The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-07-10
make all who oppose us smell Southern

"make all who oppose us smell Southern
"powder, and feel Southern STEEL ="
OF cours | had no personal knowledge
of the correctness of the report of the
speech attributed to Mr.. Davis, and could
only verify what he said at Stevenson as
any other historical fact, by the testimony
of others. Mr.. Greeley was generally ac-
cepted as the best authority on the current
events of the Rebellion, and l deemed his
book as ample justification for citing the
words in question. The course since pur-
sued by LOSING, by Draper, and by the
the highest character for accuracy, fully
sustains me.
The letter of Mr. Davis in reply to Mr..
Perry, dated Memphis, Feb'y 5, 1875, con-
veys to me the first intimation that the
genuineness of the speech attributed to
him at Stevenson was denied. Up to the
moment of its receipt a doubt had never
been suggested to me on the subject. His
letter has been published and has called
forth reply from the editor of the Omaha
Bee, whose statements appear to settle the
question beyond controversy. give them
at length
Jefferson Davis has seen fit to write a
letter to William f. Perry, citizen of
Maryland, denying the statement which
Elk Postmaster General Creswell incnip"r-
ated in his eulogy of Henry Winter Davis,
that he Jefferson Davis said in speech
of loh IN
I'VE will carry the war where it is easy
to advance, where food for the sword and
torch awaits our armies in the denSely
populated cities
Mr.. Davis, writing from Memphis, under
date of February, s. 1875, declares:
L have no recollection of ever having
made speech at Stevenson; and have ex-
amined a file of newspapers of that day
containing such matter, but could not find
any reference to speech made by me at
Stevenson. At the time mentioned | was
going from my home in Mississippi to
, Montgomery, Ala, in consequence of notice
received that had been chosen by the
Congress to be the President of the Pro-
visional Government of the Confederate
States. AT many railroad stations on the
route the people assembled to manifest
their good will, and l often went out on
tue platform Vi tle CdI " Hldhe ule aC-
acknowledgements. Stevenson was one Of
those stations, and may there, as at other
places, have returned thanks; but neither
there or elsewhere, neither then or at any
other time, could have used the language
attributed to me, or any language that
could be fairly construed to have such a
meaning. Though l may not claim to
remember what | said at those times, do
know what were my thoughts and wishes,
and therefore can be positive as to not
having said what | never thought or con-
templated. Very soon, say on the second
day after my arrival at Montgomery, the
Inauguration took place, and the address
on that occasion will show what were my
hopes and purposes surely more fully and
accurately than the speeches made at rail
road stations, even if they could have been
supposed to be correctly reported
Now, while Mr.. Jefferson Davis has no
recollection of ever having made speech
at Stevenson, the editor of tie Bee happens
to have a very vivid recollection of that
memorable event. While the rebel chief
denies that he ever uttered or contem-
plated the sentiments ascribed to him, we
are prepared to substantiate General Cres-
Wells charges by indisputable documentary
evidence. In 1861 the editor of the Bee
was stationed at Stevenson, Alabama, as
manager of the Southwestern Telegraph
Company's Office. He was present when
Jefferson Davis, then on his way to Mont
gomery to be inaugurated President of the
Confederacy, made his speech. He was
one of a committee of three selected by
the citizens of Stevenson to wait on Jeffer-
son Davis and invite him to make that
speech. He happens to be the very person
that reported that speech and transmitted
it by telegraph to the Nashville press.
This fact can be subStantiated by Mr..
George w. Trabue, now District Superin-
tendent Of the Western Union Telegraph
at Nashville, then the receiving operator,
who copied that speech at the Nashville
Office. Mr.. Trabue is a Tennesseean,' and
his services as an Confederate army
officer should entitle him to credence on
the part of jeff. Davis. Furthermore, the
diary written at Stevenson, now in our
possession, contains the following record
of that memorable event:
FRIDAY, February 10.
exhibited a copy of Jeff. Davis speech
to most of the citizens here, and they pro-
nounced it as near correct as it could be
made. l copied it for publication in the
Bellefonte Era (the county paper; tele-
graphed synopsis to Nashville and Nash
vile reports it took we'll. Papers have
issued extras, and it was also telegraphed
through to the Associated Press
SATURDAY, February 1G.
Nashville Union and American has a
correct report of Davis speech. The
Nashville Banner ridicules and criticises it
severely
Here, then, we have record decidedly
more reliable than the feeble memory of
jeff. Davis. This record can readily be
substantated by reference to the files of
the leading Nashville dailes. The extract
quoted by Gen. Creswell is exactly what
jeff. Davis did say, and we can unhesitat-
ingly vouch for its correctness"
This makes up very sharp issue. On
one side, Mr.. Jefferson Davis, asserting
that he has emo recollection of ever having
made speech at Stevenson" and on the
other, the editor of the Omaha Bee, who
declares that he has ga very vivid recollec-
ton of that memorable event." Mr.. Davis
cannot ignore his carefully reported speech
at Stevenson, addressed to portion of the
people of Alabama, and made for the pur-
pose Of firing the Southern heart, by quot
| ing from his more dignifed and guarded
inaugural, which omitted all mention of
slavery, the very corner stone of the Gov
ernment of the Confederate States, and
which was evidently prepared to propitiate
and secure the recognition of foreign ma
tons.
With an apology for my delay, l am,
Very truly yours,
JNo. A. J. CREswELL.
| THE VALUE OF OATMEAL AS INFANTS
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metz and Hardy make known the results of