Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-08
Ex-PREsIDENT DAVIS.

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Ex-PREsIDENT DAVIS.
To the Women of the Several Counties Com
| posing the State Of mississippi.
JACKSON, MISS, Oct. Goth, 'GG.
| Peculiar duties pertain to our sex in the
DAYS of trial and affection. The present is
eminently distinguished as such period.
Injured to sorrows, grief and loss by the re-
cent years of public and national trouble,
war and desolation, we are not yet dismiss
ed from the duties thereby imposed. Nor
are we permitted to relax our endeavors to
comfort the afflicted and minister to the
mitigation of the sutferings of eminent pa
triots and those dependent on them.
| Numerous and great are the demands up
on our time, sympathies and means but,
so has Heaven ordained, and be it ours
gratefully to accept the responsibilities thus
assigned US, rather than murmuring to seek
to be excused from our share of the sacri-
fees and tolls required The duties of our
own households, the claims of our war-worn
and impoverished neiGhbors and the COM
mon distress appealing to our regards from
the country at large very affecting and
must and will be needed.
But withal, we may not forget what is
due to those who are part and parcel of
ourselves and who now wander in exile, or
pine away in the cells of common felons.
Conspicuous among the many who suffer
is the hoary head, the withered form, the
trembling limbs of our fallen Chief, rem
dered doubly dear to us all by virtue of
his vicarial wrongs, designed for us, and in
fiicted through him.
The independence of the Confederacy is
among the dreams of the past. The hope
of separate nationality expired with the
surrender of the ever-illustriOus Johnston
and Lee
While the struggle lasted our imprisoned
Chief stood up the great central figure Of
the vital and amazing panorama. The
world regarded him with profound respect,
and We all felt that we shared in those
honors, while his unquestioned patriotism,
pure life, noble sacrifices and citizenship on
our soil, endeared him to the hearts of every
portion of our people.
Alas for the transformation of human
hopes and human honors! The statesman
once the idol of an undivided nation the
soldier whose gallantry embelished the his
torian's pages ; the President of Govern
ment and cause deemed just, worthy and
patriotic, though now forever lost the,
good father, the true-hearted husband, the
fast friend, the devout christian-now
wastes away in the lOathsome prison, pow
erless to relieve and support the loved ones
dependent on him. Words need not be
multiplied. There is the martyr, mere
skeleton dying, and the falling sands are
rapidly measuring his few remaining days.
His children are exiles abroad, his family
of support he has not.
In these circumstances, what are the du-
ties of his fellow-citizens ? What do Mis-
owe to him, to his, and TO them
selves 1t is a solemn crisis. 1t is an oc-
casion for unselhsh and womanly interpo-
sition. This is an hour calling for the ex-
emplifcatiOn Of christian principle. An
appeal comes to us now, which we cannot
put aside, and maintain self-respect. Our
good christian brother, and his estimable
family are, and ought to be, the special OBJ
iects of our prayers, and We ought to re-
gard with peculiar pleasure the privilege of
towards the ale Walton of their
necessities.
The opponents and enemies of the peo-
pie of this commonwealth would consider
them still less worthy of their respect were
they so unmindful of the adversities of
those SO peculiarly related to them, as to
allow them to remain unassisted and I'M
honOred in a time Of trials so opprcs i've
and heart-rcnding. Every impulse OF
piety, every word of love spoken by the
Great Teacher, moves our hearts to a cheey.
full and prompt performance of those C,bli-
cations. 81 was in prison ard ye, came
unto me-" When, Lord "Ina, smucb as
ye did it unto one of these, ye. did it unto
me-" Besides what is the golden rule
Moved by the magni ..ude of these con
Slderatlons the womer1 of this city have or
ganized all association for the purpose of
reaching out into every part of tie State
md assisting tie formation of associations
n every equity for the purpose of receiv-
ng the Spontaneous and grateful tributes
of a proud, generous and sympathizing
people, as a token of christian affection
ara an offering of womanly regard for the
fallen Chief and those dependent on him.
Direct donations cannot well be made to
them. What is done must be done by the
people, and in q way to rob it of all indeli-
cacy, and make it as it were part of orr
own family affairs.
Permit one more suggestion. Allow
every citizen, soldier, every woman and
child to share with you in this blessed
work. The smallest offerings of those OF
ender years, the generous givings of the
'tt1uent, the loving contributions of the
rue-hearted whether more or less. accent.
ind let them be gathered as streamlet re-
'elves the drops of a shower, and in little
While our hearts will rejoice in the delight
ul consciousness of having performed u
luty well-pleasing to God, and by all good
people every where approved.
With great respect,
am very truly yours,
Mrs. M. II. HCMPHREYs
L L~c Al