The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-14
THE OVATION AT MISSISSIPPI CITY.
HoNoRs TO JEFFERSON DAVIS.
HIS ADDRES s.

ns
The 10sh of July will bSncsforth be
historic day with all who feel an interes
| in the glorious Army of Tennessee, AM
surely this includes every friend of th'
Confederacy and it's cauee.
The members of the Louisiana Division
of the Army of Tennessee, through it,
president, Col. James LiDgan, had desig
mated Mississippi City, on the Gulf coast
the time, for the formal reception of Mr..
Davis % an honorary member of the AS
sociatioa. 4
Accordingly, by arrangement, special
trains we're run from New Orleans and
Mobile, conveying many hundreds Of cis-
iEens from the adjacent States; and BY
noon there were assembled under the
tween enc and two thousand expectaut
witnesses.
On an improvised rostrum, tastefally
drsped in American colors, soon appeared
the venerable and venerated Jefferson
Davis, with some members of bis family,
escorted by the President and officers of
the Association. After the formal cere
mony of presenting to Mr.. Davis certifi.
cate Of Honorary Membership, accompa,
MED by beautifully designed gold medal
or Badge of Membership, all of which was
by Col. Lingan in few
simple and sincere words, Mr.. Davis re-
piled:
daot f,lI~ a. 7
ledge the kind terms iu which you have COM
n unicated the honor conferred upon me by the
Louisiana Division of the Army of Tennessee.
It is with pleasure feel it and I mean it
when say 1t is With pessure-that zee this
badge bears upon it the ssored oroes of the
battle.fag of the Confederacy [spplsnse
carried by your Army of Tennessee and bap-
bized in fEe-I am four times happy to be one
Of your members, and am doubiy grateful to
you for the kindness which is expressed to one
who has no power, and W ho never will have
po wer to recognize it save in his own heart.
Again, I am thankful because it is an expo
1ent of shat high virtue which renders man
superior to folio wing the tide of fortune and
makes him recognize those whom he believes
o be true, whether they were s1ccesefnl or
allen. Applause
The world contains many examples of honors
upon the successful, and public ap- |
probation has waited upon the snocessfui. Bat
rom this rule and comforting honor upon one |
Who was sacrificed by the misfortunes he un- |
erwent in connection with his administration. |
Then. my friends, am grateful, not merely for |
nyself, but feel the proud gratitude that be-
ougs TO all in knowing that my fellow coun-
rymen, for whom / suffered and whom l
erved, were more than worthy of all man could
o for them. GApplause.l
Your association was certainly proper, il not
esdful, to preserve those friendships aud
lemories that belong to your military service;
nd no one could otj cot to the policy or pur-
ose of your association, unless it be one who
links you served an unworthy cause aud that
our conduct deserved repentance and forgive
es5. If there ever was . cause sanctified to
igh command of patriotiam and citiz ans duty
was yours. tApplause.
If ever there was conduct, thTcu Oh long and
we're trial, which left heroes sustained by
ime, it was yours. You came back after long
rvice in war, like Burns soldiers, unstained
wards Heaven, and you stood erect as free
On.
Pride in the cause, pride in the country, 10
scessary to preserve an association which be-
oWs how felds we're won need not be
hamed of the battles that he lost. You
I'VE no cause to be ashamed. The provocs- I
ons of your desolated homes, your wives and
Iiidreu often left destitnte, ight have urged {
IN to deeds of retaliation, bat there never
saceful homes of your enemies never Suffered |
? your approach, aud yOnr coming never in s
'ired terror in anybody. I
There were some-they were not, however, '
opposed to raise the black flag, to show no c
eTcy and to Rsk none. But the men who
ere in the front, Buch rs your large and gal l
mt soldier, Gen. Peck, said he did not like to q
,ht with batter around his neck; that he !
80 willing to be wounded again, and expect | 9
to be killed In battle, but be wanted TO 60 3
ways according to the rules and nssRes Of
Or. And even when heard from the army