The Shasta courier., 1871-04-22
JEFF.-DAvIs ON THE STUMP.
THE .Losr CAUSE, NOT LOST.

From the Selma, (Ala-) Press, April Ist.I
Mr.. Jefferson Davis, President of a
Memphis Life Insurance Company, arrived
In this city on Sunday night, from Mont
gomcry. On Monday he received many
calls, and in the evening he held quite a
levee in the parlor of Keipp's Hotel, which
was attended by large number of ladies
and gentlemen About eleven o'clock a
brass band appeared on Alabama street, in
front of the hotel, accompanied hy crowd
of two or three hundred people. The
band discoursed "The Bonnie Blue Flag
and on the cessation Of the music, loud
calls were made for "Davis," "Davis." In
answer to the call the Chief of the fallen
Confederacy appeared on the balcony, and
addressed the crowd for about ten minutes
in strain Of impressive eloquence, which
told with powerful effect upon his hearers.
He commenced by complimenting, in gen.
eral terms, the people of Alabama. He
had always loved them, and now felt that
he could rest in peace with them forever
They were bone of his bone, and flesh of
his flesh. Alabama and his own State of
Mississippi were yet one in principle, as
they once had been one in Territory.
Their people had sent forth their sons to
battle on the same fields for their rights as
States. But, asked the speaker, with Bit
ter emphasis, are they States now? Yet,
proceeding in an exultant tone, he declar-
ed that State sovereignty, although defeat
ed in the late struggle, will ultimately
triumph; its day of success might not
come in his time, but he would live and
die in the belief that it would surely
triumph. He declared that no people on
earth had ever suffered as had the South
ern people since the surrender of the
Southern armies, and he loved them for
the fortitude with which they had borne
the oppression heaped upon them. He
had always been willing to give his life for
his people, and now, if any Yankee power
wanted his blood to atone for any action of
the Southern people, they could take it.
On him the Government had done its
worst, and for himself he did not care, but,
for the sake Of the people whom he loved,
he would forbear to express more fully the
feelings of his heart. He never had asked
pardon for what he had done, and he never
would, for he felt that be had done no
wrong. Mr. Davis concluded amid the
applause of the crowd, which had loudly
cheered the salient points of his speech.
AS he retired the band struck up Dixie"
after which calls were made for General
Pettus and General Morgan, but no re-
sponse was accorded, and the crowd soon
after separated. Mr. Davis looks to be in
fine health"
Commenting editorially upon these ut
terances, the Press says.
"1n his brief speech in this city on
Monday night last, Jefferson Davis reiterat-
ed his faith in the doctrine of State SOW
ereignty, and asserted his belief in its ul-
innate triumph. This is the first occasion
of which we have any knowledge that Mr..
Davis has, in public touched upon the
general political questions that agitate the
country 1t must be that the recent elec-
ton in New Hampshire, the native State
of his friend Pierce, produced an unusual
degree of exultation il his mind. 1t may
De that the expectation of a Democratic
success in the Presidential contest of 1872
was strengthened and confirmed into con-
idence, and he would no doubt consider
such a victory as the ultimate triumph of
State sovereignty. 1t is well that the
people all over the Country should know
that so distinguished a champion of State
sovereignty as Jefferson Davis has not given
up hope of the ultimate triumph of that
cause. In its behalf great armies have
been raised, a gigantic war waged, bloody
battles fought, public debt has been piled
mountain high, and widows and orphans
created by hundreds Of thousands-yet it
did not succeed. But now the chief who
championed it, and who marshaled its
forces, tells the people that he yet has con-
fidence in its ultimate triumph We com
mend these views to the consideration of
that portion of the Northern press and
men which has been led to believe that the
cause of the Rebellion is dead issue
in the minds of leading men at the South" )"