. Purcell. Of the Chamber
Of Commerce. steps would be immediately
taken for the holding OF conference TO discuss
the most desirable sites offered Tor the inter
ment of the remains.
The Davis Monument Ass9IGia'i sFtor "h,f I
Davis death, is oifcered as follows: Hon.
j.. Taylor Lllyson, prssident;, Major Lewis
Ginter, yice-president; ". D Chesterman, sec
retary; John ). Eliett. treasurer; d G. Richard
SON Hon. George j.. Christian, L. ii. Mayo and
General Peyton Wise, executive committee.
This Association was chartered by the General
Contributions for the monument, of which q
large number have already been received. VIII
pour in from all quarters-from Virginia to
Texas. from Georgia to Arkansas and this me
moral when unveiled will doubtless be one iof
the most magnificent and taultless that our
people have yet seen, and Will be lasting mon
ument 10 one Of the great leaders OF the lost
cause. The Davis Mansion, the White House
Of the Confederacy. under the control OF the
ladies of the Southern Memorial Society, will
be converted into museum OF Confederate re-
cords and curlOsltles.
THE DAVIS MANSION.
Should this spot be chosen for Mr.. Davis last
home, the place would be peculiarly appropriate,
home during the stormy days OF the siege OF
Richmond but on account OF lis present use.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY.
Jefferson Davis. son OF Samuel Davis, who had
served IN the Georgia cavalry during the heyO
luton. was horn in that part Of Christian
county, Kentucky. winch now forms load
county, June 3. 1905. The family. owing 10
their sons infancy removed TO Noodvlile, MISS.
Young Davis entered TTansylyania College,
Kentucky but left in 1924 Oh his appointment
by President Monroe to the United States Mill
tGry Academy. After graduation, he fought IN
the Black Hawk War IN 1875. After romantic
elopement he married the daughter Of Zachary
Taylor, then colonel IN the Omtet otates
Army, and settled near Ycksburg, Miss
lie fought in the Mexican war with tho rank
President Polk. but declined tic commission on
the ground that militia appointment by the
Executive was uncOnst1iuuOnai
He was successfully presidential elector IN
1914, a Congressman IN lsi0' senator by ap-
pointment in 1877, and by election IN lslS; was
reelected 70 the Senate in 1850 for full term,
and was Secretary of War under Pierces admin
istration. He was always Jealous advocate OF
States rights. and took an active part IN the dis
cussions on various phases OF the slavery ques-
Mississippi withdrew from the Union January
O. 1861 and on January 2th Mr.. DAVIS resigned
from the Senate and left for home. Before he
reached Mississippi he had been appointed
with the rank OF major general, but resigned
February 18th TO accept the Presidency Of tho
Confederate States. His war history Is too well
known 10 call for repetition Aftor his release
from fortress Monroe, LAY b. 1867 he Travelled for
some time; was president OF an insurance COM
pany in Memphis, Tenn, and at last settled az
Beauyoir, Miss. where ne remained quietly I'M
Ill his death. Mr. Davis published some years
before his death Tho Rise and Fall Of the Con-
federacy."