jefferson davis president of the confederacy · but the jefferson davis home (and the state...
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Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy
CompiledbyD.A.Sharpe
JeffersonFinisDavisservedaspresidentoftheConfederateStatesofAmericaduringtheWarBetweentheStates.Hehasbeencalledthemanwho"symbolizedthesolemnconvictionsandtragicfortunesofmillionsofmen."HewasnotpopularwiththepeopleoftheSouthduringthewar,buthewontheirrespectandaffectionafterthewarthroughhissufferinginprisonandalsothroughhislifelongdefenseoftheSoutherncause.JeffersonDavisismy33rdcousin,onceremoved.HeistheUncletoSusanahElizabethDavisAbney,wifeofJames(Jim)AddisonAbneyofLufkin,Texas.Jimisabrother-in-lawofMarthaJaneDixonAbney,daughterofJudgeFelixBenedictDixon,theancestorbywhommy
qualificationwasdocumentedformembershipintheSonsoftheRepublicofTexas.PresidentDavis'firstwife,SarahKnoxTaylor,ismy33rdcousin.Sarahisthethirdcousin,fivetimesremovedtomyson-in-law,StevenO.Westmoreland.JeffersonFinisDavisisthebrotheroffather-in-lawofmygreatgranduncle.
Davis’marriagetoSarahKnoxTaylor,thesister-in-lawtomygreatuncleJames(BigJim)AddisonAbney,wasJune17,1835.Unfortunately,SarahdiedSeptember15,1835.Davis’secondmarriagewastoVarinaAnneBanksHowellonFebruary28,1845,adecadelater.Daviswasastatesmanwithwideexperience.HeservedintheUnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativesandtheSenate,andasaCabinetmember.Healsowondistinctionasasoldier.HewasathoughtfulstudentoftheConstitutionandofpoliticalphilosophy.
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Earlylife:DaviswasbornonJune3,1808,inFairview,Christian(laterTodd)County,Kentucky.FairviewliesontheboundarybetweenChristianandToddCounties,Kentucky.In1820,whenToddCo.wascreatedfromeasternChristianCo.andwesternLoganCo.,thetownofFairviewofficiallybecamepartofChristianCo.,buttheJeffersonDAVIShome(andthestatehistoricmonument)areontheToddCo.sideoftheline.Hisfather,SamDavis,wasaveteranoftheRevolutionaryWar.Hisolderbrother,Joseph,movedtoMississippiandbecameasuccessfulplanter.TheDavisfamilymovedtherewhileJeffersonwasstillaninfant,andhegrewupinWilkinsonCounty.Heattendedthecountyacademy,thenenteredTransylvaniaUniversityinKentucky.Attheageof16,heenteredtheU.S.MilitaryAcademy,andgraduatedwithcomparativelylowgradesin1828.Davis'ArmycareertookhimtoFortsHowardandCrawfordontheWisconsinfrontier.HefoughtincampaignsagainsttheIndians,andtookchargeofIndianprisonerremovalaftertheBlackHawkWar.DavisresignedfromtheArmyin1835.Davis'family:In1835,DavismarriedSarahTaylor,daughterofhiscommander,ColonelZacharyTaylor,wholaterbecameageneralandPresidentoftheUnitedStates.DavistookhisbridetoMississippiandsettleddowntoliveasacottonplanter.Butwithinthreemonths,bothheandhiswifebecameillwithfever,andMrs.Davisdied.Davistraveledforayear,whileheregainedhisstrength.Forseveralyearsafterhisreturntohisplantation,Brierfield,ontheMississippiRiver,Davisstudiedhistory,economics,politicalphilosophy,andtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates.Hemanagedhisplantationsuccessfully,andbecamewealthy.In1845,DavismarriedVarinaHowell,whosefamilylivedonTheBriars,anestatenearNatchez,Miss.Thecouplehadsixchildren:Samuel,MargaretHowellHayes,Jefferson,Joseph,William,andVarinaAnne.VarinaAnne,nicknamedWinnie,becameknownastheDaughteroftheConfederacy.Mrs.