Remembering Jefferson Davis’ Birthday



By: Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.
1064 West Mill Drive
Kennesaw, Georgia 30152
Phone: 770 428 0978

Free people are those who remember their past!

In 1931, a bronze statue of Jefferson Davis, sculptured by Virginia’s Augustus
Lukeman, was given to the National Statuary Hall at our nation’s capitol in
Washington, D.C. by the State of Virginia.

"Never teach your children to admit that their fathers’ were wrong in
their efforts to maintain the sovereignty, freedom and independence which was
their birthright." Jefferson Davis

June 3, 2007, is the 199th birthday of an American Hero–Jefferson Davis of
Mississippi. Plans are underway to celebrate the Bi-Centennial birthday of Davis
in 2008.

Please share the following story with your family.

Take a look at the calendar and see what dates are shown for June 3rd. You
will more than likely see that the birthday of Jefferson Davis is excluded.
The birthday of Abraham Lincoln is shown for February, but no mention for Jefferson
Davis in June. This is more than a shame and we should write these calendar
folks and let them know that Davis’ birthday should be included.

Jefferson Davis was born on June 3, 1808, in the horse racing

(Derby State) of Kentucky. Birthday observances are annually held in Richmond,
Virginia, Irwinville, Georgia, Montgomery, Alabama and other places throughout
the USA.

Is our nation’s history still taught in public schools?

The time is long overdue for America’s educators to teach the historical facts
about Abraham Lincoln but also about Jefferson Davis. May I give you a few facts
that you might not find in the history books about Jefferson Davis?

Jefferson Davis, who would become the first and only President of the Confederate
States of America, was a strong Unionist but also a strong defender of the United
States Constitution. Our founding fathers believed in the sovereignty of the
states and so did Jefferson Davis.

There are some less scholarly people who have called Davis a traitor. Here
are a few of his accomplishments that dispel such myths of political correctness
thinking.

He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Fought valiantly in the War with Mexico.

Served as United States Senator from Mississippi.

Served as US Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce.

Was first to suggest the transcontinental railroad to link Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, first to suggest Panama Canal Zone, suggested the purchase of Cuba and
appointed Robert E. Lee as Superintendent of United States Military Academy
at West Point.

Visiting Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson Davis, would be a way to better
understand this man Davis. It, however, was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina
in 2005. Efforts are underway to restore this splendid house and Jefferson Davis
Presidential Library. This is where Davis wrote his book, "The Rise and
Fall of the Confederate Government."

You can learn more about Beauvoir at: http://www.Beauvoir.org.

Jefferson Davis’ last marriage was said to be a good one to Varina, who gave
him two sons and two daughters (Jefferson, Margaret, Winnie and Billy). Winnie
was nicknamed (Daughter of the Confederacy) as she was born during the time
of the War Between the States. Billy was killed by an accidental fall at the
Confederate White House in Richmond and in 1864, an abused black child named
Jim Limber was adopted by the Davis family.

Jefferson Davis died between 12:30 AM and 1:00 AM on December 6, 1889. The
news of his death hit the front page of most Southern newspapers. The praises
and tributes read similar to that of a New Orleans paper that read:

"Throughout the South are lamentations and tears; in every country on
the globe where there are lovers of liberty there is mourning; wherever there
are men who love heroic patriotism, dauntless resolution, fortitude or intellectual
power, there is an sincere sorrowing. The beloved of our land, the unfaltering

upholder of constitutional liberty, the typical hero and sage, is no more;
the fearless heart that beats with sympathy for all mankind is stilled forever,
a great light is gone—Jefferson Davis is dead!"

The Heritage of the South is part of America’s proud past.

Lest We Forget!!!