Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-02-15
PRESIDENT DAVIS SPEECH.

-~@S~N@ - ~S 80 ~~~~~SS
At tssn immense mass meeting held in
Richmond, upon the return of cur peace
commissioners, President Davis being
present, addressed the meeting as fol-
lows: S-3 p, .-<E5' -
The President said that if he were
there to; assist in celebrating some great
and decisive victory to our arms, or in
hailing tho.establishment of peace, he
should have been most happy. But, in
times like these which are nov upon US
when dangers confront us and our
path is beside the lee-shore and the
breakers-to witness the manifestation
of such spirit on the part Of his coun-
trymen as was there displayed, was
more than happiness--it was. ecstatie
joy. he had always looked with pride
upon his countrymen. Hehadrejoiced
in their patriotism and their courage.
But he was prouder still when he con-
templated the fortitude which plucks
flowers from reverses, aand beats high
with hope In the presence of fresh calls
upon its courage and-enduranee.
The President said it was meet that
the spirit which inspired this meeting,
should find itsf FIRST utterance In Rich
mond. Hereeyery day were heard the
cannons Of the enemy. Innumerable
hillocks in the neighboring cemeteries,
tell Of the brave men from every State
in the ,Cenfederacy who have given
their lives for their country. - On one
of the ,hillsof this city stands that sa-
cred building, in which Patrick Henry
andahis compatriots pledged life for lib
,erty. Here, toe, was the capital of the
Confederaey, and Of that proud ,,old
State, which had been truly termed the
ssmother Of statesmen" If the spirit
which has sbeen here indicated shall
meet with ageneralresponse,a and prove
to be the universal sentiment Of the
land, of which he did not doubt, then,
indeed, would he feel that we are on the
eyeryyerge of success. fLoud cheers
I'VE shouldnot again be insultedby such
terms Of peace as the arrogance Of the
enemy has lately proposed; but ere
many months had deiepsed, our sueeoss
would cause them TO. feel that when
talking to US they were talkingto their
masters. fGreat sApplause:lSasss ~
! Does any :one, he inquired, who has
seenathe Confederate soldiers believe
they are willing to fail?i If SO, the
suspicion issmost unjust! tgGoa to our
camps 60 to cur guarded lines + go
where our pickets hold their dangerous
watch, andto the posts where our seati-
nels tread, their weary rounds, and you
will. find innone of those, the place for
grumblings and complaints. The res
olutions ofour soldiers exclaim with
Patrick, Henry, 'Fyictoryc Or Death"
tits in the crowded mart, where these
are found whose pockets are stuffed with
i'll gotten gains, that you find the per-
sons who grumble and complain. Zap
plause. The progress of events had,
however, brought pressure even upon
those which would urge them to their
duty. Their treasure is in danger, and
their only security for it is In perform
ing their duty to their country. 80
6 The time for argument, said the
President, is passed. The duty that
remains is to stand to our arms. He
had Just made an effort to secure peace,
as he had done several times before
He had made it on the causeof human
ity and the country. At the very Or
ganization of our Government, in Mont
gomery, his first care was to- send Com
missioners to Washington. They were
rejected; Atsalater period, he had re-
squested the second officer undert the
Government (Vice President Stephens,)
to seek conference; 3 the ayowed OBJ
.ject being to make arrangements for
the proper treatment and exchange Of
prisoners, but in addition to- and be-
hind that, it was the object to institute,
if possible, NEGOTIATIONS for peace. But
our Vice President was refused an audi
ence not even allowed to approach the
throne. Since that time he had in va
rious ways, and on every proper ocea-
sion, proclaimed the desire Of this eoqn-
try for peace, and his own @ i ih anxiety to
secure it, but until lately, no : opening
had presented for an advance toward
negotiation. This recent opportunity
heS mad embraced. He did 1t in the
hope that some plan Of accommodation
might be agreed upon. He wauld be
less than man if he hadnot felt an earn
est desire; a yearning anxiety, to re-
hege the country from the suffering of
the war, and to- send our soldiers to
their homes Anything honorable, and
recognizing ourindependence as a basis,
would have been gladly acceded to-
The person did not know him who might
suppose that, under any circumstances,
he would consent to reconstruct the late
Unien. So s .l'.fs1 i: ., 81 ..aR
We5 had now learned the terms on
which the enemy are willing to accord
peace. We are required to make an
unconditional surrender. we are not
even allowed to 80. back to them as we
came out, but, are required to take just
what canqueror may choose to give
the conquered. X ~ -. ~.
Man proposes. but God disposes.-