Davis(Varina)wasabrillianthostess.Shedidmuchtoadvanceherhusband'spoliticalcareerandablyhelpedhimduringtheCivilWar.Hispoliticalcareer.Davisbecameinterestedinpoliticsin1843,andwonaseatasaDemocratintheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesin1845.HeresignedfromCongressinJune1846tobecomeacolonelinaregimentofMississippivolunteersintheMexicanWar.HeservedunderGeneralZacharyTaylorinnorthernMexico,anddistinguishedhimselfforbraveryinthebattlesofMonterreyandBuenaVista.HisdeploymentofhismeninaVshapegavehimcreditforwinningthebattleofBuenaVista.Duringthebattle,Davisfoughtalldaywithabulletinhisfoot.ThegovernorofMississippiappointedDavisin1847tofilloutthetermofaUnitedStatessenatorwhohaddied.Thenextyearthestatelegislatureelectedhimforthe
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restoftheterm,andin1850forafullterm.HenryClay'sfamouscompromisemeasurescamebeforetheSenatein1850,andDavistookanactivepartinopposingthemindebate.HebelievedinastrictinterpretationoftheConstitution,andloyallysupportedSenatorJohnC.Calhoun,aSouthernstates'rightsleader.DavisbelievedthatMississippishouldnotaccepttheCompromiseof1850,andresignedfromtheSenatein1851tobecomethecandidateoftheStates'RightsDemocratsforgovernor.Helosttheelection,andretiredtohisplantationinWilkinsonCounty.Secretaryofwar.PresidentFranklinPierceappointedDavisSecretaryofWarMarch7,1853.DavisimprovedandenlargedtheArmyduringhisterm.Oneofhisearliestactswastohearandheed"thedemandsformilitaryair,orderingtheestablishmentofapostatsomepracticablelocationintheDavisMountainsRegion,theheartoftheMescaleroApachecountry.Pursuanttothis,orderscamedownmilitarychannelsfortroopsinTexastomarchwestwardandtolocatethepost."This,ofcourse,becameFortDavis.Source:"OldFortDavis,"Page9.
Heintroducedanimprovedsystemofinfantrytactics,andbroughtinnewandbetterweapons.HeorganizedengineercompaniestoexploreroutesforrailroadsfromtheMississippiRivertothePacificCoast.HeeventriedtheexperimentofimportingcamelsforArmyuseinthewesterndeserts.AtthecloseofthePierceAdministrationin1857,DaviswasreelectedtotheSenatefromMississippi.IntheSenate,Davisnolongeradvocatedsecession,buthedefendedtherightsoftheSouthandslavery.HeopposedStephenA.Douglas'"FreeportDoctrine,"whichheldthatthepeopleofaterritorycouldexcludeslaverybyrefusingtoprotectit.DavisalsoopposedDouglas'ambitiontobetheDemocraticpresidentialcandidatein1860.OnJanuary21,1861,thefuturepresidentoftheConfederacy,JeffersonDavisofMississippi,andfourotherSouthernersresignedfromtheU.S.Senate.OnFebruary18,1861,Daviswassworn
inasthePresidentoftheConfederacy,coincidentlyonthesamedaythatSamuelClemens(akaMarkTwain)published"TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn."Macon,NoxubeeCounty,Mississippiisanimportantplaceforourfamily,withtheBoggessfamilyhavingdeeprootsthere.ThemainstreetofMaconisnames
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JeffersonStreet,It'snamingpurportedlycamefromtheoccasionwhenJeffersonDavislaidthecornerstonefortheNoxubeeCountyCourthousein1860.Thiswasthesecondcourthousetobebuiltonthatsiteinthecentralpartoftown.SpokesmanfortheSouth:Davisbecamethechampionoftheconstitutionalrightofastatetochooseandmaintainitsowninstitutions.HedemandedthatCongressprotectslaveryintheterritories.Inthepositionshetook,DavisconsideredhimselftheheirofCalhoun.AfterAbrahamLincolnwaselectedPresidentoftheUnitedStates,MississippipassedanOrdinanceofSecession,andDavisresignedfromtheSenatein1861.DavishopedtobecomeheadoftheArmyoftheConfederateStates.ButshortlyafterhisreturntoMississippi,theconventionatMontgomery,Ala.,namedhimProvisionalPresidentoftheConfederacy.HetooktheoathofofficeinMontgomery,AlabamaonFebruary18,1861.HewasinauguratedasregularPresidentoftheConfederacyonFebruary22,1862.HisConfederateVicePresidentwasAlexanderH.Stephens.LeaderoftheConfederacy:DaviswasprobablynotthewisestchoiceforPresident.Hishealthwaspoor.Althoughhewasagoodadministrator,heprovedtobeapoorplanner.HehaddifficultieswithhisConfederateCongress,andbittercriticscondemnedhismanagementofthewar,chargingthathewastoowatchfulofhispowers.SomemodernhistoriansviewDavisasarigidconstitutionalistwhowastooinflexibleinhisideasoncommandandstrategy.SoonafterGeneralRobertE.Leesurrendered,Daviswastakenprisoner,andimprisonedatFortMonroe.Agrandjuryindictedhimfortreason,andhewasheldinprisontwoyearsawaitingtrial.PresidentAbrahamLincolnandConfederateVicePresidentAlexanderH.StephensheldapeaceconferenceaboardashipofftheVirginiacoastonFebruary3,1876.ThetalksdeadlockedovertheissueofSouthernautonomy.HoraceGreeleyandotherNorthernmenbecamehisbondsmenin1867,andhewasreleasedonbail.Hewasnevertried.OnFebruary25,1870,HiramR.Revels,aRepublican,becamethefirstblackmemberoftheUnitedStatesSenateashewasswornintoserveouttheunexpired
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termofJeffersonDavis.Eventhoughheresignedin1861,theCivilWarhadprecludedSenaterepresentationformSouthernStates.Hislastyears:Davisspenthislastyearswritingandstudyingat"Beauvoir,"hishomeatBiloxi,Miss.,neartheGulfofMexico.DavispublishedTheRiseandFalloftheConfederateGovernmentin1881asadefenseagainsthiscritics.DavisappearedoftenatConfederatereunions,andeventuallywontheadmirationofhisfellowSoutherners.In1876,theUniversityofTexasAgriculturalandMechanicalSchoolwasdedicatedasthefirstpublicinstituteofhighereducationinTexas.JeffersonDaviswasofferedthebeginningPresidency,whichwasadistincthonorforhim.Heconsideredthegenerousofferandelectedtoremaininhisretirement.HediedonDec.6,1889,andwasburiedinNewOrleans.HisbodywasmovedtoRichmondin1893.ThestateofMississippipresentedastatueofDavistoStatuaryHallintheU.S.Capitolin1931.Davis'birthday,June3,isalegalholidayinsevenSouthernstates.LouisianacelebratesitasConfederateMemorialDay.KentuckycelebratesitasConfederateMemorialDayandasDavis'birthday.(Source:WorldBookEncyclopedia,CDVersion,1998,Contributor:ThomasL.Connelly,Ph.D.,FormerProfessor.ofHistory,University.ofSouthCarolina)In1978PresidentJimmyCartersignedabillrestoringU.S.citizenshiptoConfederatePresidentJeffersonDavis.(Source:http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/20031017.html?th)AboutthepoliticalinclusivenessofDavid,thefollowingisquitedescriptive:"ThisarticleshowsadifferentsideofJeffersonDavis,theConfederacy,andtheSouth--asideunder-appreciatedifevenknownbymostAmericans.WiththeexceptionofDavisscholarsandnon-mainstreamSouthernscholars,mostmaynotknowthatPresidentDavisbroadenedthecircleofinclusionforminoritycommunities,thattheConfederacywasvigorouslysupportedbyminoritycommunities,includingCatholics,Jews,andNativeAmericans,andthatreligiousminoritiessucceededpoliticallymoresointheantebellumSouththanintheNorth."WhenDavisputtogethertheinauguralcabinetoftheConfederacy,henotonlyincludedmenfromvariousSouthernstates,heincludedmenfromvariousreligiouscommunities.InchoosingProtestants,Catholics,andJews,Davisforgedthefirsttri-faithadministrationinAmericanhistory,somethingthatwouldnothappenagainuntilthetwentiethcentury.ConsideringthehistoryofreligiousconflictintheWest,
