The southern press., 1851-08-07
Fsx@ Us Free 1fsdsr, July 10.
Bartesue u Rayette, JeHcrsen Csastys uis'

In honor Of Mississippi's gallant son, Col Jeff.
Davis, United States senator. The assembsge
on the occasion was extremely large and OF the
most unanimous character. Long before the
hour Of meeting. the road on each side OF the
neat town Of Fayette, was thronged with horse
men and carriages. The BARI were soon
filled, the conversations became animate In rela-
ton to the political affairs of the day. and each
one seemed anxious to pay his RESPECTS to the
gallant senator whom they had invited to meet
them. At about eleven o'clock, Col. jeff ID svis,
accompanied by Col Sanders and other friends,
arrived. After cordial salutations had been mfa1e.
short time was occupied in preparing, alter
which the whole party repaired to the delightful
retreat. about half.a-mile from the town. A
more lovely spot could scarcely be conceived;
sheltered as it is from the piercing rays OF the
sum- by the foliage of the noble trees that rear
their heads towering far above; band OF music
was in attendance, giving forth its notes OF
melody soft and delightful to the ear. Seats
were provided for most the company, and 1t was
matter of much pleasure to see them occupied
by very numerous attendance OF ladies', whose
beauty and gracefulness added new charms to
the scene. When the requisite preparations had
been made, the Hon. senator, with E. II. Hicks,
esq, State attorney ascended the rostrum, from
whence Col. Davis delivered a most powerful,
brilliant, and argumentatve appeal, on several OF
the leading questions of the day. Throughout
he was listened to with the greatest attention,
and his ideas we're received with loud paudts
of appreciation. We submit sketch of the first
part Of his speech, intending to insert the con-
clusion of the address in our next. The speech
will afterwards be published In pamphlet form
for distribution. AT the conclusion of the speak
ing, an excellent repast was served up to which
full justice was done by those present, and every
one seemed to be delighted with the interest
and conviyiality of the occasion.
Mr. Hicks appeared before the audience, and
in few brief remarks, introduced the Hon. jeff.
Davis, Senator from Mississippi, who had
served his country alike on the battle fields
and in her council halls, a true Southern man.
Hon. JEFF. DAVIS, amidst much cheering then
stepped forward and said, why had they assem-
bled on that day and why did he see 80 vast
an assemblage before him? Was it because of
Justice having been done to the South-was it
because that peace reigned over the land
Was it because of returning sense of the vir-
tue of equity having been submitted in place OF
injustice on the part of the Northern majority
that caused them to assemble in such con-
course at such a time! He thought not; for
had this been the case, they, on that day, should
not have been present upon those grounds.
Nor should he, who needed repose and qniet in
order to recruit his health and strength, and who
had his private interests and his domestic cares
of life to attend to, nor should he have hrd to
be there appealing to his felowcitizens OF Mis-
sissppi, if the Southern interests Of the country
had been properly, equitably and fairly adjusted
(Cheers) Whenever he appeared before tn,
people of Mississippi he valued their approba.
ton beyond all things else, because they had
honored him by their confidence, and had con.
ferred upon him the highest office that a State
could give. He did not appear before them as
candidate, nor did he come as seeker of place
or upon his own interests, but simply did he
appear before that assemblage as son of Mis-
sissippi, to plead the cause Of Missssippi-a
cause that was more sacred to his heart and
more dear to his existence than all other ties Of
| life-a cause of the last and greatest import
ance to the citizens of the present State.
| (Cheers.)
| The reason why they assembled was because
| Justice had moi been done to them; because the
concessions unjustly obtained already prompted
continued aggressions, and also because they
saw the unmistakeable evidence of social and
political degradation, and if inequality and de-
pendence being prepared for them by their
Northern opponents. 1t WAS therefore that he
was there to appeal to, and reason with them
and it was also therefore that they collected 10
such vast numbers to circumference the legis-
lation that had been made for them. He had
painful solicitude for the welfare of the State,
for its prosperity and the happiness of its citi
zens and especially whenever he appeared be-
fore his friends in old Jefferson county-for il
was there that he spent his boyish days and
formed the first associations and Impressions OF
a juvenile mind by which the interests of those
around him were rendered peculiar to his own:
it was there that all the endearing scenes OF
early life we're fixed upon his mind, and which
would linger with their fond remembrances in
his hearts core through all the various and
changing events of life (Cheers) And when
he referred to the many and everconvincing
proofs of the patr otism of Mississippi, in bye
gone days, he felt that yet, upon the great
questions of the day, she would decide with
that firmness which characterizes right and
u stice-her decision being made after calm
and impartial consideration. 1t was the high
character of the State, and the position he oc-
cupied as public officer, that made him doubIy
anxious to receive the appreciation of his fellow
citizens. He remembered how Mississippi con.
Quoted herself in the bloody wars of 1912, and
how her gallant sons maintained the honor Of
the State by their bravery and courage upon the
eventful occasion. 1t was then that General
Kinds Of that county, the hero who will for
ever live in their memory, became in one enga
cement the "wonder of the one army and the
admiration of the other."-(Appause)
And when at the present day he called to
mind the patriots and the patriotic acts of the
State from time to time, he would no other
than expect that now they would look simply |
to the truth and the justice of the question at
issue--smply to their condition and relative
position to other States in the Union, and that
they would have the boldness and courage to
demand that equality which their fathers had
for them and their posterity in or
der that, unshorn, and perfect in its pristine
glory, they might transmit to their children
those boons, those privileges and those rights
that had been secured and rendered sacred by
blood. (Cheers.)
He would ask them, had they received jus
tice? Had Congress by its acts done that
which was fair and impartial to the parties in
terested! He ventured to think not, and there
fore he begged that those assembled and himself