Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-10-12
Speech Of President Davis at Montgomery.
The Mnntpnmerx Mil has the follour;n. ranort


The Montgomery Nail has the following report:
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
that 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 enc
my have pressed our armies backward into the Gen.
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 rocf
should fall to the ground He had been disappoint-
ed in all his calculations in Northern Georgia. AT.
ter sending forward to the army at Dalton all the
renorcements he could collect from every quarter,
including the troops from Northern Mississippi,
ne had confidently expected a successful advanc.
through Tennessee into Kentucky. Had he thought
that instead of the forward movement our arm.
would have retired to Atlanta he would have left his
old, lamented aid venerated friend, Gen. Polk, to
have assailed Sherman upon his aank by North Ala
bama But he had yielded to the idea Of concentra
ion, and the sequel Was anything than what he had
been induced to hope
let We were not without compensation for our
losses. lnVirgna, despite the odds brought against
us, we have beaten Grant aud 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 outnumbered upon his Asnks, commanded
body Of men who had never known Whist 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 20 to the
front Those who are able for the field should not
hesitate mnment, and these 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.
MIR. Davis adverted to the part he had himself en-
deavored to bear in the war, of his repugnance to
the tfcc Of Chief and his desire for the field incl
dent to military ambition, aud some faith in hi,
capacity for arms. lie also alluded to his long po
hlcal career, and the animosities and ill-feeling
which active part in the affairs of the country had
engendered. He had feared he said, that old pre-
JUDGES in others might be turned against him. and
that old feelings in bimself might influence his &C
ton, but that he could declare to day, after four
years experience and in the same hall where b.
swore before high heaven to support the Constitu
ton OF his country, that so help him God he had
never been induced to any course public or personal
by any consideration of the past. He felt that il
was no time, and he was not the man, to have an
trends to reward or enemies to punish.
There be some men, said Mr.. Davis, who, wheI
they look at the sun, can only see speck upon it.
! am Of a more sanguine temperament perhaps, bu,
have strven to behold our affairs with 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 reaec,
upon what We have failed to do, We should marvel
and thank God for the great achievements which
have crowned our efforts.
he next rapidly surveyed our history for the pas
three years, concluding his resume with thankful
ness that the great staple of the South had beer
superseded by grain and produce for the support O.
cur 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 o
his counsels. In tho same connection, he spoke 0
where, and well. They wers still undaunted. -
Their example should be the pride and glory Of tn
State, and an eloquent appeal to those who were ye
behind.
Mr. Davis spoke elequently of the horrors Of wa,
and the sutferings ofthe people. He desired peace
lie bad tried to obtain it, and had been rudelv re
pulsed lie should still strive, and by the blessins
OF God and the strong arm Of the soldiers, We
hoped to obtain it.
II there be those who hoped to outwit the Yam
KEGS. and by smooth words and fair speeches. b,
the appearance of willingness to treat or to .iste
TO re- union, hope to elect any certain candidate il
the North, they deceive themselves. Victory il
the field s the snrest element of strength to peac
party. Let us win battles and we shall have over
lures soon enough.
Is there man in the South in favor of recon
i struction? Mr.. Davis drew fine picture of tn
horrors OF re union, which means suhjugaton-
" All that have to say" he exclaimed in conclut
ing tn's portion OF his remarks, 'is that the ma
VINO IS IN favor OF this degradation, is on the wron
side Of the line of BATTLE"
President Davis passed through Greensboroug
NaI1 l.. ~