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thiswasnosmallachievement.Furthermore,whencomparingtheConfederateAdministrationofJeffersonDavisandtheUnionAdministrationofAbrahamLincoln,Davis'wasconsistentlymorediverse,morereligiouslyinclusivethanLincoln's."ItmaybesaidthatDaviswasaheadofhistime.Ontheissueofdiversity,Davispushedtheacceptableboundsofnineteenth-centuryAmericanpoliticsasnochiefexecutivehaddonebeforehimoranyinthedecadesimmediatelyafterhim.Throughexecutiveappointment,PresidentDavisrecognizedthethreegreatreligiouspeoplesthathaveshapedthecourseofAmericanhistory--Protestants,Catholics,andJews."ThispurposeofthisarticleisnotonlytodescribetheextenttowhichJeffersonDavisemployedthepoliticsofrecognition,italsoofferstwocluesastowhyheusedit:hispersonalcharacterandthepartycultureoftheDemocraticPartyofwhichDaviswasalife-longmember."Souce:http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-141167602.html
JeffersonDaviswasdeeplyreligious.DaviswasbroughtuptobelieveintheBible.HestudiedtheBiblecarefully,inEnglishandinGreek,andhequotedfromitrepeatedlyinhisletters.31Heattendedchurchregularly.Ontwooccasionsaftertwoofhischildrenhaddiedprematurely,hewasheardtosay,"Notmywill,butthywillbedone."WhileDaviswasawayfromhomefightingintheMexicanWar,hewrotetohiswifeandaskedifshehadrememberedhisrequest"onthesubjectofprayer"becausehewantedtobesureshewasbeingprayerful.Healsoadvisedherto"bepious,becalm,beuseful,andcharitableandtemperateinallthings."AspresidentoftheConfederacy,Davisproclaimednationaldaysofprayerandfasting.Onmorethanoneoccasion,hewasseenkneelinginprayerinthepresidentialmansion.
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Source:http://michaelgriffith1.tripod.com/jeffersondavis.htm.“JEFFERSONDAVIS:HISCHARACTER,LEADERSHIPSTYLE,ANDRACERELATIONS,byMichaelT.Griffith,2003.MichaelT.GriffithholdsaBachelorofSciencedegreefromExcelsiorCollegeinAlbany,NewYork,twoAssociateinAppliedSciencedegreesfromtheCommunityCollegeoftheAirForce,andanAdvancedCertificateofCivilWarStudiesandaCertificateofCivilWarStudiesfromCarrollCollegeinWisconsin.Heisatwo-timegraduateoftheDefenseLanguageInstituteinMonterey,California,inArabicandHebrew,andoftheU.S.AirForceTechnicalTrainingSchoolinSanAngelo,Texas.HeistheauthoroffourbooksonMormonismandancienttexts,andofonebookontheJohnF.Kennedyassassination.HehascompletedadvancedHebrewprogramsatHaifaUniversityinIsraelandattheSpiroInstituteinLondon,England.HeiscurrentlypursuingaMaster'sdegreeinReligiousStudiesfromTheCatholicDistanceUniversityinHamilton,Virginia.
In1869,DavisbecamepresidentoftheCarolinaLifeInsuranceCompanyinMemphis,Tennessee,whereheresidedatthePeabodyHotel.UponGeneralLee'sdeathin1870,DavispresidedoverthememorialmeetinginRichmond.ElectedtotheU.S.Senateagain,hewasrefusedtheofficein1875,havingbeenbarredfromfederalofficebySectionThreeoftheFourteenthAmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitution.HeturneddowntheopportunitytobecomethefirstpresidentoftheAgricultureandMechanicalCollegeofTexas(nowTexasA&MUniversity)
