The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-11-16
Speech Of Ex-PcesiGent Davis.

At the meeting Of EX-COnfcdc-
rate soldiers and sailors held in
Richmond a few days since, Mr..
Davis made the following eloquent
speech;
AS Mr.. Davis arose to walk TO
the stand every person in the
house rose TO his feet, and there
followed such storm Of applause
as seemed to shake the very foun-
dations Of the building, while cheer
upon cheer was echoed from the
throats Of veterans saluting one
whom they deligoted to honor.
Mr.. Davis spoke at length, and
with his accustomed thrilling,
moving cloqucnce. He addressed
his hearers as Soldiers and sail.
ors of the Confederacy, comrades
and friends :" Assembled on this
sad occasion, with hearts oppress-
ed with the grief that follows the
loss Of him who was our leador on
many bloody battle. field, q pleas
ing though melancholy spectacle
is presented. Hitherto, aud in ali
times, men have been honorcd
when successful, but here is the
case Of one who, amid disaster,
went down to his grave, and those
who were his companions in mis-
fortune have assembled to honor
his memory. 1t is rs much an
honor TO yo- who gives as 10 HIM
who receives, for above the vulgar
test Of merit you show yourselves
competent to discriminate between
him who enjoys and he who dc,
served saccess.
Robert +. Lee was my associate
and friend in the military acadc-
my, and we were associates and
friends when he was a soldier and
a Congressman; and associates
and friends when he led the armies
Of tho Confcdcracy, and Ipresided
in it's Cabinet. We passed through
many sad scenes together, but !
cannot remember that there was
ever aught but perfect harmony
between US. If ever there WAS
difference Of opinion it was dissi-
pated by discussion, and harmony
was The result. I repeat, nc ncrer
disagreed, and l may add that l
never in my life saw in him the
slightest tendency to sclfseeking.
1t WAS not his to make Il record, it
was not his to shift blame to other
shoulders; but it was his, with
en- eye fixed upon the welfare Of
his country, never faltering, to
follow the line of duty TO the end.
His WAS the heart that bravcd
every difficulty; his was the mind
that wrought victory out Of defeat.
lie has been charged with "want
Of dash" [ wish to say that l
never knew Lee to faltcr to at
tempt anything ever man could
dare. An attempt has also been
made to throw cloud upon his
character because he left the army
Of the United States to join in the
struggle for the liberty of bis rative
State. Without trenc0ing at all
upon politics, I deem it my duty
to say one word in reference t.
this charge. Virginian born, de-
scended from a family illustricus
in Virginia's annals, given by Vir-
ginia to the service Of the United
States, he represented her in the
Military Academy at West Point.
lie was not educated by the Fed
cral Government but by Virginia; !;
for she paid her full share for the
support Of that institution, and
was entitled to demand in return
the service Of her sons. Entering
the army Of the United States, he
represented Virginia there also,
and nobly. On many q hard
fought field Lee was conspicuous,
battling for his native State as
, much as for the Union. lie came
! from Mexico crowned with hon.
ors, covered by brevets, and rccog-
nized, young as he was, as one of
the ablest Of his cou.try's soldiers.
And to prove that he was estima-
ted then as such, let mo tell you