The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-04
a Calm. Thoughtful, and Searching
Article upon Mr.. DaVis's Late


a Calm. Thoughtful, and Searching
Article upon MIR. Davis's Late
Speech. -. ... .....
The following is from the pen OF one OF
the truest southern men in Nirgiuia-one
whose very name is a guarantee of his hon
csty, probity, and fidelity to the South. we
commend his article to the consideration of
the public:
A reconstructed secessiOnist [ thank
Won for the newspaper comments you nave
published on the late speech of Mr.. Davis
before the Southern Historical Society. 1t
is trne YOU have had no editorial comments
thereupon and on reflection am glad you
have not; for all will perceive the good
sense and delicacy OF the press i'll abstainng
from criticism until public opinion bad di-
gested the speech. AS the representative OF
| the lost cause Mr.. DaviS's uame is dear TO
many: still dearer since the cause was in
suited in his person at Fortress Mon
| roe, and himself pursued with vim
dictiyeness by many of our enemies. But
painful as it may be to express regret at his
present course, it appears at last 10 have be-
come necessary to inform him that he is
trespassing on the patience of the southern
people; trespassing by obstructing the
restoration of the South to such measure Of
peace and quietness as is attainable under
our unhappy circumstances; and doing it in
a manner that is offensive. For of that
character is his appeal rom reconstructed
| southern men to unreconstructed southern
women. But these men, having the sanction
Of their own conscicnces and judgment, and
the knowledge that every principle OF their
course was approved by General Lee. cannot
be expected to adtnit, by silence even, the
superior wisdom or higher tone Of Mr..
Davis, or concede his right to dictate their
course in miStortunes which many of them
ascribe largely 10 bis errors.
When the citizens Of the late Confederate
States, under il solemn sense OF duty, took
the oath of allegiance TO the United States
they understood that they swore tealty to q
government which was to be administered
on principles dstlSteful TO them. But like
soldiers captivating on honor they meant to
keep their parole. Up to that time their al
legiunce TO the Confederate States had been
most loyal. Thenceforth it was necessarily
one of sentiment alone, reelected very much
| on their late President, and exhibited to him
| with so much tenderness that he should
| have been the last man to insinuate that their
| fidelity to the present was faithlcSsneSs TO
the past.
But DIR. Davis does not seem to under
stand how man may deplore the fall Of the
Southern Coniederacy as the heaviest blow
THAT has been dealt rational liberty in mo-
dern times, and yet not feel bound to grow
frantic at the catastrophe, burn up his wife
and children, and blow out his own brains.
Others are different. They think it heroic
in such disaster TO net with fortitude and
with resignation to the will of Providence
to cndelyor to make tolerabe what may be
left of the institutions of their country-to
construct a RAFT Of such portions OF the wreck
Us they can seize, and thereby reach such
karen IS they may, leaving the rest TO TIC
Father of us all. rhey would sacrifice the
vessel TO the crew. Dir. Davis would sink