The New York herald., 1875-07-17
What Did The Ex-COnfederate Chief
Say at Stevenson
A Mooted Point of Veracity
Settled.
Curious Developments About the Way the
Southern Heart Was Fired.

4
letter OF February 27, wherein you inform me
that a controversy has arisen between YOU and
Mr.. Perry in relation to quotation my oration
on the life OF the late Hon. Henry Winter DAVIS,
from speech OF Mr.. Jefferson Davis at Steven
son, Ala, il February, 1851, as follows:-
We will carry the war where it IS easy TO ad-
vance-where food lor the sword ana torcn
awaits our armies IN the densely populated cities
You state that Mr.. Perry wrote TO Mr.. Jefferson
DAVIS concerning the matter and enclose me
copy OF his reply, contained in the st. Mary's
Bacon OF February 25, 1875. and then request me
to give my authority for tue above quotation.
The fact that Mr.. DAVIS made many speeches on
his way from Jackson Montgomery Is proved
by a despatch dated Montgomery February l6,
1861 and published in the New York HERALD and
New York tribune OF the day IN the follow
Ing language 1.-THE trip or Mr.. Davis from Mis-
sssippi 10 Montgomery was one continuous ova-
tion He made twenty five speeches on the route,
returning thanks and complimentary greetings
to crowds OF ladies and gentlemen and military
at the various depots.n In the same despatch ne
Is reported to have said. on his arrival at the
Montgomery depot:-"rne time for compromise is
past. and determined to maintain our
position and make all VINO oppose us smell South
powder, feel Southern steeLn The precise
words quoted by taken from Greeley's
american Conflict" vol. l, D. AIS. The whole
passage reads thus:-"Your border States Will
gladly come into the Southern Confederacy within
sixty days, as we wiz be their only friends. Eng
land will recognize us, and glorious future is
before The grass viii grow IN Northern
cities where the pavements have been worn or
by the tread OF commerce. We will carry
where il is easy to advance-where food Tor the
torch awaits our armies IN the denselY populated
cltles; aud though Jney uhe epemy) may come
while they cannot rear the cities which took years
Of lnaustry ana millions OF money to ouildp
The speech OF Mr.. Davis was reported made
m W hlt cd
In 1864 and my Grafton was delivered on the 22d
OF February, 1866. There has been an acquies-
cence In the quotation from Mr.. Davis Tor four
teen years, since his speech at Stevenson. eleven
years since The publication OF Mr.. Greeley's Dook,
ana nine years the delivery OF my Grafton.
Meantime grave historians have endeavored to
make up truthfuly the great record or the rebel
lon and nearly all VINO have sufficiently entered
Inio 0etall to allude to Mr.. Davis speech have
ADOPTED the words thus quoted genuine. Ben
War" puellsned In 1866 tyo. l, p. 257) contains
the following language :-"Preparatlons were now
Inauguration OF Davis. He was at his acme near
vIcksourg wnen apprised of his electlen, and he
way route by the way Of Jackson, Grand Junction,
Chattanooga and West Point. His journey was
the way, all breathing treason 10 the govern
ment by whose bounty he been educated aud
fed, and whose laws ne had frequently sworn to
upnold.p
in the "Hlstory OF the American Civil WARP by
John William Draper, puul shed ID 1868, vol l,
.. $50, he says:-"Mr DAVIS views at this time
are To be found in speeches ne made IN his tri.
augural a1di ess. In one OF the former ne says:-
'Ine Border states VIII gladly come into the
Southern Confederacy within sixty days, as we
snail oe their only frienos. England Will recog
ntZe u.s. and glorious 1Gture ls oeiore u.s. The
grass VIII grow IN the Northern cities, where the
pavements nave been Off by the tread OF
commerce. Foreshadowing the manner In which
he INTENDED TO act ne said;-'We VIII carry the
war wnere 1t Is easy to advance-where food for
the sword ana torch await our armies In the
1cnsely populated ciIes. The enemy may come
and spoil our crops, Dur we can raise them as be-
ore; theV cannot rear again the cities which took
Lears of industry and millions OF money TO ould.'
