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Davis (JEFFERSON an American three)

JEFFERSON, an American three years old, his father removed with co., Ky., June 3, 1808. When he was three years old, his father removed with his family to Wilkinson co., Miss. He received an academical education and entered Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., in 1822, which he left in 1824 to enter the United States Military Academy from which he was graduated in 1828. He was appointed a second Lutenant of infantry, and served on the Northwestern frontier during the Black Hawk War of 1831-1832. In 1831 he was promoted to first lieutenant of draemployed in operations against the Pawemployed in operations against the Pawnees, Comanches, and other Indian tribes. In June, 1835, he resigned his nees, Comanches, and other Indian commission, and retired to a cotton began to take an interest in politics upon plantation in Mississippi. In 1843 he the Democratic side; and in 1844 was chosen a presidential elector. In 1845 he was elected a Representative to Congress; but resigned in 1846, having been elected colonel of the First Mississippi in the Mexican War, greatly distinguishing himself at Monterey and Buena Vista, and being severely wounded in the latter battle. He was appointed a Brigadier-General of volunteers by President Polk in 1847, but declined the commission on the grounds that, by the Constitution, the militia appointments were reserved to the States, and that such appointments by the President were in violation of State rights.

The same year he was chosen to fill a DAVIS vacancy in the United States Senate, and Secretary of War by President Pierce, a full term. In 1853 he was appointed United States Senate, when he took a a full term. In 1853 he was appointed prominent place among the Southern and in 1857 was again elected to the leaders, and was among the most determined of them all in his assertions of the rights of the States under the Constitu- JEFFERSON DAVIS tion, and also of the right of secession.

On Jan. 21, 1861, he took his leave of the State, his connection with that body was Senate in a speech in which he gave his opinion that, by the secession of his ate Congress, at Montgomery, Ala., chose him President, under the Provisional Constitution, on Feb. 9, 1861, and he accepted the office on the 16th. responded by a proclamation authorizing privateering; and on Aug. 14 issued a On April 17, two days after the first proclamation of President Lincoln, he years and upward, owing a the United States, to leave the Confederacy within 40 days, or be treated allegiance to as alien enemies. On Nov. 6 he was chosen permanent President, and was in- DAVIS augurated Feb. 22, 1862. Mr. Davis continued to be President of the Southern Confederacy until his capture at Irwinsville, Ga., May 10, 1865, having left Richmond a few hours before before General Lee withdrew his troops, and after General Lee's surrender, when he was endeavoring to reach the Army of the West. He was conveyed to Fort Monroe, and indicted by the Grand Jury of the District of Columbia for treason. He was never brought to trial; never asked pardon, and only asked a trial; but, after two years' imprisonment, was released, at the instance of the Government, on bail, Horace Greeley becoming one of his sureties. He was included in the General Amnesty Act of Congress (Dec. 25, 1868). The last years of his life were spent at Beauvoir, Miss. He died in New Orleans, La., Dec. 6, 1889, and in 1893, amid imposing ceremonies, his remains were removed to Richmond, Va., and reinterred in Hollywood Cemetery. He wrote a narrative of the events of 1861- 1865. "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government" (1881).