New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-03
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
His Speech mt Augusta.


!Seatinel thus describes Jefferson Davis, and
reports his recent speech there:
HIS APPEARANCE.
The central figure of the group is tall
but thin man, straight as an arrow, with
more the port and bearing OF soldier than
a statesman. though his manners are most
winning and graceful, and every conner is
Immediately put at his ease. A handsomely
shaped head, covered with thick iron gray
hair (strange this is, for few men in Amer
lea sport natural hair after fifty. The face
is thin and narrow, and the cheeks are
sunken somewhat, but the forehead is high
and intellectual, and the nose, slightly
aquiline, is delicately chiseled. The lips,
drawn rather closely together, denote the
extraordinary firmness and resolution char
acteristic Of the man. The chin is covered
with beard, and in addition to goatee, he
has allowed a beard to grow upon his
cheeks, and closely trimmed moustache is
sported upon the upper lip. The beard is
like the hair, "a sable streaked with silver"
The hands are narrow and symmetrical
and the fingers tapering and aristocratie
His whole appearance denotes the highest
nervous organization, combined with a
wonderful quaint of brain power. Always
unostentatious in his attire, Mr.. Davis wore
last night a neat but anpretending suit of
gray, the color reminding one of the cloth
worn by the soldiers of the Lost Cause"
HIS SPEECH.
NV friends and fellow. citizens of Georgia.
| feel that | have a peculiar claim upon the
people of Georgia, and that the people of
this State have also a peculiar claim upon
me. Ny father was citizen of Georgia
lAany long years ago, and to him have.
often listened in the days of my boyhood as
L 4 ,<.f
ton. IL was to this city of Augusta-this
ancient old town upon the banks of the Saw
annah-that my father, then but a mere
boy, came to join the revolutionary forces,
and enlisted beneath the American flag.
am proud of my father, and proud of his
State. If it is a crime to feel proud Of this
sire-to glory in his devotion to the cause of
the right-to remember, with exultatiOn
his services in defense of liberty, then, my
friends, it is also a crime to oppose a des-
potic Capitalization of power and uphold
the right of State to withdraw from vol
untary compact entered into only for the
preservation of the freedom of them all. If
this is a crime, then am | a criminal, and it
is the only offense of which l have been
guilty. | repeat, Georgians, that claim to
be of Georgia descent and glory in my
lineage.
NOT HIMSELF, BUT THE CAUSE HONORED.
Although the distinguished gentleman
who welcomed me TO your city with words
so kindly and so eloquent has said that you
pay a tribute TO me by your presence here
tonight. can not think that he was cor
rect in this remark 1t Is not tribute to
me individually, but because you feel that
| am one of yourselves that you come to do
me honor. And while /, am fully aware of
this fact do not imagine that l feel at all
,n1 OF hot 20
ed because you honor me only as the repre-
sentative of your cause. That cause is dear
to me-more precious even than life lap
plause1 and | glory in its remembrance.
HIS WORDS TORTURED AND MIsCoNsTRUED
just here let me say to you that l well
know how every utterance of mine is seized
upon by the organs and members of GER
tain faction. | am well aware of the eager
ness with which every word of mine is
caught up, and the ingenuity with which it
is distorted and used in furtherance of de-
signs upon my people, and hence dare not
speak to you as | desire. Ny heart is full
to overflowing, God knows, but l can not
speak. Many memories of the past are
struggling in my brain, but must be silent.
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.
Though l must not speak, it is no fear for
myself which commands my lips to be
closed. No; l have been punished for my
crimes, and have experienced the worst
which could be imposed. In the cant Ian
guage of the day, punishment with me is
played out" The worst that can be done
has been done. and have no more to fear
If / speak it is not myself, but You, who
would be injured; for, unfortunately, ad-
ditional wrongs can yet be heaped upon
you. Therefore, if | claim merit for any
thing. it will be for keeping silent. NY
simplest words may work you harm. If /
say Good night, my friends, go to your
homes" and a congressional investigating
committee happened to be within hearing,
its members would swear that | directed
you to go off and join the Ku-Klux. TAP
plause and laughter. Filled with that
jealousy which springs from 'the knowl-
edge OF their inferiority, and of the justice
of your pretensiOns, and conscious of
broken covenants and violated constitu-
ton, they mistrust every movement, and
tremble with fear when they think that
right may again prevail. [Applause.]
"wAIT AND HOPE"
But wrong can not always be triumphant
| will say nothing and you must do nothing,
even though tyranny presses grievously
upon you. Forbear for season, and a day
will come when all will yet be well. l
may not, nor may some of you live to see
II, out III is surely coming. lApplauSei lie
who reigns above and lives always will see
that Justice is done. He will not allow the
wicked to always remain in power, nor the
righteous to be oppressed. We can wait
until that day comes, and in the meantime
be quiet 'Tis an old and wise saying, that
a good biting dog never barks much. If we
wait patiently sense of justice will yet re-
turn to the people of the United States, or
an opportunity will come when our rights
can be gained, and not only our rights-the
rights of the South-but the rights of all
the people; the rights which were fought
for and obtained at the point of the sword
in the first revolution. [Applause.]
CONCLUSION.
But though l can not and should not
speak, fear that where the mind and the
heart are both so full, that will not be
able to restrain my words. can not think
one thing and say another. and unless the
honest emotions of my soul can be ex-
pressed / do not care to speak. / thank
you, gentlemen, for your kindness, and feel
deeply touched at its exhibition. May God
foster and preserve you. If ever the day
comes when l can speak freely, will be
among you, and say to you all that is in my
heart. Till then, farewell, and may the
great God be with you always. [Applause.]
Visit of Engineers.