The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-06-12

sas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,
South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
The day is Confederate memorial
day in Louisiana.
The following unadorned sketch OF
the life of the only president of the
Confederate States will give some
idea of the greatness of the man:
Jefferson Davis was born in
Christian, now Todd county, Ken
lucky, June 3, 1903. He died in New
Orleans, La, December 6, 1889. His
father was of Welsh descent; his
mother was of Scotch-Irish blood.
Both were of the sound middle class
home-making Americans. His father
was a Revolutionary soldier, who,
after farming for while in Georgia,
removed to Kentucky, then to Louisi-
ana and finally to Woodville in south
west Mississippi, where Jefferson Da-
Wis spent his boyhood days. He at
tended the country schools of his
home county, spent two years at Saint
Thomas college, Catholic institution
in Kentucky, and three years at Tran
sylvania university, Lexington, KY,
then one of the best institutions in
the United States. In 1924 he en-
tered West Point and in 1928 was
graduated, ranking rather low in his
class. Up to this time Davis had
shown himself to be normal boy OF
refined nature, full of fun at times,
but usually serious and reserved, OF
strong opinions and fair student.
From 1928 to 1885 he served in the
United States army on the Western
frontiers. He proved to be an effl-
cient officer, but had no opportunity
to distinguish himself. In 1888 he
was among the few young officers
chosen for promotion to the newly
organized regiment of dragons. He
resigned his commission with the ar
my to marry the daughter Of Colonel
Zachary Taylor and settled upon a
plantation, 'Briarfeld,' in Mississippi,
given him by his older brother, Jo-
seph Davis. A few months after his
marriage his wife died. This was a
severe blow to Davis, who for the
next seven years lived secluded life
upon his plantation. During this
time he read widely and deeply in
political and social science, Joseph
Davis, his brother, an able and well
educated lawyer and an extreme JEFF
fersonian as to government, being his
constant companion. The views of
Jefferson Davis formed during this
period were lasting, and since at this
time he missed the contact with other
men, his politics were to certain ex-
tent of the closest, and he never quite
understood human nature and public
opinion.
"From this studious retirement Da-
Wis emerged in 1S43 as Democratic
candidate for the legislature. He was
not elected, but he reduced the Whig
majority considerably. The next year
as a Polk elector he campaigned so
effectively that in 1S45 his party sent
him to congress. From the beginning
he was an active member; he assisted
in framing the tariff act of 1S46, ad-
vocated in opposition to the admins
tration a continuance of the joint oc-
cupancy of Oregon, and supported the
administration in it's Mexican policy.
when the Mexican war began Da-
Wis resigned his seat in congress and
became colonel of the First Mississip-
pi Rifles. His command reached Mex
leo in time to render distinguished
service throughout the campaign in
northern Mexico. Colonel Davis was
conspicuous for bravery at Monterey
and Buena Vista. He was one of the
commissioners to arrange for capitu-
lation of the former place. For his
service he was offered the rank of
brigadier general, but declined the
honor.
"Soon after his return Davis was
appointed to the. United States senate
to fill a vacancy. This appointment
was ratified by the Mississippi legis-
lature, which three years after re-
elected him for the full term, 1851
1857. In the senate Davis was a
working member. He was made chair
man of the committee on military af-
fairs, an important committee after
the Mexican war. He opposed the
compromise of 1850, favoring the ex-
tension of the Missouri compromise
line to the Pacific. Perhaps the most
important thing that he did was to
formulate the Southern position in