The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-05-06
From the Oxford Falcon
Hon. Jacob TIIOInPson.
Hts R@ar71 Home Enthusiastic Reception
by his Felo1e-eitiseas-His Spoecb

pace on Ine Clock, p. III. train, and pr
n P4ratlons were made 10 receive him in
L way which would show the high respe
:, ana esteem which our entire people ente
tanned for him. lie had been long in cxi
- because OF his devotion to the best interes
e OF Mississippi, and every one felt that q b.
coming and proper tribute otrespect shou1
/ be shown him
l. large crowd OF ladies and gentleme
* were at the depot to receive him and whc
Tue train arrived and he descended lrom I'll
+ cars, tremendous cheer went up from I'll
| assembled thrOng, and Prof Stewards ban
struck up one Of their favorite airs
= Col- l. q. G. Lamar, in behalf Of the PEG
| pie then welcomed the disting uished gentle
) man back to his home in a speech Of grea
: eloquenCe and feeling which was enthusias
tically applauded. Hon. Jacob Thompson
IN response, spoke as follows:
r Cyt L1Htdr-GeHtte9eH and Ladies'
Iidnk you for this reception. / especially
l thank you, Mr.. Lamar, for the handsome
ana eloquent manner in which you have ex-
pressed the feelings OF those present. fn
which you have hailed my return among
you and bid me welcome. / accept it in the
/ spirit IN which it was intended. It is per-
sonal aud not political. \ our kindness to
me and my wife, have induced you to come
out 70 meet Us, and bid us welcome back TO
our old home. BY this you show Us we are
not forgotten. We feel cheered by it and
| VIII continue to thank Won. and as long a.
my heart repeats its pulsations. SO long will
this welcome be cherished in our memory.
| Atter the many trials and disasters through
| which we have passed, this meeting IS truly
| refreshing, but it is saddening. also. The
! picture has its dark shades-old familiar
| faces are not here, and they will appear no
| more in Our midst. Since parted many
\ OF our friends have been called TO their final
| account, and you have been left to keep
/ vigil over their last resting places. Looking
/ into your healthful and cheerful counte-
nances on the one hand and calling to mind
| those true men who are gone on the other,
my feelings overwhelm me and nv conflict
ing emotions can lind no voice. Especially
was | touched. Col. Lamar. by your refer
encc to the death of our mutual friend, Gen.
Howell Cobb. lie was truly great, good and
pure man. In all the relations OF life. pri-
waite and public in the Legislative assembly.
in the council of State. and on the battlefield
lac discharged his WHOLE duty manfuIly and
well. In making up the jewels OF the coun-
try, his name Will ever appear conspicuous.
felt honored in having such IA friend, and
in being deemed by him worthy of hisron-
haencc May the earth rest lightly on his
remains and when LIES struggle is over |
hope we may join him IN those realms,
where there is no more death.
have come back to see you and talk with
you over the past, the present and the pros
pect OF the future. In this interchange of
views. of hopes and fears, l hoped and ex-
pectcd 10 derive pleasure. | assure you that, /
though in my absence / have wandered far /
seen and read q great deal, ] have never for /
=
all the time, however, in my Imagination,
in the weeds of mourning, aud this charm
ing climate. The grecncst spots in my past +
life are TO be found here: and wherever | .
have been, the desire with me has ever been (
the same, that when my last sun had set and 4
lies fitful fever was er, my body might I
here find resting place. | went 70 see the .
