University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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JEIIIZEIQSON DZXVIS. EFFERSCN DAVIS was a soldier, orator, statesman and stu- dent, a devoted husband and father, and a loyal friend. That he made mistakes all must admit, but that he sinned against his con- science or sacrificed principle to expediency few of his former foes now have the hardihood to claim. His was a strong nature attracting to it kindred metal as a magnet attracts steel. Such men excite enthusiastic love or provoke deep animosity, and during his long and eventful life he made many warm friends, and bitter enemies. His imposing figure, flashing eye and haughty eloquence marked him for command. Among his peers he stood a cavalier sans pezn' et sans 1'c'pr'ocl1c, an epitome of the patrician South, her natural leader in the struggle for constitutional freedom. His education was received at W'est Point, and while there he manifested those studious habits that followed him through life. Immediately after graduation he was assigned to frontier duty, and in the Indian wars manifested soldierly qualities of a high order. In the war with Mexico he commanded The Mississippi Rides, and on the battlefield of Buena Vista his daring bravery gave him a national repu- tation. He was Secretary of War under President Pierce, and in this position added fresh luster to his name. Mr. Davis resigned from the army after several years of frontier service and for a considerable period devoted himself to close study. Emerging from this self-imposed obscurity he entered at once the 5

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political arena, and ere long was the acknowledged equal of Prentiss, Quitman, McClung and Foote. In the State Senate and later in the Nation's Congress, the pons asinorum of many an aspirant for political favor, he represented his constituents with zeal and ability. Later he was sent to represent his State in the National Senate. In that august body whose halls had but lately echoed with the voice of Clay, of WVebster, of Calhoun, he took a commanding position, and was esteemed by North and South alike, the leader of the States Rights party. Wfhen his State seceded he left his seat in the Senate to place his talents at her command, prepared to march to the front or to serve in any capacity that she might demand of him. But the eye of the whole South turned toward him, and in 1861 he was called to the presidency of the Confederate States, and in 1862 was re-elected for six years. For four years he served this cause with unflagging devotion and fiery zeal, and even in the last hours of the Confederacy would not believe that a cause so sacred could suffer defeat. Divom inclementia divom Has evertit opes sternitque a culmine Troiam. He bore with dignity and courage the pains of defeat and impris- onment, and when the malice of his enemies had spent itself, beating in vain against his lofty nature, he returned to the dignified seclusion of private life, consecrating the days that remained to his wife, children and beloved books. His patience and resignation in the midst of adversity added daily to the number of his friends, and when in 1889 he passed quietly away, all those who had worn the gray, irrespective of former political creed, mourned the death of a beloved chieftain. A. L. B. 6