Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-19
JEFFERSON DAYIs AND The WHINE
RNGn FEPIaCA RTRs

We publish this morning the answer
OF Mr.. Jefferson Davis declining the in
vitation to address the agricultural
society of Rockford, Illinois, and with
il Invitations addressed to him from six.
teen other and similsr societies-four
from Illinois, two rom Indiana, two from
Pennsylvania, three from Missouri, two
from Iowa, one from Wisconsin, one from
Louisiana, and one iIym Maryland; sll
OF which prove that the Rockford pee
rle sTe not singular and alone in their
respect for one who has never forfeited
the respect Of his fellOW-men or endsn-
gered, 10y anything beneath his position
in life, his sense OF selETespect. 1t will
be seen that the letter of declina-
ton from Mr.. Davis is couched
in courteous terms, and sets forth
clearly the reasons that first
prompted his acceptance end ultimately
his withdrawal Of that acceptance. His
anxiety to promote the interests Of the
great valley whose people, in and out OF
place and power, he has served with un-
swervirg fidelity, was the primal and
principal provocaiion to his acceptance
Of the fi2tteTing invitation of the Win
nebsgo county people, whose territory
he hsd known when, yet a young man,
be Was laying the foundations OF bis |
great career. This, and his ardent desire /
10 serve the farmers and farming inter |
ests ard TO crafty his desire to see the |
now busy region that he first beheld a |
Jrackless wilderness, lead the leading
statesman Of The south to defer TO the |
courtesy Of the Winnebsgo society. In
this there is nothing Of politics, past,
present or to come, and not word, sug-
gestiOn or hint that could in the least
invite the torrent Of abuse, billings
gate and blsck guaTdism that from
many Of the Radical papers has been
showered upon bis unOfending head.
There is neither faint ofsecession, States
rights OF Confederscy, nor any sentence
that could be tortured into inuendo or
covert design, either to interfere with
the political, social or local affairs Of the
modern Winnebigoes, nor any threat
OF his intention o attempt their CONVEX
sion TO the theories OF government that
despite their opposition and insensibIy,
80 far as they are concerned, grow faster
and have to-day more hearty and zeal
Gus supporters than when he left his
place in the United States senate,
in obedience TO the command OF
his people, to attempt the establish
ment Of what he and they hoped would
be Snd s.rove to make "a more per-
fec. government" Mr.. Davis had no
purpose in connection with a past that
he knows is iTevocsb'y gone beyond
recall; he desired simply to answer a {
purpose quite within his province as a
cit!z=n whose breadth Of culture, exre-
GieuCe Ird attaiEments single him
among all men ss one worthy to be
teacher and leader Of men; and be did {
not suppose for moment that ia con- :
senting 10 serve such purpose he would |
arouse In such viOieat, dszraceful and !
measure the hate, malevo- I
lence and passion his fellow-citizens
Of the late C0nIedeTacy have done
so mu1h and gone so far 10 allay. '
He had resd in the leading journals of /
lie country the laudstions and eulcgies I
Df leading public men and leading jour :
uadsts following upon the ceremonies at '
ElmEOod cemetery, where he was a
principal participant, upon the ceremo-
pies Al the. Mississippi (Federsl) ceme- O.
cry, and the reunion between whites !,
and blacks, at which Forrest, Pillow aid s
jallswsy were the peacemskers, and e
lis inference that it was his duty to pro-
note the kindly and neigaborly feeling
u The period was fully justified thereby. 81
But even had be had any doubts OF it q
With an array OF evidence resting on so -
aOlid tas.s 0! facts, they must have o
,een cleared away before the numerous
sils coming up from all sections Of our a.,
common country inviting speech and e
dvice from one who had by trial and II
est il and beyond sdversity won the p
C-ard Cf every man worthy the country
nd epoch in which We live. He re-
nen- bered how heartily General Banks $
nd Vice President Wilson bad been re. C,
,eived LeIe, and with what iervor the b