American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-07-20
Jefferson Davis Unfortunate Speech.


either as to the source from whence
they emanate or as to the time OF
their deliverance. We may or may
not coincide in the opinions of MIR.
Davis. That is neither here nor
there II we do, what is there to
be gained in proclaiming sentiments
which vast majority of the
people of the Union hold to be
heresy and treaSong Should ever
that period arrive for which Mr..
Davis says lie hopes, when the
American people will he re awaken
ed to what he holds to be proper
sense of the relations between the
States and the general government:
in order that the structure as de-
signed by our fathers may be main
tanned intact, surely that time is not
now. 1t is through the fear of a
revival Of that very issue of the past,
and it's possible ascendancy, that the
Republicans of the North are begin
ming to become seriously alarmed.
Their uneasiness is such, indeed,
tina. in view OF the possible exigen>
cy, they are beginning to advocate
the election of Gen. Grant to the
Presidency for another term, as the
only man to whom the nation can
look that will have the firmness of
character and steadiness of purpose
to deal summarily with what they
pronounce rebellious and treas0na>
BILE efforts. AS rebcllious and treas
enable do they class all attempts to
bring to prevalence such views as
those OF Mr.. Davis on the subject
of the relation of the States and the
general government.
Nor is it alone the matter of MIR.
Davis speech with which the North,
at this time, can have but little pa
thence. He is still held in odium in
that section to the same degree
that he is loved and revered at the
South. As the instrument for put
ting forth doctrine that the North I
spent millions of money and seas
Of blood to extinguish, he is pecu>
iarly and especially obnoxious to
the people OF that section. Re, to
heir view, is the head and front of
all offending. What might pass
notice from others, is sure
20 be magnified into conclusive
'ymptoms of another rebellion lift
ng its head. And when his speech
$ received with such decided ex-
,ressions of appreciation in the
south, where he is adored and
ru sted. nothing could more effec>
lively serve TO fan into full flame
he fires of Northern fanaticism,
vhich Is already tending to the
advocacy of a strong central gov
with despot like Grant
It its head-a government the very
everse, in all respects, 10 that
which Mr.. Davis confidently express
es the hope will one day be res
established. Ii anything can posi- ,
ly prOlong indefinitely the antici
ated event of a full recognition of
tate sovereignty to the degree
hat Mr.. Davis holds is essential for
he political liberties of the people [
t this nation, Mr.. Davis himself is
he most active agent in rendering
hat pOstponement indefinite. He :
evives the flames of suspicion and
larm that have never yet been
llayed, and furnishes fresh rounds ,
+ ammunition to our enemies before /;
heir stock is exhausted. just now,
hen the political contest of the
ext campaign promises to be i
ased again upon the issues of Sec
onal hatred, and the bloody shirt
J already being unfolded to the
reeze, the Republican recruiting
Ulcers will exultingly point to the
peech of Jefferson Davis, and the o
pplause with which his sentiments Il
ere greeted in the South, as the {
.rongest living argument to the
len of the North for mastering d
nee more to make treason odious.
he bloody chasm will send up 7
gain its putrid doors, and the y
Olitical ghouls will hail with JOY Il
re prospect of feasting and fatten il
g once more on the carcasSes of II
Fad issues. -"
1t were questionable whether it V
Q wise Tor Mr.. Davis to make Il
'eecbes at all, even did lie confine o
imself to matters that were not .
olitical. Experience has shown :, =
lat even in the expression of his a,
ranks on serenade occasions, his IL
Ipressions have been perverted n
I'd misrepresented by the sectional u
'ess and politicians of the North. y.
is most harmless words have been m
and thus in their b,
he has never failed Vi
be the innocent agent of injury ..
the South whenever he has 10