The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1866-09-12

sion, and the noble grandeur and dignity
Of Mr.. Davis appearance 1t was IN
the town of Charlotte, North Carolina !;
General Lees army had surrendered
Johnson's army was entirely disorganl-
zed, all was confusion, dread, uncertain
ty and gloom. Mr.. Davis loomcd up
moro proudly than he had ever before
appeared to mo for he alone, Of all
| that vast crowd, seemed to retain the
majesty and sclf.posscssion Of his char.
actcJ and to rise with the emergencies
OF that;dreadGul hour Riding into town
at the head Of small cavalry escort, he
dismountcd opposite to the house of this
Lewis T.. Bates, who had cent Mr.. Da.
Wis special invitation to be his guest
prompted, no doubt by the desire to
collect testimony IN private conversa-
ton, that he night use hereafter to ad.
vantage instead Of soliciting it as an
honor, that he might transmi! to his
postcrity.
Dsmounting from his horse, he pro.
cccdod to enter the house OF Mr.. Bates,
and was met at the steps by Colonel
William Johnson, a prominent citizen
of Charlotte, and President Of lke Char
loLte, and Columbia Rail Road, who
said "Mr. President in behalf Of the
citizens Of Charlotte, | give you cor.
dial welcome to the hostilitics Of our
town" Mr.. Davis, who was dressed in
a plain suit of gray and wore a low
crowned white felt hat nearly covered
with Grape, bowed low and gracefully,
saying as he did so, Il thank you sir"
The large crowd, consisting almost Ell.
tirely Of soldiers, with fearful eyes and
Overlooking hearts, said, with deep earn.
cstncss, "speak to US" "let us hear from
YOU" TIo turned with his kind, bcnig-
nant, dignifed look, to the crowd and
said
"My friends, thank you for this cvi
dcncc Of your affection. II l had como
MS tho bearer Of glad tidings, if I had
come to announce success at the head
Ola triumphant army this is nothing
mcro than would have expected but
coming rs do 10 tell you of ve,y great
disaster; coming as do, to tell you that
our national affairs have reached very
low poiul Of dapreysion1 couitrE, i'may:
say, refugee from the capital of tho
country, this demonstration Of your love.
fills inc with feelings too deep for utter
ance." [Ol, my God he felt it all. |
"This has been war Of the. people for
the people, and have been simply
their executive and if they desire to
continue the struggle, I am still ready
and willing to devote myself to their
cause. True, General Lees army has
surrendered, but the men are still alive,
the cause is not yet dead; and only
show by your determination and forti.
tude that you arc willing to suffer yet
longer, and we may still hope for sue,
cess. In reviewing my administration
Of the past four years, am conscious Of
having committed errors, ana very
grave ones; but in all that ] have done,
in all that I h:ve tried to DO l can hay
my hand upon my heart and appeal to
God that l have had but one purpose TO
serve, but ono mission to fulfill tho pre-.
servation of the true principles Of consti
tutional freedom, which are as dear to
mo to day as they wcro four years ago
I have nothing to abatc or taLo back if
they were right then, they are right
now, and no misfortune to our arms can
change right into wrong. Again l
thank YOU"
These were tho last words Of Jcfler.
son Davis to his vanquished and scatter.
cd people, aud few among the vast au.
dience who will not remember them.
God knows they sunk deep into my
heart, and I can feel again what 7 then
felt, when heard my noble chicftain
bid us what / felt was his last adieu
Many of US could no longer retain our
sobs. %
He bowed, and was about to turn to
60 into the house, when little boy from
the telegraph Office handed him dis.
patch. He opened it calmly, and read
it in silence, and folding it up and re.
turning. it to the envelope, handed it to
Colonel William Johnson, remarkng as
he did 40, "This contains very astound.
ing intelligence" The crowd, whose
anxiety could no longer be restrained,
cried out "Read it!'' "Read it'll" and
Colonel johnson, in his deep, slow and
SOLEMN tone, read it aloud. Some
thoughtless persons shouted, and Mr..
Davis looked in such earnest roprooC
that instantly every voice was .hushcd as
though they were ashamed Of having
broken the soemnty Of the scene by
such indiscreot joy. Tho writer then
shook hands with Mr.. Davis, who asked
him about his family, and other ques.
tons Of that kind, with which he was in
the habit Of making NIL feel at ease
who came near him. Captain Edward
Lowndes of South Carolina, was then
introduced, and after short CONVERSE
ton Mr.. Davis retired into the house.
This, on my honor, WAS all that oc.
Cured on that solemn occasion, for who
could over forget it7 Alas that one.
should b6 so base as to misreprcscnt and
malign the noble man who bore himself
under such trying circumstances, so as
to leave his impress forever upon tho
minds of all who saw him.
II is well known to tho people Of the
South that Mr.. Davis was abused, and
almost threatened, because lie refused so
| frmlv to Nconduct tho wa = on INV nth or