Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-06-06
MIR. DAVIS AT ATLANTA.
An Eathu'iastie Reeepiioa-Hi. Remarks.

The arrival Of Mr.. Davis in Atlanta.
Georgia, on Saturday morning, 9th ult.,
caused the greatest commotion, and through,
out the entire day the spacious parlors of the
Almbali House were througcd with ladies and
gentlemen eager to grasp BY the hand the rep.
resentative man of the "lOst cause" In the
evening very large aud excited crowd gath.
cred IN front Of the hotel, and, in response to
the repeated cries of tho multituds, General
Darlington came upon tho balcony, aud 10,
tFoduced Mr.. Davis in an eloquent aud stirring
welcome, concluding as follows:-
You, sir, were the chosen chief of brave
and chlvaIrous people, whose cause went down
under the accumulated weight of adverse cir
cumstances, which no effort of daring, courage
or craftsmanship could control. It's failure
was one of those inScru,a5lc events which
battle human foresight aud wisdom; but, sir.
this failure has left no stain upon your proud
record. This proof is written on history's
page aud engraved in indelible letters upon
the hearts OF the brave and true men of tho
South. In the terrible ordeal through which
they have passed since the sad reverses which
betel their arms, your name has been treasur-
ed rs q sacred thing. Your brave soldiers
honor it, our noble women respect and love
it, aud our gallant boys, catching tho inspira
ton of their fathers and mothers hearts.
cherish it as one of the few, the immortal
names that are not born TO die. Iu the name
OF this people l welcome you tonight aud
tender you their love and respect and admira.
ton. The cause for which you and they en-
countered the dangers of food and field is
now Obscurcd, but the principles of liberty
American constitutional libcrty-GOr which
you and they dared to do or die are imperish-
able. They will, in due fullness of time, as
sert their supremacy over wrong aud tyranny.
The frecmen of America will in the end be
true to themselves, though now they must
submit to the fate that has befalIen them, and
In the Plaintive language Of a favorite bard
exclaim:
Furl that banneT-true tits goTy
But 'Iis wTcAthed around with glory,
And twill live in cong aud story,
Though its folds are in the dust;
For Its iame on brightest pages,
Sung by poets, peuucd by sHgcP,
Shall go sounding down the gee,
FuTI its folds though now must
Great applause.
When this address had been concluded,
Mr.. Davis appeared upon the balcony, amid
the widest enthusiasm, cries of Lights,
lights" ''Let US see his face" &c, and kim
dred expressions of delight arose from the
excited multitude below. One excited indi-
vidual proposed: "Three thousand cheers for
the hero" After applause had subsidized, Mr..
Davis addressed the enthusiastic multitude at
considerable length as to the situation of az,
fairs, councilling moderation, an abstinence
from political agitation, and an earnest effort
in the development of their own resources and
the building up of its waste places. lie
concluded by saying: am not engaged in
public affairs, but | hope to do you some good
by showing the world that though have re-
tired from active public service, yet it is my
purpose to serve you with head and heart aud
hand as long as l live. Your interest is mine
not IN nero abstract and general sense,
but in that devoted care which | have for
your welfare and happiness, and the only re.
ward l ask or seek is that | may to live sec
all your political rights restored and the whole
South prosperous, independent aud happy
LAFplausc Therefore, in what | have said
have only spoken of what consider the best
policy for the people Of the South, under the
present circumstances. 10 pursue. Let the
people Of the North take care Of themselves.
GU went to war upon the same question for
which your ancestors and theirs c0ntendcd in
the first revolution against the Government of
Great Britain-the right of commercial indc-
pendence or State sovereignty. You secured
1t IN that first war, and State sovercignty must
again be restored or else the republic of Amer
lea is a failure. Despotism cannot be exer-
cIsed under republican form of government,
and, my friends, ic you can but wait all will
be we'll. If any of us die before the dav of
peace and liberty dawns, let us die in the faith
that it will comeHt last The people of the
North will never surrender their rights and
when they see danger at home then they will
need your aid and will como to you, and then
you will be crowned with victory and trium,
plant success. CApp!ause.1 l am not of
those "who accept the situation"
ACCEPT NOTHING.
These cant phrases that we hear so much of
about accepting the situation" and about our
rights having been submitted to the "arbitra.
ment of the sword" arc but the excuses of
towards. APplnuse l admit that power
prevails over truth | admit that that power
is so great that it would be folly to resist it,
and therefore l am in favor, myself, OF being
acquiescent, aud | advise you to the same
course, but 1 do not admit that our rights
have ever been submitted to the arbtrameut
OF the sword. Who has the power to submit
your liberties to tho arhitrament of battle p
You never delegated that power to your repre-.
sentativcs. l, as your Executive, never claim
ed it, and never, dying or living, will admit
it, Applause. And then, my ircEds,
about this much talked of subject of accept,
ing the situation" You are not called uIOnI
to acknowledge that you have done wrong
unless you feel it.
DON'T BELIEVE DID ANY WRONG,
aud, therefore, I don't acknowledge it. All
that Government has a right to claim from