Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-06
HOx. JACOB THOHPsOy.
His Return Home and Enthusi-
asIIc Reception.
His Speech 10 ise People OF
Oxford.

the arrival at bis home ia Oxford, Miss.
Of Hon. Jacob Thompson. He was re-
Ceived by D large eOHc0nrse Of people
aud welcomed in their behalf by Col. l.
&C. Lamar. In reply Mr.. Thompson
made some extended remarks, most Ol
which We End room for as follows. He
said:
I have come back TO see you sDd talk
with you over the past, the present and
the prospect Of the future. In this inter
change OF views, OF hopes and fears, ]
hoped and expected to derive pleasure.
L assure you that, though in my absence
I have wandered far, seen and read q
great deal, have never forgotten you,
sour delightful village, clothed sil the
time however, in nay Imagination N the
weedE Of mourning, sDd this cbRrmiUg g
climate. The RTesDest spots in my pas
life are 10 be found here, snd wherever /
have been, the desire With me hes ever
reer the same, that when nay Last sun
had sst and Iife's fitful fever was DER,
nv body might here find a resting place.
7 vent 10 see the greatest living nations
OF the earth and tbe countries where the
mIghtisst people o. the past lie buried
and | found pleasure anG Instruction 10
king q survey Of the whole. Though
mann valuable lessons were learned, yet
e deep melancholy followed me and
weighed down my spirits. could never
forget 1 Wss 50 American citizen, nor
cease to repeat the Has 81 the poet, some
what para phrssed, America, with alt
thy faults, love thee stilltn ~ 60 one
time was l tempted to change my ns-
tiopality-I was born Oh this soil and
this country is my birth right and my
Inheritance, and by ps set or deed Of
mine cid / wish 10 forfeit i. A man
may have all that money can bay and
be surrounded by eli the luXuries and re-
nneuents that taste or appetite can sus-
Rest, yet If be has TO country, DO place
or Government, he is poor indeed. Thus
81 my WsLderiDgs L was often tempted
20 appropriate to myself the words OF
Him, who was more than nsn, "the foxes
have holes, the birds Of ths sir have
nests, tut 1 have nOs where 10 lay Eg
head" Though ! have eudeavored sli
nv life d live win . conscience void OF
offsnse toward GJd or man, yet l have
suffered prosecutions, but trust have
borBe them with Ps5isnes. L nave bsen
reviled, but l have nCt ESylled again,
hoping all thiDgs, snduriDg al things.
RDs here you ask me, and very peril
psptIy, Wy have not returned among
you earlier. Ihis question, you ct cnce
Defceive, leads ns into the field OF poll
lies into a revfew ef zee action of the
Government and the conduct 3f its oil
ejals. ThereI am in the condition of sn
unfortunate IrishmRn who Wss sailor
on board of ship stseR, and the Captain
ordered him sloft TO srrG' ge some part
OF the rigging. After resehlrg Il consid.
ersbIe b ight on the main mast his hold
gave wsy eDd down be cgme on deck
With q heavy erzRh. The Captain night
ened, ran to him and ia<Sg mpath ng
tones said, ''Pstrick, are you desd No.
said Pat, II sm not dead, bui lam sPeecn
less - In Pats cendilioD, Il h0d myself
at this time in regard to politics snG the
management OF the Government for the
lsst four years-I am speechless. 10 the
late struggle for seif government We
vent to ees - hastily constructed boat,
which for four years, gsilahuy bore tbe
huffetiugs and beGtings Of the wiDds aud
yysqes, and finally went down amid the
hreaksrs. attracting the admiration o.
the world. We, the pssseI gers, were
thrown out into the turbulent waters snd
nave been gradually picked up aud
hauIed on board the ship AaGonality,
where We ara permitted to breathe and
n -. but not allowed any lot or employ
roant in sailing the new ship On which
,-e are embarked. Few among Us can
Mold ONCE. great number cannot
vote. Possibly this is for the best,
and IN the end it will prove great
blessing. You EFe relieved OF all re-
eDonsibility in helping To govern the
country. Purer and better and wiser
cirjzsne, 10 their own estimation 81 lesst,
. IN freely undertake to discharge ali the
ouerous duties Of Office and relieve you
from all it's anxieties and perplexitiee
Tbis state Of things, / hope, viii result
oreatly to the advantage Of our commu-
Tifx. increasing its wealth, happiness
and security. While L was 10 fatls, an
inteIligent FTsnchmAn UNDERTOOK TO
Urove 10 me that under the French Em-
pire the people we're the fieest, hspPiest
and most PROSPEROUS IN tae WorIo, Sc
cure IA all perssDsl rignts, IN tne rgats
Of property, person aud feputa'loni es1n ~
man ALLOW cd e. pursue happiness Ia bis
own wsv. and certain Of respiDg the
fruits of bis industry. De was OeoafIeq
froDo one right only and that wss for his
gnod sad welfare. He hsd 10 voice Ia
the conduet OF public affairs. de could
nod no public meetings or cfiticlse the
aets of the Emperor or his oiflcials.
Henea he was exempt from sill care ana
anxiety on this heae, and consequently
the Frsnchnan was a happy man. Why
csnpct we, 10 the conquered South, Fea
son and feel Ia tins same way ? Under
sDch eircu nlstsuces M opinion is that
- nnght 10 initiate, es far as practical
bie fhe example OF the great King Da-
vid When bis child was sick nigh
INTO death he mOurned, tasted, pros.
trsted himself upon the ground and
nnt On saek cloth, but when the child
died. be arose, washed himself put
on gay clothing, and appeared 70 MS
attendants with cheerioi eoantenenes'
-" xhiIe our contest lasted, we suffered,
tasted, prayed, shed our blood and spent
or treasure freely. Now that il is over,
ist ns meet the actpslitiss of life with
have. cheerful and manly heart, cub
miftipg to Ihe Inevitable and exarttDg
ourselves with energy 10 take care OF
ourselves and families. Owing &c the
Institution Of slavery which once OBJ