We are now determlned,' ne said, ito maintain
bur position, anu make all who oppose Us smell
southern powder and feel southern STEEL" And
In the american CYclopedla,n published as late
as 1874, vol. 5, title Jefferson Davis" p. 7l3.
this statement Is maoe:-"ln his speeches on
his way 10 Montgomery Mr.. DAVIS expressed nlm-
self a confident manner sure OF ultimate
success. In one he SAID, England Will recognize
us and glorious 1ulure Is before u.s. The grass
viii grow in the Northern cities where the pave
ments have been worn of by the tread OF COM
merce. Ne will carry the war where IL Is easy 10
ldvance-wnere food Tor the sword and turcn
awaits our armies IN the densely populated cities.
lhe enemy may come ana spoil our crops, but we
.anrase them as before; tney cannot rear again
inc cities when TOOK years OF industry ana millions
Df money 10 build. We are now determined 10
MAINTAIN our position, ana make all who oppose
us smell southern powder and feel Southern
steal'u
OF course had no personal knowledge OF the
correctness OF the report OF the speech attributed
10 Mr. DAVIS. ana could onig verny Whss ne sald
testimony of others Mr. Greeley was generally
accepted the best authority on the current
events OF the Rebellion, and deemed his book as
ample Justification lor citing the words In ques-
lion. lne course since pursued 6y Losing c Oy
ciopedia," all OF the highest character for accu-
racy, fully sustans
dated Memphis. February 5, 1875, conveys to me
the first intinatioa that the genuineness OF the
speech attributed TO him at stevenson was deuled.
Up to the moment OF It's recelpS DOUBT mad never
been suggested to me on the subject. Hts letter
has been published and mas called 1ortn reply
from the editor OF the Omaha Bee, whose stae-
ments appear TO settle the question beyond con-
ruQ OF flnr4sr h
Jefferson Davis has to write a letter TO william
T. Perry, citizen Of Maryland denying the statement
AIS euogy, OF Henry Winter Davis. that he jefferson
sol We viii carry the war where il is easy al
,ns oGs for SS wsTa des awaits our
Mr. Davis, writing rom Memphis, der date OF
February 5, 1875, decares:-
have no recollection ever having made a speech
at stevenson examined file Of pers OF
that day containing such matter. but could not hnd
At the %e me1tonsd was going rom my lone IN
RaeeSed 70 Rat hs BEEN chosen By tie
gress 10 tue President OF the Provisional govern
tions on the route the people asseInbcu their
car to make due acknowledgments. stevenson one
,nose anS b er al az no D'er
neither then at any other lime, could nave used the
be iairfv construed such a me aning. hoish I
may not clam remember what said az those Tunes
do know what were my thoughts ana wishes aud
tore can be positive as 70 not nayns sad whai never
day after my arrival az Montgomey-the inauguration
what were my hopes and purpo.fs surely more fully
than the speeches made railroad
fions they could have been supposed to be cor
recty reported.
Now. while Mr.. jefferson Davis has no recoI &C i.
tton of ever having made q speech at stevenson,
the editor OF the Bee happens TO nave very VIVID
recollection OF tnat memorable event. Wnie
Inc rebel chief denies tnas nc ever uttered or
contemplated the sen ntimenis ascriDed to hin we
are prepared TO subs tantate General Creswels
charues by ndisputabie documentary evidence.
In 1861 the editor Of the Bee was stationed at
Stevenson, Ala. as manager OF the Southw esterE
noio
when Jefferson Davis. then on his way 20
Montgomery TO be inaugurated President OF the
Confeeeracy, made MS speech. Hc was one OF
tnc committee OF three selected by the citizens OF
stevenson to wait on Jefferson Davis and invite
him 60 make that speech. lie happens 10 be the
very person that reported that speech ana trans
mitted lt by telegraph 70 the NASHVILLE press.
Tbls 1acC can he snbstantiated by Mr.. George w.
Trapue now district Superntendent OF the West
ern Union Telegraph az Nashville, tnen the re-