greatest living nations of the earth and the 4
countries where the mightiest people OF the /
past lie buried, and | found pleasure and in
structon in taking a survey of the whole
Though many valuable lessons We're learn
cd, yet deep melancholy followed me and 4
weighed down my spirits. l could never
forget | was an American citizen, nor cease
to repeat the line of the poet, somcW nat par
aphrased, America. with all thy faults, ]
love thee stll,' At no one time was /
tempted to change my nationality was
born on this soil and this country is my bifth1
right and my Inheritance, and by no act or
deed of mine did | wish to forfeit it. \ man
may have all that money can buy and be sur
rounded by all the Injuries and retinements
that taste OF appetite can suggest, yet il he
has no country, no place or Government he
is poor indeed. Thus in my wanderings l
was often tempted tUappropriatc to myself
the words of Him, who was more than man,
the foxes have holes, the birds of the air
have nests, bat have not where to lay my I
head. Though | have endeavOred all my
life to live with a conscience void of offence
toward God or man, yet have suffered per-
secutioEs, but trust [ have borne them with
patience. / have been reviled, but l have
not reviled again, hoping all things, endu-
ring all things.
But here you ask me, and very pertinent
Is. why | have not returned among you
earlier. This question. you at once pre-
ceivC. leads me into the field ofpolitics into
a review of the action of the government
ana the conduct of its officials. There l am
in the condition OF an unfortunate Irishman
who was sailor on board of ship at sea,
and the Captain ordered him aloft to arrange
art 4 ri ftPl
height on the main mast bis
hold gave way aud down he came on deck
with "A heavy crash. The Captain frighten-
ened, ran to him and i'll sympathizing tones
said, Patrick, are you dead: No, said Patti
am not dead. but / am speeches.. In Pats
| find myself at this time in re-
gard'to politics and the management of the
government for the last four years. am
SPECIFICS. In the late struggle for self
government we went to sea III hastily con-
structed boat, which for four years, gallant
" bore the buttctings and beatings OF the
winds and waves, and finally went down
amid the breakers, attracting the admiration
of the world. We, the passengers, were
thrown out into the turbulent waters and
have been gradually picked up and hauled
on board the ship Nationality, where weare
pt rmitted to breathe and live, but not allow
ed any lot of employment in sailing the new
ship. on which we are embarked. Few
among us can hold office a greater number
cannot vote Possibly this is for the best,
and in the end it will prove a great blessing.
y on are relieved of all res possibility in
helping to govern the country. PIIrer and
better and wiser citizens, in their own esti-
nation at least, will freely undertake TO dis
charge all the onerouS duties of Office and
relieve YOU from all its anXieties and per-
pleNities. This state OF things, l hope, will
result greatly to the advantage of our COM
muuity, increasing its wealth, happiness
and security. While was in Paris, an intel
Iigent FTGnchman undertook to prove to me
Il SryNfro hn a0FDI.4
were the freest, happiest and most prosper
Gus in the world, secure in all personal ,
rights. in the rights of property person and
reputation, each man allowed 10 pursue nap
pjncss in his own way and certain OF reapIng
the fruits of his industry. lie was debafred ;
from one right only and that was for his
good and welfare. He had no voice IN the
conduct of public affairs lie coula hoIu no
public meetings or critlcISe the acts OF the
EmDeror or his officials. Hence he was eX-
pmnt from all care and anxiety on this head.
and consequently the Frenchman was hap
nv man. Why cannot we in the conquered
South, reason and feel in the same way
nder such circumstances my opinion IS
that we GU ght TO initiate. as far as practlca- I
BILE the example of the Great King David
When his child was sick gil unto death, he
tasted. Frustrated himself upon the
ground and put on Sack-cloth. but when the
child died, he arose, washed himself put on
gay clothing and appeared 10 his
attendants with a cheerful couute-
nance. So. while our contest lasted, we
suffered, tasted, prayed, shed our blood and
spent our treasure freely. Now that it is
over let us meet the actualities of life with
a brave cheerful and manly heart, submit
ting to the inevitable and exerting ourselves
with energy to take care of ourselves and
families. Owing to the institution of slave
nv which once obtained amongst US, our
neople have been misunderstood and great
fv traduced abroad. Let us by industry, !
Skill and economy, reap all the advantages
which have been placed within our grasp
by the bountifuI hand of Providence in our
prolific soil and genial climate. Let US by
The practice of virtue and sobriety, and ali
L., liz rites Of life fisarm all Criticism. |