Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-19
Ex.PREsIDENT DAVIS IN THE
CITY.

REsIDENT DAVIS IN The
CITY.
Our city has beer honored by visit
from ex-President Davis, who srrived
night before last 90 io,rd the steamer
Great Republic from Vicksburg. He is
now stopping at the Peabody Hotel
where his friends are calling upon him IN
great numbers. All respect 10 due to
Jefferson Davis for the noble manner IN
which be represented the South in lis
life-and.death struggle for national ex-
is,ecce. No one can doubt. at this late
date. tho patriotism that prompted hiha
in the ADMINISTRATION of his Presidential
office. 1t is true the man msy have
made mistakes, but they we're errors OF
the head, and not the promptings OF q
mean heart. In every position that be has
filled. from Colonel of the lst Mississippi
regiment in Mexico to President of the
Southern Confederacy. bis acts we're
marked by sincerity, honesty. snd every
tair e.iucing the nobility of the man by
nature. Jefferson Davis is possessed OF
more than ordinary talents; we mightsay
he has extraordinary ability and ac-
ouiremenis. As Senator 10 Congress
from Mississippi bis native State. be
commanded the respectful attention OF
all the great minds 10 that body when on
the floor delivering one Of bis smooth,
logical and well considered speeches.
When Secretary Of War, under the ad-
ADMINISTRATION of President Pierce, he won
an epvisble reputation that few msS Who
have & lied the p ,sitiou ever acquired. The
resignation of his seat in the Senate
after the secession of Mississippi, and
his farewell speech on the oecs sion, drew
tears from all who heard it. No seEar
tor, not even Hale. of New Hampshire,
or Sumner, of Massachusetts,, in that
body, thought for one moment thst Mr..
Davis was prompted by other than what
he regarded as bis duty; hence the re.
spect entertained for hin. The career
of this wonderful man has been the most
brilliant OF modern statesmen and rulers.
That the Southern States failed under
the adj inistratios of Mr.. Davis in estab.
fishing their independence is not attribu-
table 10 him 10 the least. W. failed,
and critics must make q scapegost
Of some one; and Je6erson Davis
being The head was sad lied With
the responsibility Of the failure.
The const quence of the failure might,
and trutbfully too, be attributed to one
cause only. and that was the Espt OF
further resources of the country. The
South succumbed to the more powerful
North after the land bad been ssde des-
olste and there was not subsistence LEFT
for man or beast TO continse longer 10
the field. The conduct Of our President
after the South went down showed him
to the world as sincere patriot. He
refused to submit TO his csptors Ehen
they endeavored to place The msnacles
upon his limbs, and II vas Saly Gster
severe struggle on the part Of 90 aTaaea
guard who, by superior strength, held
him down when the chains were riyited
on his ankles. Tnis resistance on
his part was as it should ksve
been, as in this Mr.. Davis showed
to the people ofthe North aud 20 tbe world
that the South repudisted the ides sna to
the last denied the right of the y jrihern
States to make war upon and bring into
subsection the Southern Coniederacy. "a
was an act, on the part OF the North,
which found no authority in the constitn.
ton of our common country, and the
South only exercised the defensible right
Of self preservation, which she should not
have been deprived OF. This dispute has
now been settled by the sword, and the
country is at peace; but We should not
forget the men who exhibited the noble
virtue Of self-sacri6ce for the good Of oul
people durirg the dark days OF the civil
war. We should respect and take care oil
cur broken-down heroes. Will the South
ern people permit Jefferson Davis to wan
for the ordirary comforts Of the body
while be lives cut the remaining days o
his life7 lfso, it would be . shame. The
North has most literally provided fol
Grant, Sherman, Mcclellan, Mrs Lin
coin, the MANNED Federal soldiers, auC
the beresved soldiers widows. Cannot VI
q. Of the South by contribution provide Nj
Davis a home, where be may have 4
little rest and its comforts1 Most Ger
tainly 1t could be'dOne, and our people
are not lacking in patriotism or iber
atty. Let the begin nov, snt
Memphis have The credit Of putting sha
tall ir motion.