The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-19
THE LOST CAUSE.
The Meeting of the Southern Els.
torical Convention.
ssmne, Introduces JEFF Davis-"our Esteemed
President Of the Late Confederate states''-
JET Davis Speech - Cheated
Rather Than Conquered"
MONTGOMERY, WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Va, /
August Ia. 1874. I

August 49, 1873. !
Governor Letcher called the Southern Historical
convention to order. The proceedings OF last meet
ing were read and approved. Governor Letcher said
that, as chairman OF the committee appointed to
walton General Hardee. he had discharged that
duty by delivering to Mrs. Hardee q copy OF the
resolutions, the General not being able to receive
him IN person. At this point Admiral Semmes.
chairman Of the Committee OF Reception entered
tthe hail. escorting Mr.. Jefferson Davis Admiral
Semmes satd-"Mr. President, have the
honor to present to you and the gentlemen OF
the Convention Mr. Jefferson Davis, our esteemed
president OF the late Confederate States" Mr..
Davis was received by the audience
STANDING, AND WITH PROLONGED APPLAUSE.
Governor Letcher said-"A the organ OF this
convention, it is my pleasure, as well as nv duty,
Mr.. Davis to give you hearty welcome-a welcome
ito the honors the affections and Inequalities Of
Virginia"
Mr. Davis responded 81 am deeply thankful for
your kind welcome. feel at home in Virginia
She gave her bosom to be torn by all the horrors
OF war, and her sons and her treasure for the
cause; and look upon her mountains In their
peaceful grandeur, her verdant wales and her ma
terial wealth yet above ALL her men excel her SOIL
and her women excel her men. Fresh in my
memory Is the devotion and SELF sacrifice OF
her noble women. When the Shenandoah Valley
was laid In waste the fair women, whose hands
mad never known ON bour's toll, abored for the
support and comfort OF the army. am most
happy to know the cause Tor which we have con-
Vened Much time has passed away; many OF the
participants have been called to their fathers. 1t
Is hard for those whose hearts in the to
think or those days without feeling their mothers
sOltness coming to their eyes. We have been
CHEATED RATHER THAN CONQUERED
and could we have foreseen the results OF the
surrender we would have been free to-day. The
time has come for US to vindicate the truth for the
sake OF the unrecorded dead who fought Tor truth
and died in q patriotic cause. These scraps OF
history do US injustice. We must collect the ma
herial for the future historian. 1t may have been
well to wait until passion and feelings should SUBJ
side, but we should delay no longer.
DO WE NOT SEE DECADENCE
In oil that makes people great and happy?
Therefore the higher the duty on US. have received
a letter from gentleman In massachusetts, in
Eratitude for maintaining those principles Of consd-
futional liberty that the safety OF the country
sight OF but for your struggle: LADIES' have often
said IN you was greatest hope for the future OF
our country. have never seen q
SOUTHERN WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN RECONSTRUCTED.
The men OF this day may. yield the principles
for which they contended. but the children
who succeed will cherish and perpetuate them.
Gentlemen OF the society. may your steps
ever be onward and upward. l urge YOU
reed with the grand old Early at your head, whose
brave heart never failed OF ialtered, ana who had
the manliness whether in a foreign land or his
which he so nobly struggled"
MIR. Davis took his seat amid great applause. He
spoke with all his accustomed ease, and while he
showed deep feeling he uttered no sentiment OF
hostility to the government, but only evinced
ueep and earnest devotion TO constitutional prin-
ciples. AT the conclusion OF Mr.. Davis speech the
Convention adjourned sine dte
General Early then called the Society to order.
admiral Semmes submitted the following resolu-
tl0n which was unanimously adopted:-
BE il resolved by the Convention Of the Southern His
torica society now in session nj the Montgomery White
HON ali Ike Southern States that His Exceilency PresI
Aent Grant, OF the United Safes be respectfully
uesd 10 permit the Secretary OF the Southern His.ori
a Society to inspect all papers that captured by
forces Of the United States during the late war from
think a INC IN tine ss bsa f under s
5orm duty, which 1, has prescribed itsI OF per
bcuatng the testimony III which the future historian Of
Iory
( The resolution was seconded by General Martin,
SDf MISSISSIPPI,
( The President said that he could not now ap-
point the Executive Committee, but would an-
hOunce that General Dabney II. Maury had been
selected as its chairman.
Colonel Johnson submitted o series OF resolu-
aous:-
Sccond-That Admiral semmes be requested TO furnish
copy his able address in vindicauon OF The Coniede
rate cruisers SO that the same may be included in the
T6ird-That the ladies be enrolled members the
Governor Locher offered q resolution soliciting
bid Tor the Memorial Society Of Montgomery, OF
which Mrs. Robert Preston Is President. The
Society then adjourn I'd to meet In Richmond, sub
sect to the call OF i1e President After adjourn
tnent the ladies' gave Mr. Davis cordial reception
Alter short reunion enlivened by stirring music
ihe vast assembla2e retired.