The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-06-03
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

son Davis, many OFalOFb, many VIII
ers and others, have always made II
rule to speak and write of his
achievements after the tocsin of wal
rang out in the sixties. Many lose
sight OF the fact that Mr.. Davis was
great statesman. a great soldier
long before Fort Sumpter! Indeed he
had served in the cabinet OF the Unit
ed States; had served in both branch
es of her congress: had been named
briSadier general OF United States
volunteers and vas the choice of many
Democrats for the presidency of the
United States, many many years be
fore secession was ever dreamed of.
For these reasons we are inclined to
believe that review OF his earlier
attainments would be interesting.
One hundred and eight years ago
today in an ordinary farm house at
Abberville, Christian county Ken
lucky, Jefferson Davis first saw light
At very early age he removed with
his parents 10 Wilkinson county in the
state OF Mississippi. where he re-
ccived an ordinary academic educa-
ton. In his boybood lie craved a
military life and while he entered
Pennsylvania university IN 1922 no
only remained there two or three
years and left to enter the United
States military academy al West Point
from which he graduated with full
honors In 1928. For several years af.
teFward young Davis saw service IN
he Black Hawk war and in various
expeditions against the Indians and IN
all OF these events he won reward and
promotion for gallantry In action. In
1885 he left the army, returned to
Mississippi and became a great cot
ton planter. A few years later Mr..
Davis won for his bride the beautifl
daughter Of General Zachary Taylor,
afterwards president of the United
States. The quiet life of the farm,
however. did not appeal to MIR. Davis
and his wife and in 1874 he sought
political preferment and was elected
TO congress, having first served as a
Democratic eleetor in the same year
In the meantime, the Mexican war
came along and the heart of the con
gresham yearned for the field of bat
tie again and having rendered his
sword to Gen. Taylor. his fatherin.
law. he engaged In the Mexican war
of lS4t Z. So conspicuous was his
service and so pronounced was his gal.
lantry, at Monterey aud Buena Vista,
that he was appointed a brigadier gen
eral of volunteers by President Pierce.
This however he refused to accept.
holding that such an appointment
ought to come from the governor
of his own state and that to accept
the appointment, would mean to SUR
render hts faith in tho theory OF
states rights, However. the fates
smiled on Jefferson Davis aud few
weeks afterwards, senator from
Mississippi died IN Office and Governor
Brown, of that state uamed him to
fiji the vacancy. He held the Office
until the expiration of the term a,tl
later in 1850. he was elected 10 the
senate for full term Senator Dp
Wis made great record in the sen
ate; ways stood for states rights
and was chairmau Of the committee
ON military affairs. In 1853. however
he resigned his seat in the senate t.
become secretary of war, in the ad
usinistration of President Pierce
When President Ruchannon was inau
rated, MIR Davis retired from the cab
met. but was promptly elected To the
senate again by the legislature ol
Mississippi where. as usual. he tooi
high rank aud was often spoken Of
as the Democratic candidate for the
presidency Before this term wa.
ended the civil war came and Sen
ator Davis ON january n. took leav,
OF the senate, his state OF Mississippi
having IN the day before seeded rrln
the union. Two weeks later. the Con
federate congress in session at Mont