The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-07-17
J.fr. Dayis Become a Unionist.

The Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi,
who has been thought to be one of the most
dangerous disunionists in the South, whose
ultry and bigoted Southern sectional views
have found expression in the New Orleans
Delta for two years past has been brought
into the conservative alliance, that seems to
have been formed in New England about
the Fourth of July. The Hon. Mr.. Davis
was making passage. on board ship with
numerous company from Baltimore to
Boston, and was overtakcn by the Fourth at
sea. At the request of the captain and pas
sengerS, the Honorable Senator delivered
speech filled with patrioticsentcments and ar
dent devotion tothe Union. The movements
at Boston appear to have peculiar signifi-
cancc. The conversion of the Mississippi
Scnator-if sudden and unexpectcd-will
be hailed with pleasure by all who know no
North nor South in their affection for the
Union. .-...
stand, said the Senator, substantially on
the deck of an American vessel; it is Amer
lean soil; the American flag floats over it;
its right TO course the ocean pathway is per-
feet. When the blue armament reflected
its own color in the sea- it was the unap-
propriated property Of mankind and it was
arrogant and idle for any nation to deny to
the United States her full enjoyment of this
common property. 1t was for the full and
undisturbed enjoyment of this right that our
fathers, when much less prepared for war
than we are now, engaged in the conflict of
1912; and for this right we were ready to
strike in 1858. Let a foreign power, under
any pretense whatever, insult the American
flag, and it will find that we are not di-
vided people, but that mighty arm will be
raised to smite down the insulter..
And this great country will continue
united. Trifing politicians in the South, or
in the North, or in the West may continue
to talk otherwise, but it win be Of no avail
They are like the musquetoes around the
ox-they annoy but they cannot wound,
and never kill. There was a common in
terest which run through all the diversified
occupations and various products of these
sovereign States; there was common sem
timent of nationality which beats in every
American bosom; there were common mem-
orics sweet to US all, and though clouds had
occasionally darkened our political sky, the
good sense and the good feeling of the peo-
pie had thus far avertcd any catastrophe
destructive of our Constitution and the
Union. 1t Was in fraternity and an eleva-
ton Of principle which rose superior to sec
tional or individual aggrandizement, that
the foundations OF our Union were laid
and If we, the present generation, be worthy
Of our ancestry, We shall not only protect
those foundations from destruction, but
build higher and wider this temple of liber-
! ty, and inscribe perpetuity upon its tablet
In the course of his beautiful speech, SEN
ator Davis passed noble eulogium on our
mother country; and dwelt on many rea-
| sons why the most cordial friendship would
be maintained with her; and he concluded
/ by q tribute TO the fair sex, the woman
beautiful woman to the wondrous educa-
tional influence, as the mother, which she
exercised over the minds of men. 1t is ev-
crat all times-felt and operative; upon
the tlrcary waste of ocean, on the lonely
prairie, in the troublous contests of the ma.
tional halls. And when the arm is nerv cd
in the deadly conflicts of the battlefield
and the foe is vanquished, then the gentle
influences instilled by women do their work
and the heart mclts into tears of pity anC
prompts to deeds of mercy.
After this intellectual repast, then sue
ceeded congratulations; the air was mad,
vocal with song; while, through the fore
sight of the gallant captain, at the evening
hour, the sky about the good ship JosepI
Whihy was brilliant with those various
pyrotechnic displays, which must be 5,
grateful to the spirit of patriotic John Adam
of bonfire and illumination memory.