Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-12
Jefferson Davis Latest Speech.

The following is q brief synopsis OF the ad'
dress made Wednesday, at Mississippi City,
by Jefferson Davis, on tho occasion ct the
presentation Of gold badge and certificate
of membership of the Association of the Army
Of the Tennessee. Mr. Davis said: 1.-THE
question OF State rights, of secession, in 1861,
| was at least debatable, but the course pur
sued by the Federal government after the
war had CEASED, Vindicated the judgment ol
those who held separation to be necessary
| for the safety and freedom OF the Southern
| States, and the unsuccessful attempt to sepa.
rate, left those 10 power to work their Will
as 1t had boen manifested when they tr6t got
control OF the government. The events are
too recent to require recapitulstion, and the
ruin they have developed requires no other
| memorial than the material sod moral wreck
| which tho couatty presents. The speaker
reassor;ed his unshaken belief in the right of
secession, and the duly of the citizen 10 bat.
| tie u the cause of the State after secession.
| Speaking of Albert Sidney Johnston, he said:
WAS it that his grand presence inspired you!
| with uumcs.ured confidence and the hope OF
| happier days when opportunity should offer ?
| or was it that your judgment told you that
you followed, as | verify believe you did, tho
creates, soldier, the ab.a6t man, civil or mill
tary, Confederate CT Federai2' Mr.. Davis
| then reviewed the operations about Vicks'
| turg and Port Hudson, and spoke 10 glow
ing terms of their defenders. He said: "Let
nc one suppose that in thus vindicatIng our
| cause, 10 paying due tribute to your
gallant deeds, | am seeking 10 disturb
such peace as We have. or to avoid
the logic Of events You have done
your duty in the past, and would ask 20 more
than that you should fulfill equally we'll the
duties Of the present and tho future The brav-
est are as rule the greatest. 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 constitution and laws mado in Oonfor'
nifty with it. Thus far and no farther DO un.
derstand your promise to extend. referring
TO the legislation of the Congress following the
war lie said, The taxpayers know that an in'
creased burden was imposed on them by con:
tracts made with bondholders, merchants and
ship owners They know that We have lost
| carrying trade, and TO what will they assign a
policy which prevents the registration OF Amerl-
can ships that had changed flags during the
war, which imposes such duties on raw mate
rial as to interfere with ship building, and pro-
hibit the registration of foreign built ships
though it be by purchase the property of citi
| zens of the United States. Will the people. if
| Worthily the source Of all power, allow long
continuance Of such palpable wrongs 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
| character Of the people for which it is appro-
| pirate. Whenever corruption enters the body
polite and has rendered the people unworthy
| to rule, then they become the fit subj cots OF
despotism, and dcspot is always at hand to
respond. A Ca'ar could not subject people
who were fit TO bo free, nor could a Brutus save
them if they were fit for Sutjugatien. The for
mnoseS sSh S95 people nave borne Sp
closed; the resolute will with which tnuy u La~o ~
| struggled against poverty and official pillage is
| their highest glory, and give the best assur'
| aDce of full triumph. Well may We rejoice ip
the regained possession of local self govern.
mont in the power of the people to choose their
own representatives, and to legislate uncon.
| trolled by bayonets This is the great victory,
| and promises another as the sequence 10 it, a
| total non interference by the Federal govern
ncnt With the domestic affairs of the States.
The renewal of The time honored doctrine OF
| State sovereignty, and the supremacy OF law,
will secure permanent poace, freedom and pros
perity, The constitution of tho United States,
| interpreted AS it was by those who made it, Is
| the prophct's rod sweetenlng the blttor water
| from which followed the strife the carnage, the
misery, and the shame of the past as we'll as
the evils of The present. Every evil which has
| befalIen our institutions is directly traceablo to
the pervcrsi Oh Of the compact of Union and the
usurpation by the Federal government OF un
delegated p owcr. Let oDe memorable example
suffice for illustration. When Missouri asked
for admissi on as State into the UnloD, to
which she ad twc.ioId right, under the Con
| sttu,ion an 1 usugcs of the United States and
also under he terms OF the treaty by which the
territory was acquired, her application was ro
sisted and er admission was finally purchased
bv the couatiiut local concession called MlSsour
| Conpromise." When that establishment OF
pol,tIco geoErapbical line vas announced to TIT
apostle of democracy, who. tull OF years ano
houors. 10 retirement watched With protounc
soicitude tha course Of the government he hat
50 mainlu coairlhuted to lnAusnrs.e, bis pro
phatio Vlsicc saw ne end of which this was tn
| baenoire The new: 'a,' upon bis ear like
fire bell At right"
Meu had differed and would differ aboq
measures and public policy, according to thei
crcumstspc.- or mental characteristics. Oucl
diffrcDrps ,.,..:rd ID an elucdation of truth,
| triumph T.! lCSSUG Ofel SilOls 81 WV
. fm1dec would net fe sec,ioaa but " zen tn
federal i:ovc ron,ut made parable Of l::itud
3 political linz, -ac.lcLa party could OF
!, fulfil tb3 erds !or .aion the Union WAS ordalus
aod established. Ii tho limitations Of tt
s ('n1s,i,uion rad been observed, and lts pu'
noses had directed federal Legislation, DO sue
act could havo been passed. The lid of tn
pandora bc1 might have remained closed an
the c9un.ly nave escaped the Long, long tts.o an a.
lion and lmpo verisbed the other. aBd addla
insult to iojury, finally DESTROYED the ffaternl ;1
which had bound them together. II IS IS Il
my as b has bs been d,s sFfsag tssysb 1b1T
discuss the politics ~ tee oay thu ba0uki affairs ~
tho tho ceuotry has not allowed me to forge: then
and nJ will not permit me to be S unobseryint ,,t
isS s5 sSfss' 5s sSe4 10 ssi Sun5
! has of late bccn subjected. Separated fro
nv nv a. active participation 10 public affairs,
- NAV not properly judge OF those VINO nave v