Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-02-16
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Il, Richmsu1 D6pateks IL Tuesd6v. Fab.
~, contains the report Of rext var
meeting held u the African church in that
city on the previous night. The following
= the account, iacludine Je6. Dsvis' speech.
The DIepatck says: ''In response TO the
cal Of Gov. Smith, Of Va, the greatest con-
course Of people assembled 4 that building
that ever assembled under its roof. The
messing was advertised for clock, but by
Q O'Clock every portion where man could
ceond wes occupied. The galleries were 70
dsnsely packed that serious fears were en-
tsrtained that they would give way. II was
gratifying to see this immense meeting,
whose object was to hurl back into Lin.
coins testh the insult put on the Southern
people By his answer to the Confederate
Commissioners sent to confer with him on
the subject Of peace between the two sec
tons. Standing in that immense assembly,
and hearing the patriotic expressions Of
citizens and soldiers, one was invariably
carried back by the feeling which animated
oil present to the first days Of secession
Never before has the war spirit burned SO
fiercely and steadily. The firm resolve to
resist to the very death the demands Of the
Northern tyrant that now animates the
whole Southern people, was plainly visible
in that meeting.
"About Z o'clock Gov. Smith, attended
BY President Davis, arrived upon the stand.
The Governor addressed the multitude in .
patriotic and soul-stirring speech, during
which he Was frequently interrupted by
thunders Of applause.
HE was followed BY President Davis in
an address Of about three-quarters of an
hour, during which be was frequently in
terrupted with the widest bursts of sp-
plause. Upon the subject Of the recent
Peace Commissioners, the President said he
had not entertained much hope Of s6ecting
honorable terms 80 long as our cause was
meeting with reverses but, under the cir
cdmstances, when semi official representa-
tives had 80 frequently visited our Govern
ment, intimating that negotiations might
result in . satisfactory adjustment Of our
difficulties, and when it was plain that the
sufie.ings Of the people dictated that every
effort on his part should be made to bring
about cessation Of hostilities, he felt It his
dlty, ~ he had always done. to appoint
those whom he regarded as among the best
men we had, who were the most calculated
to heal the existing breach which severed
us, and obtain that independence of the
Confederate to the Federal Government
which no other power on the face Of the
earth but the Yankee would think of deny
ing.
"As to the conditions Of peace, President
Davis emphatically asserted that none save
independence Of the Confederate States
would ever receive his sanction. He had
embarked in tho cause with full know ledge
Of the tremendous odds against US; but,
with the approval Of just Providence.
which he conscientiously believed was on
our side, and WITH resolve Of our people,
he doubted not that victory would yet crown
our labors. In his correspondence with
Lincoln. that functi0nary had always spoken
OF the United States and the Coufedcracy as
our afflicted country; but, in his replies, he
(Davis) never failed to refer to them as sep
arate and distinct Governments; and, Soon
cr than tnat we should ever unite again, he
would be willing to yield up everything he
had on earth, and. If it were possible, he
would sacrifice thousand Of his YES be-
fore he would succumb. He concluded by
exhorting those at home who are able to
bear arms to unite with those already in ar
ray in repelling the foe, believing that
thereby we would compel the Yankees in
less than twelvl months to petition us for
peace on our own terms"
A long series ofresolutions were adopted,
Of which the following are the first three
Rcsotred: That we spurn, with the indig-
nation due to SO gross an insult, the terms
on which the President of the United States
has proffered peace to the people of the Con-
federate States.
Resoired, That the circumstances under
which 1t was made add to the outrage, and
stampit as designed and premeditated in
dignity to our people.
Resolred, That, in this presence, and in
the face Of the world, invoking the aid of
Almighty God, we renew our resolve to
maintain our liberties and independence;
and to this we mutually pledge our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honors.
Vice President Stephens was called for,
but did not respond.