The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-17
The speech OF Ex-PresIdenf
Davis


Nothing could have been more appro-
pirate and timely than the speech deliv-
cred by ex President Davis at Mississip-
pi City in acknowledgement of the GER
tificate of membership and badge pre-
sented to him by the Louisiana Division
Of the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
The speech as it is published in this paper
was in the exact language written by him
and in the form in which he would prefer
it should 60 to the world, and to posterity
If he had spoken by inspiration with the
tongue of an angel he could not have de
clared doctrines and sentiments more sin
cere, and more true to his calm, impair
tial, unimpassioned convictions. They
are the testimonials Of great statesman
and an incorruptible patriot who can
have no motive but to speak the truth
and the whole truth as he knows it.
Addressing the veterans on the Southern
side Of the late war he met their expec
tations and conformed to what was due
tothe occasion by paying proper tribute
to the cause for which they had struggled
and suffered and the memories of which
their Association proves they still cherish
with becoming pride.
Without discussing the original causes
of the war, Mr.. Davis assumed that after
the Southern States deliberately adopted
their ordinances of secession, as they had
a right to do, there was no alternative
for their citizens but to obey the SOW
ereign to whom they owed paramount al
legiance. He might have gone further
and with propriety, beyond the act of
secession and shown that it was justified
by long train of abuses and wanton
violations of the Constitution by a sec
tional majority who held that that instru
ment was "a league with death and a
covenant with hell, and who seized the
government by brute numbers with the
avowed intent of degrading the Southern
States from their position as co-equal mem
bers Of the Union. This fact no amount
Of misrepresentation and calumny can
obscure. To say this much is due to the
truth of which history should be com
posed, to the sensibilites of the living,
and above all to the halowed memories
of the dead.
Touching the duties of the present
hour, Mr.. Davis taught no lesson looking
to the present or future disturbance of
the relations which now exist between
the Southern people and the federal gov
eminent. On the contrary he said
20 Let no one suppose that in thus vindi
g eating our cause, in paying due tribute
g to your gallant deeds, and in comm end
g ing the heroic fortitude of your moth
g ers, your wives, your sisters and your
GO daughters, am seeking to disturb such
Sc peace as we may have, or to avoid the
90 logic of events. You have done your
- duty in the past, and l would ask no
. more than that you should fulfill
equally we'll the duties of the present
. and future. The bravest are, as rule,
the gentlest, and they are also the
truest to every obligation assumed by
them. You struck for independence
and were unsuccessful. You agreed to
return to the Union, and abide by the |
constitution and laws made in conformi
ty with it." And in the same connection |
lie admonished his countrymen to exer-
Use the right of free thought and of free
ction at tie ballot-boX, and that as free
American citizens they are under no obi
alton ''to accept fraud in the title to
flee, nor because a man calls himself a |
statesman to admit his right to legalize
ribery and corruption" Also that it
las becoming in them in the modes pre-.
ented by the constitution and laws to
urify and elevate the public service and
orrect the abuses practised by corrupt
nd incompetent agents of the govern
lent under which they live.
The speech is legacy of which the
ountrymen of Mr.. Davis may well be
roud. 1t should be engraved upon their
carts, and transmitted in letters more
nduring than inscriptions upon marble
nd iron, from generation to generation
own through thecoming ages.