Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-31
speech of Hon. Howell Cobb.

, Eloquent speech of Hon. Howell CopD'
On Wednesday evening (says the Atlan1n
| Confederacy) the train from La Grange brought
Gov. Cobb, on his way home from Mont
gomery. He vent to the Atlanta Hotel and
took supper. 1t was quickly ascertained that
be was here, and o very great number oil our
citizens gathered in front Of the hotei-hlhnS
up the entire space out to the railroad track
and the crowd gathered as far on either sioe
Us the front of the hotel could DO seen. Alter
hc had partaken of his repast, Mr.. Cobb, IN
response to tho calls Of the crowd, came out
upon the stops of the hotel and addressed
them as follows:
Ny FRlEsDs:-I wish | had something to say
to compensate you for assembling on TINS oc-
casion. | believe you will bear me witness
that I have never failed in Atlanta TO respond
when called on by my friends. The only ex-
cuse | could now render would be that have
nothing to say.
Though I suppose you want to know some
thing Of what has taken place at Montgomery.
| We have discharged all our dutles-made all
the arrangements necessary for our protection,
! and have adjourned to meet liz Richmond on
the goth of July next.
IF you wish to know why the Government
was removed to Richmond, | can say, circum.
stances have arisen that rendered it proper
| We have received the Old Dominion into our
Confederacy. Her soil will, perhaps, be the
battle ground Of this struggle. Her enemies
are gathered around her to force her into sub
lection to their foul dictates. We felt it our
duty to be ut the seat OF war. We wanted to
let Virginia know that whatever threats or dan
gers were presented to her, filed our hearts
with sympathy for her, which we IRE willing
to exhibit, to show that there was not a man in
the Coufederacy who was afraid to be ut his
post on Virginia soil. We also wanted to be
near our brave boys, so that when We threw OF
the badge of Legislators, wo might take up
arms and share with them the fortunes Of war.
We felt the cause Of Virginia to be the cause
Of US all. If she falls, we may all fall and
we we're willing to be at the spot to be among
the first victims. We were ready to say to
Lincoln, when he attempts to put his foot on
Virsinia's soil, Thus far shalt thou come and
no farther" (Cheors)
What more can | say to you? Oae other
thing ! will say it is my duty and discharge
it. Orr brave men from MI the States are OF.
fering heir services freely. 1t would seem as
if they had given their blood freely, to be
poured out, a willing sacrifice, if need be, upon
the altar of our country. When we called for
twelve months volunteers, our brave boys eve
rywherc responded with an ardor and zeal that
knew no bounds and when We called for
volunteers for the war, the number was in.
creased. cloud chcers.) 1t fills my heart to
see that, in this race to have wrongs edressed,
this noble Stste-the old Commonwealth CT
Georgia - stands second to none. ~(Applause.)
Georgia proud old Georgia-nay justly
boast Of the patriotism of her sons, who are
resolved to see the last traitor in his grave,
and drive far from our borders the last enc.
my.
But We must have, not men alone, but trea-
sure also. Money in large SUM will DO ncces-
sary to carry on the war, if it lasts long. DO
yoa know the feelings of our people on this
point, alsor Let me give you an instance to
illustrate the whole.
On the banks Of the Mississippi lives a large
planter. lie is an old man, whose trembling
limbs have borne him to his three score and
ten years. lie sends n thousand bags Of cot
ton 10 market every year.
He was asked, what will you give to sustain
our Government in this WARP 'Tcli them,'
said he, with the fires Of patriotism glowing
over all bis features, when my cotton reaches
the market, to give me enough Tor my eSpen-
ses, and take all the rest" Noble old patriot!
And there are thousands and tens Of thousands
like him all over the Soulful
But your country wants no donations-no
private contributions to sustain her, She has
resources amply sufficient to bear every burden
without asking o cent Of any one by way Of
contribution; but III tell you what you Gun do
and what you are expected to do. 1t is this:
Let every cotton and rice planter, and every
wheat grower in the South, when his crop is
gathered, sell it to the Confederate States and
take their bonds. 1t will form a good ~circula-
ting medium, and he the soundeSt currency
that the country has ever had. Let the gov
%ernrpent sell the products Of our land 10 Eu.
rope for the specie to support our brave boys
in the field. Every pound Of cotton | raise
that is not absolutely necessary to supply the
wants Of my family shall 60 to the support Of
the war, and that is the feeling every where.
A representative from Mississippi said, have
no cotton-not a bale; but from now till the
next meeting Of Congress, wherever a man can
be found, l shall urge him to sell his cotton TO
the Government, and take its bonds in pay
ment 10 support our brave boys in arms.
Another incident will illustrate the feeling
of our people, and especially the ladies. Our
noble women are true to our cause. The wo.
men of Montgomery, at shortest notice, not long
| since. made thousands of sand bags for our
soldiers at Pensacola. The message came there
on Friday evening, at 5 o'clock, that these sand
BAGS were wanted at once. How shall they be
had /? was On every mans lips. Go to the Ia
dies, said one, and they did SO. The money
was raised, and the material purchased, and
by 8 o'clock on Monday evening the work was
done. They assembled in the churches OF the
Everything God, and, with their hands, toiled
night and day till the work was Completed
(Cheers) Talk about subjugating q people
| where such a spirit as this prevails! If you
Law aside all the men in the South, all Adolf.
tiondom could not subdue our womeu Loud
| Cheers.) My confidence in our success, is
| greatly enhanced from the conduct Of our wo-
men and the children that play around our
feet. The faith which l learned in Christian
! childhood, tells me that God is still on the side
Of Truth and Justice. As God lives, and as
He is the God Of Truth and Justice, such a
people can never be conquered. (Applause.)
One other idea and ] am done. When |
vent TO Montgomery, only six States were
represented there. Now there are nine. And
the good old North State has also unanimous
ly seeded; and evory gale that waits FROM
Tennessee brings the evidence that her gallant
sons will unite heart and soul With US!
Heaven has smiled on US from the lrst. Go
and look at your crops; you may call it a good
season, or whatever else you may, but | tell
you that it is the blessing Of God upon US at
this time.
My friends, l know you will excuse Inc
from milking any further remarks at this time.
1 have been travelling, arm fatigued, and have
been speaking at many of the stations along
the route.
He retired amidst the widest applause, and
three cheers for Cobb, which were given vo.
ciferously.