The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-10-04
PRESIDENT DAVIS SPEECH.

marks, we infer, from certain passages which can
not fail to strike the attention of our readers that
the report was hastily made up and to that extent
inaccurate Introduced by Gen. Cobb, Mr.. Davis
| said:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends and Fello,c-
| Citizens: 1t would have gladdened my heart to
| have met you in prosperity instead of adversely.
But friends are drawn together in adversely The
son of Georgian, who fought through the first
Revolution, would be untrue to myselfif should
forget the State in her day of peril.
What though misfortune has befallen our arms
from Decatur to Jonesboro, our cause is not lost.
Sherman cannot keep up his long line of commun-
icatioD, and retreat soon or later, he must. And
when that day comes, the fate that befe the army
of the French Empire and its retreat from Moscow
will be re-enacted. Our cavalry and our people
will harass and destroy his army as did the Cos
sacks that of Napoleon, and the Yankee General,
| like him, will escape with only body guard
| How can this be the most speedily effected?
By the absentees of Hoods army returning to their
posts. And will they not? Can they see the ban
ished exies can they hear the wall of their suffer
ing country women and children, and not come
BY what Influences they are made to stay away it
is not necessary to speak Ifthere is one who will
stay at this hour, he is unworthy the name of
Georgian To the women appeal is necessary.
They are like the Spartan mothers of old. know
of who had lost all her sons except one of eight
years She wrote me that she wanted me TO re-
serve place for him in the ranks. The veneer
able Gen Polk to whom read the letter, kGew that
woman we'll, and said that it was characteristic of
her. But will not weary you by turning aside
to relate the various incidents of giving UP the last
son to the cause of our country known to me.
Wherever we go we find the heart and HANDS Of our
noble women enlisted. They are seer wherever
the eye may fall, or step turn They have one dU
ty to perform-to buoy up the hearts of our people.
know the deep disgrace felt by Georgia at our
army falling back from Dalton to the interior of
the State; but was not of those who considered
Atlanta lost when our army crossed the Chatta-
hoochee. resolved that it should not, and then
put man in command who [ knew would strike
an honest and manly blow for the city, and many
Yankees blood was made to noursh the soil before
the prize was won.
1t does not become to revert to disaster.
"Let the dead bury the dead" Let US, with one
arm and one effort endeavor to crush Sherman. l
am going to the army to confer with our generals.
The end must be the defeat of our enemy. 1t has
been said that had abandoned Georgia to her fate.
Shame upon such falsehood. Where could the
author have been when Walker, when Polk, and
when General Stephen D. Lee sent to her
sistance. Miserable man. The man who uttered
this was a scoundrel. He was not man to save
our country.
If I knew general did not possess the right
qualities to command would not be wrong if he
was not removed? Why when our army was fall
ing back from Northern Georgia, I even heard that
| had Bragg with pontoons to cross it to Cuba.
But we must be charitable.
The man who can speculate ought to be made
to take up his musket. When the war is and
our independence won, (and ace acW establish our
indpcndence) who will be arstocracy? l
hope the limping soldier To the young ladies [
would say, when choosing between empty sleeve
and the man who had remained at home and grown.
rich always take the empty sleeve. Let the old
men remain at home aud make bread. But should
they know OF any young men keeping away from
the service who cannot be made to go any other
way, let them write to the Executive. L read all
letters sent from the people, but have not the time
to reply to them.
You have not many men between Is and As
left. The boys-God bless the boys-are, as ra-
pidly as they become old enough, going to the
field. The city Of Macon is filed with stores, sick
and wounded. 1t must not be abandoned, when
threatened; but when the enemy comes, instead of
calling upon Hoods army for defence, the old men
must fight; and when the enemy is driven beyond
Chattanooga, they too can join in the general re-
joicng.
Your prisoners are kept as a sort of Yankee cap
ital. have heard that one of their generals said
that their exchange would defeat Sherman. [
have tried every means, conceded everything, to
effect an exchange, to no purpose. Butler, the
Beast, with whom Commissioner of Exchange
would hold intercourse had published in the news
papers that, if would consent to the exchange
of negroes all difficulties might be removed. This
is reported as an effort of his to get himself white
washed by holding intercourse with gentlemen.
If an exchange could be Effected don't know but
that mi ght be induced to recognize Butler. But,
in the future, every effort will be given far as
possible to effect the end. We want our soldiers
in the field, and we want the sick and wounded to
return home II
It. is not proper for me to speak of the number
of men in the field. But this will say, that two
thirds Of our men are absent-some sick, some !
wounded, but most of them absent without leave. !
The IMAM who repents and goes back to his COM |
mand voluntarily, at appeals to executive
clemcncy. But suppose he stays away until the
war is over, and his comrades return home, when |
every mans history will be told, where will he
shield himself? 1t is upon these reflections that
rely to make return to their duty, but, after |
comforting with generals at headquarters, if |
there be any other remedy it shall be applied.
love my friends and forgive my enemies. [
have been asked to send renforcements from Vir-
ginia to Georgia. In Virginia the disparity in
numbers is u<t great it is in Georgia. Then
have been asked why the army sent to the Shen-
andoah Valley not here. 1t was because an
army Of the enemy bad penetrated that Valley to
the gates of Lynehburg, and Gen. Early sent
to drive them back. This he not only successful
ly did, but, crossing the Potomac, came we'll nigh