Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-03
JEFF DAV Wis UNREPENTANT AM
assssn Ns0 HOPEFUL. .l.s. n..... 81

Jefferson Davis made speech at Atlanta
In which he spoke quite freely. He appears
to be rather proud than otherwise of his rebel
career, and hopes to see his cause yet tri-
umphant. He accepts nothing as settled, and
advises the South to wait and watch patiently
for the time when they shall triumph in the
government. 8as. IS aor
If I should speak to you of the past
should speak of memories that are sad. If
should speak to You Of the present it would
b 10 recount . tale of tyranny and wrong
that We have not the power to redress, and
under which, therefore, it 10 more manly and
noble for US to fold our arms and suffer
with quiet and patient dignity. If speak OF
the future, then I am liable to be misrep-
resented, and you held responsible for every
speculation that may chance to utter. But,
my friends, ~ stand here tonight, and look
upon your kindly, honest faces, feel that
there are = few plain words that may be re-
ceived by you - the expression Of my opinion
IN regard to the future. Then, say, despair
not Of your liberty. despair not OF the tri-
umph Of liberty. Ibelieve that truth will live
esernally, and that wrong cannot always en-
dure. When Calico was bound to the torture
rack for asserting his theory, that the world
was globe and turned upon its axis, and was
there forced to recant, a. soon as the screw
was relaxed he cried out of the deep and
irresistible conviction Of his soul, '.But still il
moves" And 80 the great truths uttered BY
your fathers still i've, and the principles they
enunciated and for which they commended still
move, and will once more be felt, if you will
but be true to the right. Let no one say that
l counsel q recovery and an enjoyment OF
these principles by the red hand Of battle.
trust may not be misrepresented upon this
point l shall die in the firm faith and belief
that the era of true liberty will ere long dawn
upon the South. Ii they who carried the
victorious banner and exulted in the strength
Of their triumph could have known you when
yo1 came forward and said you had given up
your arms, and were ready to submit to the
laws Of the land, and could have understood
how true your word was, how high your prin-
ciples Of honor, it would not have been nee
essary to exact harsh pledges and to pass OPP
pressive laws to bind you. (Applause.) Force
should never have been exerted when the I'M
impeachsble word Of Georgian was pledged,
for the world cannot furnish bayonets enough
TO make Georgian more faithful to his obi
cations than his oath could do. applause
Peaceful, then, you are DESTROYS of being to-
day; peaceful you have been, peaceful you are
ssSa' Nheu human patience mas s0nlttlines
gtsen way there are those who sometimes take
the Law into their own hands, because there is
no Juspce 70 be secured 10 any other way
out these are merely accidental occasions.
There is no organization in the South--lhere
never was-whose purpose is resistance to the
government A voice-''that's SOY Though
We are compelled to submit to the presence OF
power, yet our manhood and our self respect
can be preserved Peace is what we hone
for Peace We desire, and peace we will have.
have nothing to say TO you to- night of poll
ties, and, my friends, 4 hope you have moth
ing 10 do with them. You have political pow
Or and ifs exercise il only postponed until the
coming of that event which certainly antic-
ipase--the restoration of your constitutional
rights. (Applause.) Let US, then, stand still
and quietly await developments. The men OF
the North, like yourselves, love their govern
ment and understand their rights, and men of
tie North have no idea of surrendering in
their own country those great bulwarks OF
constitutional liberty, the right Of trial by
jury, the right 70 elect their own officers, and
the right to determine their own international
policy, and ~ soon ~ their prejudices and
haired against the South are removed, and
they zee that BY the unlawful action Of those
II power towards the South, these sacred
rights Of theirs are in danger of being inva-
ded. they will become your adjnncts and you
viii hold the balance Of power; and in that
hour your power will be great and your sue
,ess viii BE- greater. (Applause.) have
aid, sr 4 here repeat 1t. that despair not
Il the ies .oration Of our liberties. They are
,ot ours only; they are equally the liberties