The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-03-30
From the Selma Times.


Formany wears, Jefferson Davis has been
a conspicuous character In American poll
tics.
On the hastings and In the Cabinet, on
the field and in the legislative halls. as a
soldier aud a citizen, he had earned distinc-
ton long before the late war between the
State sbegun, for ability, courage, purity OF
character, singleness of purpose, devotion
to cherished principles, and faithfulness in
the discharge of private and public duties.
A citizen Of Mississippi, he fought on the
bloodiest fields of the Mexican war for the
United States; and In the Federal councils,
his statesmanship comprehended the whole
country, and his labors were conseerated 20
the preservation of the Constitution, which
he believed equally necessary TO all the
States and to the success OF those constltu-
tional measures which he thought necessary
TO the perpetuation of the Union establish
ed by the fathers.
AT the commencement of the late war,
ex-Colonel. eX- Secretary, and Senator JEFF
ferson Davis was as well known in New
York and Massachusetts, as he was In GeOr-
gia and Alabama; and In no State OF the
Union was there q single citizen who
| doubted his honesty, his ability, or his pa
triotism.
When the States Of the South. compelled
to surrender their co-equal rank and con-
sent TO the establishment OF consolidated
government on the ruins OF confederation,
or to secede from Union into which they
had entered on the basis OF the constitution
al compact. chose the course dictated by
honor and duty, and formed themselves into
a new government, all eyes instinctvely
| turned to Mr.. Davis for President; and by
reclamation he was made, first provisional,
then permanent President, of the Confeder-
ate States of America.
No position was ever more embarrassing
than that of Mr.. Davis as President Of the
Confederate States. Before the government
of which he was the head was per
fectly organized, it was plunged
into a war for existence. A new
power, without recognition, or money. or
credit. or army or navy. or arms and NUM-
tions of war, or ioundries and manufactu-
ries, at the very Threshold OF existence 10
was confronted by the armed hosts OF a
mighty and martial people abundaDJly sup
piled with all the means OF warfare aud
with boundless credit aud open seas and
the world 10 draw upon for help in the hour
of need. Almost from the beginning, the
campaign on the part OF the Northern States
assumed a revolutionary character; and
from the beginning the Northern Govern
ment thrust from it the Constitution which
hampered its movements and virtually plAc .
ed in tie hands Of its chief officer the un-
limited power OF purse and sword. AT the
SOuLh, IL was otherwise, and could only be
otherwise. One man virtually controlled 70
n single end the power of the United States
Here secession was in behalf of the COnsti-
tuition and State rights; and neither lead
ers nor people were willing TO concede to
the OOnIeueThJe government the exercise OF
any single function not conferred upon IL by
the & Institution. No matter what the peril.
no matter how dire the extremity, the Pres
ident Of the Confederate States would have
invited impeachment had he done one single
act not authorized by law. And In all those
years OF war and peril, Of gradual coming
overthrow, he was surrounded In the sever
al departments Of the Confederate and local
Governments with hesitating, or timid, or
impracticable, or jealous, or factions men.
hryN halt E.NT
measures, his best laid plans were often mar
red and sometimes thwarted. SO thorough
ly was he devoted To the strict construction
and State rights ideas ia which he had been
educated, that we doubt If IL ever once en-
tered into his head TO seize the power which
in one mans hands might have given indie
pendence To the South. and, appealing to the
people In the spirit Of revolution, to save at
least the right when the war should end, Of
self-government.
OF the patience and patriotism, Armness
and ior-itude, simple honesty and sublime
heroism, OF the trials and troubles and trib-
ulations, which marked his administration
during the last months OF his Presidency,
we need not speak; for while much is
known, and much remains to be known,
no tongue can tell. no pen can describe, no
Imagination can paint, all that passed In his
mind and pressed upon his heart In those
eventfnl days. The worst came, we know
The States OF the South ceased TO exist.
Provinces, governed by the creatures of ar
bltrary power, existed where free peoples
had lived and statesmen had swayed public
councils. The ablest and best men of the
dead Confederacy were scattered on the
face of the earth, or toiled for bitter bread
at home, or diedin prison, or dragged out
wretched life TO welcome death at hard la
Dor on sun-scorched aud death-smitten is
land. Jefferson Davis, our chief--whatever
his shortcomings or weaknesses or errors
In power, our TepresentGtiUe-hunted down
like a wild beast captured, denied the trial
which the victors dared not give him in
their own courts lest they should stand
convicted before the world of high treason
against their Constitution and their oaths,
lay ironed hand and foot, by order Of An
drew johnson. President Of the Northern
government, In the gloomy cells of Fortress
Monroe, and In this YicariOus suffering for
his people blotted out FROM their hearts all
feelings but love, and from their minds all
thoughts but honor and reverence now and
forevermore. Wherever Mr. Davis goes
now In these States lately united under hIs
public administration, there will he be re-
ceived and held and honored a. the symbol
OF the ancient renown, the cause that Is lost
the hopes that are buried, the dead that fell
under the stars and bars, the humiliation OF
proud people crushed beneath the victor's
ruthless heel. of proud memories and glori-
Gus recollectioDs--of all Of which Southern
men and women think and feel In connec-
ton with the past, and when he shall have
gone from among Us, Southern hearts VIII
worship at his shrine until race OF bastards
snail have succeeded TO the heroes of 1851
70, and truth and honor and manhood shall
have been scourged hence.