Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-07
Speech of President Davis at Montgomery.

The Montgomery Nail has the following report !:
Mr.. Davis began by expressing q sense of grat:
tude for The OCCASION which the kind attention of
The Legislature had given him, of appearing before
them, and assuring the citizens of Alabama from
shat capitol in which the first notes of our existence
were issued, of his remembrance and sympathy.
he would not attempt to conceal the fact that We
have experienced great disasters of late. The ene
my have pressed our armies backward into the CEN
tire Of Georgia, threatened the borders of Alabama
and occupied the baY of Mobile, but the city still
stands, and will stand though every wall and roof
shond fall to the ground. He had been dsappoint-
ed in all his calculations in Northern Georgia. AT
ter sending forward to the army at Dalton all the
renforcements he could collect from every quarter
Including the troops from Northern Mississippi,
ne had confidently expected a successful advance
.hrough Tennessee into Kentucky. Had he thought
that instead of the forward movement our arms
would have retired 10 Atlanta he would have left his
old, lamented and venerated friend, Gen. Polk, to
have aSSaled Sherman upon his flank by North Ala
bama But he had yielded to the idea of concentra.
uon, and the sequel was anything than what he had
been induced to hope.
Yet We were not without compensation for our
.oSSes In Virginia despite the odds brought against
as we have beaten Grant and still defiant hold our
lines before Richmond and Petersburg. That pure
and noble patriot, that great soldier and Christian
Gen. Lee, although largely outnumbered in 'front.'
largely outnunbered upon his tanks, commanded
oody OF men who had never known what it was to
be whipped, and never stopped to cipher.
The time for action is now at hand There is but
one duty for every Southern man. 1t is to go to the
'front.' Those who are able for the field should not
hesitate moment and those who are not should
seek some employment to aid and assist the rest and
to induce their able bodied associates to seek their
proper places in the army.
Mr.. Davis adverted to the part he had himself en-
ueaVored to bear in the war, of his repugnance to
the tiice of chief and his desire for the field incl
dent to military ambition, and some faith in his
capacity for arms. He also alluded to his long DO
htlcal career and the animositieS and ill.feeling
which an active part in the ars of the country had
engendered. He had feared, he said, that old pre-
iudlccs IN others might be turned against him, and
that old feelings in himself might influence his &C
uon, but that he could declare to day, after four
years experience, and in the same hall where he
swoTe before high he1ven to support the Constitu
tlon OF his country, that so help him God he had
never been induced to anv course public or personal
oy any consideration of the past He felt that il
Was no time, and he was not the man, to have any
friends to reward or enemies TO punish.
There be some men, said Mr.. Davis, who, when
they look at the sun, can only see speck upon it
am OF more Sanguine temperament perhaps, but
have strlVen to behold our affairs with a cool and
candid temperance of heart and applying to them
the most rigid test am the more confident the
longer behold the progress of the war and reflect
upon what we have failed to do, we should marvel
and thank God for the great achievements which
have crowned our efforts.
lie next rapidly surveyed our history for the past
three years, concluding his resume with thankful
ness that the great staple of the South had been
superseded by gram and produce for the support OF
our armies in the field
lie paid glowing tribute to the capacity, gal.
lantry and patriotism of Gov. Watts, and urged
upon the State and the Legislature the wisdom Of
his counsels In the same connection, he spoke oil
the soldiers Of Alabama. They had fought every
where, and we'll They were still undaunted.-
Their example should be ihe pride and glory of the
State and an eloquent appeal to those who yet
behind.
Mr. Davis spoke elCquently of the horrors of war
and the sutferings ofthe people. He desired peace
He had tried to obtain it. and had been rudely re,
pulsed He should still strive, and by the blessing
of God and the strong arm of the soldiers, yet
hoped to obtain it.
Ii there be those who hoped to outwit the Yen,
KEGS, and by smooth words and fair speeches, by
the appearance of willingness to treat to listen
to reunion, hope to elect any certain candidate in
the North, they deceive themselves. Victory in
the field is the surest element OF strength to peace
party. Let US win battles and we shall have over.
lures soon enough.
Is there man in the South in favor Of recon
structOn? Mr. Davis drew fine picture Of the
horrors Of re union, which means subjugation.-
"All that have to say" he exclaimed in concud
ing this portion Of his remarks, ais that the man
who is in favor of this degradation is on the wrong
side Of the line of battle"