Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-12
JAUNDICED JEFF.


constitution Has Been Terribly Abused
But He Yet Hopes for Better Days to
Come.
MISSISSIPPI CRY, July 1.-THE following
IS brief synopsis of the address made yes
terday by Jefferson Davis, on the occasion of
the presentation to him of gold badge and
certificate of membership of the army of
Tennessee. Col. James Dergan made the
presentation address. Mr.. Davis, after OK
pressing his gratitude for the Kindness and
honor conferred, recapitulated the stirring
events of the war and the hardships endured.
He said the question of States right of
secession in 1861 was, at least, debatable.
but the course pursued by the federal gov
eminent after the war had ceased, was an
indication of the judgment of those who
mad held separation to be necessary for the
safety and freedom of the Southern States.
The unsuccessful attempt to sepa-
rate, left those in power to work
their will, as it had been manifested
when they first got control of the govern
ment. The events are too recent to require
reorganization, and the ruin they have de-
veloped requires no other memorial than the
material and moral wrecks which the country
presents. The speaker asserted his mistaken
belief in the right of secession and the duty
OF citizens to battle for State after seces-
sion; reylewd the campaigns from Ft. Henry
to Sh1loh, and, speaking of Albert Sydney
Johnston, he said: Was it that his grand
presence inspired you with renewed conf
dence and the hope of happier days when
opportunity should offer, or was it that your
Judgment told you to follow, as I verify
believe you did, the great
est soldier, the ablest man,
civil or military, confederate or federal?
Mr.. Davis then reviewed the operations
about Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and
spoke in glowing terms of their defenders.
lie said: "Let no man suppose that in thus
vlndlcatlng our cause in paying due tribute
to your gallant deeds am seeking to disturb
such peace as we have, or to avoid the logic
of events. You have done your duty in the
past, I would fulfill equally well the duties
of the present and the future. The bravest
are, as rule, the gentlest, and they are also
the truest to every obligation assumed.
You struck for independence and
were unsuccessful You agreed to
return to the Union and abide by the consti-
ton and laws made in conformity with it.
Thus far and no farther, do I understand
your promise to extend.' Referring to the
legislation of Congress which followed the
war, he said that the tax payers know that
increased burdens were imposed on them by
contracts made with bondholders. Mer-
chants and ship owners know that we have
lost carrying trade, and to what will they
assign policy which prevents the registra-
ton of American ships; that had changed
the flag during war: which imposes such
duties upon raw material as to interfere
with ship building: prohibits the
registration of a foreign built ship, though
it be by purchase the property of citizens of
the United States2 Will the people, the
source of all power, allow long continuance
of such palpable wrong to the masses, such
ruin to interests which have been equally
our pride and means of prosperity? A form
of government must correspond to the char
acter of the people for which it is appro-
pirate. It is, therefore, that republics have
failed whenever corruption enters the body
polite and renders the people unworthy to
rule. Then they become fit sub
iects for despotism, and a despot
is always at hand to respond to
the call. A Cesar could not subject aypeo-
pie fit to be free, nor could Brutus save
them if th, y were fit for subjugation. The
the impositions imposed on them since the
war closed, the resolution with which they
have struggled against poverty and official
pillage, is their highest glory, and give the
best assurance of final triumph. Well may
we rejoice in the regained possession of local
self government-the power of the people to
choose their own representatives and to
legislate uncontrolled by bayonets. This is
the great victory, and promises another as
the sequence to it. A total non
interference by the federal government with
the domestic affairs of the States, the renewal
of the time-honored doctrine of State SOW
ereignty, and the supremacy of the law will
secure permanent peace, freedom and pros
perity. The constitution of the United
States, interpreted as it was by those VIII
made it; the prophets rod to sweeten the
bitter water from which flowed the strife,
the carnage, the misery, the shame of the
past as well as the facts of the present, every
event which has befallen our institutions is
directly traceable to the perversion of the
compact of the Union. The usurpation by the
federal government of undelegated powers
Let one memorable example suffice fol
illustrations When Missouri asked fol
admission as a State into the Union, tc
which she had a twofold right under the
constitution and usages of the United States
and under the terms of the treaty by which
the territory was acquired, her application
was resisted and her admission was finally
| purchased by her unconstitutional conces
sion, mis-called the missouri compromise
| When that establishment of political geo
graphical line was announced to the apostle
| of Democracy who, full of years and honors
in retirement watched with profound solici
tude the course of the game he had SO main
ly contributed to inaugurate, his prophetic
vision saw the end of which this
was the beginning. The news fell upon
his ear sslike a fire bal
at night Men had differed and would diff
fer about measures and public policy accord
inc to their circumstances or mental charac
teristics. Such differences tended to tn,
calculation of truth, the triumph of reason
over error. Parties SO founded would no
be sectional, and when the federal govern
1nent made parallel of latitude politica
line, sectional party could not fulfill tn,
ends for which the union was ordained ant
established. If the limitations of the con
stitution had been observed and its purpose
had directed federal legislation, no sucl
act could have been passed. Th
ia of Pandora's box Nigh
have remained closed, and the countr
have escaped the long train of similar agg
gressions which aggrandized one section
Impoverished the other, and adding insult t
injury, finally destroyed the fraternity whic
had bound them together. 1t was no pan
of my purpose, as has already been shown
to discuss the politics of the day, though th
} deep interest must ever feel in the affair
of the country has not allowed me to igno,
them, and will not permit me to be uuobser7
ant Of passing events, of indifference
the humiliating exposures to which the fe'
eral government has of la
t been subjected. Separated from al
r activ- participation in public affairs, ma