Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-15
Jen. Dayls's speech at the African
ChuPch, Richmond.


The following seems to be the best
report printed Of Jea Davis's speech at
Richmond after the failure Of the peace
negotiations. Il is as rabid as hydropho-
bia itself What DO those admirers OF
the rebel chief, who have always spoken
of him as the dignifed, high-toned gen.
tleman, think Of the following tirade?
The report IS copied from the Richmond
Examiner;
President Davis appeared on the
speakers stand, and addressed the peo.
pie for about half an hour. He said be
would have been pleased II the meeting
had been called to commemorate a vic.
| tory. But It was not only pleasant.
| ha felt proud aud ecstatic Joy 10 see
his couuifymea looking whatever disas-
ters there had been IN the face, and
| piucking from adversity new courage
aud resolution; aud Il was Al this spec
taele that bis heart beat high with hope.
II was we'll that there should commence
here in Virginia that reactiouary move
ment OF the people, IN preparation for a
new proclamation 10 meet the demands
OF the hour. Al must nose b laid on
the atlas Of country n such a feeling
should now take possession OF the hearts
ofthe people, if they shoald give hearty
/ and unanimous answer 20 the demands
/ OF the present exigeucy upon them,
/ then he could say we now stood upon
the verge OF success which wonld teach
I shsa t,a,.Inr,s /
propositions with eoutumely. that in
fhat conference IN rhich he had plumed
aeitb arrogance he teds, indeed, talking
10 his matters. Tremendous cheers
He said be had never hoped any thing
from propositions OF peace made to the
/ euemy, unless accompanied with vic
/ tories Of our arms: thai the true hope Of
/ the Coutederacy was in brave soldiers
in sufficient number to contest her
/ claims 10 the military field; but be
would have been more or less than man
not TO have yielded to natural desire
20 testify, on every proper occasion, his
anxiety, his yearning anxiety for peace.
he he'd received notice from Mr.. Lin
coin, opening the way to an unofficial
conference on the subject He did not
/ feel al liberty TO decline the invitation
which It implied In the aote which
passed between Mr.. lincoln and him
self in the matter there was one
marked differences. lie president
Dsvis) spoke always OF two countries.
Mr Lincoln spoke of common coun-
! try He could have no common
country with the Yankees His life
was bound mp with the Confederaey;
and IL any man supposed that under any
circumstances he could De an agent Of
the reconstruction Of the Union, be mis-
took every element of bis nature. With
the Confederacy he would live or die.
Thank God, he represented people too
proud to eat the leek, or bow the neck
to mortal man. Great cheering, Al
though he anticipated that nothing in
the way Of peace would come out of the
recent conferences with the enemy, yet
be was not prepared for such extrava.
ganee of insolence as they had shown
They had not so much as proposed tha,
these States might come back even on
those conditions which we're the hrst oc-
casion OF their separation from the
Union; but they were to come back as
conquered people, submitting 70 ail
the recent legislation Of the Washington
: Government, including the sbolitiou
clause in the Constitution, recently en-
acted in Congress, and pushed with the
greatest hsste through that body before
the commissioners coald arrive at For
tress Monroe And but few days be
fore this, one Of Mr. Lncolns Cshine
sat at the feet 81 Bescher IN Baltimore
: glostiug over the picture drawn by thai
Yankee artist of words Of long pro
cession Of the public men Of the Coufed
eraey. moving to the galiows To expist'
the crime of rebellion Perhaps Mr.
/ Lincoln's heart softsned st tbs length O
+ the procession when be suggested that
in case of our submission be might b
merciful Langhter. He would never
have occasion to show that mercy
$ Words of cheer and encouragement hst
(; recently come from the armies Of thl
|: Confederaey If only half Of the sbsen
!. tees we're back IN Lees army, he va
sure that Grant would be taught les
!, son, such as he had never received evel
r in his sventfni route from she Rapidal