The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-11-08
speech or Bx-PresIdens Davis.

speech OF Bx.Prco1dene Davis.
At the. meeting of, ,ex-C Confederate sol
dfers and seiiors held IN ighRgua STEW
days sinoe;y Davis made the following
eloquent speech: e 4
AS ME-, Davis Iarose,i to Walk 10 the
stand every person in the house rose to
his feet, nnd there followed such storm
of appiuse as seemed to shake the very
foundations of the building, while cheer
upon cheer was echoed from the throats
OF veterans salutipg one whom they de-
lighted to honor.
Mr.. Davis spoke Mt length, and with
his accustomed thrilling, moving elo-
quonce. He addressed his hearers as
t'Soldier and sailors of the Confederacy,
comrades and friends:" Assembled on
this sad occasion, with hearts oppressed
with the grief that follows the loss of
him who was our leader on many q
bloody battlefield, pleasing though
melancholy spectacle is presented. Hith-
erto, and in all times, men have been
honored when successful, but hero is the
case Of one who, amid disaster, went
down to his grave, and those who were
his companions in misfortune have as
sembled to honor his memory. It is as
much an honor to you who gives, as to
him who receives, for above the vulgar
test Of merit you show yourselves COM
petcnt to discriminate between him who
enjoys aud he who deserved success.
Robert Z. Lee was my associate aud
friend in the military academy, and we
were associates and friends when he was
soldier and 1 Congressman; and assc-
ciates and friends when he led the armies
Of the Confederacy and presided in its
Cabinet. we passed through many sud
scenes together, but cannot remember
that there was ever aught but perfect
harmony between us. If ever there was
difference Of opinion it was dissipnted by
discussion, and harmony was the result.
I repeat, are neuer disagreed, and I may
add that I never in my life saw in him
the slightest tendency to self-seeking. It
was not his to make a record, it was not
his to shift blame to other shoulders; but
it was his, with IN eye fixed upon the
follow the line of duty to the end. His
was the heart that braved every difficult
ty; his was the mind that wrought VIC
tory out Of defeat.
He has been charged with "want of
DASH" wish to say that I never knew
Lee to falter to attempt anything ever
man could dare. An attempt has also
been made to throw a cloud upon his
character, because he left the army of the
United States to join in the struggle for
the liberty of his State. Without trench
ing at all upon politics, deem it my
duty to say one word in reference to this
charge. Virginian born. descended from
q family illustrious in Virginia's annals,
given by Virginia to the service Of the
United States, he represented her in the
Military Academy at West Point. He
was not educated by the Federal Co
vernment, but by Virginia; for she paid
her full share for the support of that in
stitution, and was entitled to demand in
return the services of her sons. Enter
ing the army of the United States, he
represented Virginia there also, and no.
bly,. On many hard-fought field Lee
was conspicuous, battling for his native
State as'much as for the Union. He
came from Mexico crowned with honors,
covered by brevets, and recognized,
young as lie was, rs one Of the ablest of
his country's soldiers. And to prove
that he was estimated then as such, let
mo tell you that when Lee was Cap
tain Of Engineers, stationed in Balti-
more, the Cuban Junta in New York
selected him to be their leader in the
SCFuSStc Ior Lue independence OF Cuelr
native country. They were anxious to
secure his services and offered him every
temptation that ambition could desire.
He thought the matter over, and, re-
member, came to Washington to consult
me as to what he should do, and when I
began to discuss the complications which
might arise from his acceptance of the
trust, he gently rebuked me, saying this
was not the line upon which he wished
my advice, the simple question was
"Vhether ii scas right or nof." He had
been educated by the United States, and
felt wrong to accept place in the army
Of foreign power. Such was his ex-
tremo delicacy. such was the nice sense
of honor of the gallant gentleman whose
death we deplore. But when Virginia
withdrew-the State to whom he owed
his first and last allegiance-thc same
nice sense of honor led him to draw his
sword and throw it in the scale for good
or for evil. Pardon me for this brief
defence of my illustrious friend.
When Virginia joined the Confcdcracy,
Robert Lee, the highest officer in The
little army of Virginia, came to Rich
L