The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-07-20
jeff Davis Views.

4'ioBlllE', Ala, July ll.-A Miss
fsippl City, Miss, despatch says:
4pe following is brief synopsis of
me address made to-day by Jefferson
JAWS on the occasion of the presen-
SaIlon to him of gold badge and
eeftificate of membership of the AS
S1eiation of the Army of the Tenne-
see, Colonel James Lingan made
fNe presentation address.
y Mr. Davis, after expressing graft
Sutie for the kindness and honor con-
erred, recapitulated the stirring
events of the war and the hardships
endured, and said:
The question of State rights-of
secession in 1S6I-was at least debat-
able, but the course pursued by the
sts-ssosnsnent after the war
lad ceased, vindicated the Judgment
Of those who held separation to be
necessary for the safety and freedom
Of the Southern States, and the un-
successful attempt to separate left
those in power to work their will as
it had eeen manifested when they
first got control of the Government.
The eYe1tS are too recent to require
recapitulstion, and the ruin they
haYe developed requires no other me-
mortal than the material and moral
wreck which the country presents.
The speaker reasserted his unShaken
belief in the right Of secession and
the duty of the citizen to battle in
the cause of the State after secession.
He reviewed the campaigns from Ft.
Henry to Shiloh, and, speaking of
Albert Sidney Johnston, he said ::
"Was it that his grand presence in
spired you with unmeasured conf
dence 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, the greatest soldier, the
ablcst man, civil or military, Conled
crate or Federal ~
Mr.. Davis then reviewed tae oper-
ations about Vicksburg and Port
Hudson and spoke in glowing terms
Of their defenders. He said: Let
no one suppose that in thus vindicat-
ing 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 and
i would ask no more than that you
should fulfil equally well the duties
Of the present and future. The
bravest are, asa 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 Constitution and
laws made in conformity with it.
Thus far and no further do / under
stand your promise to extend.
Well may we rejoice in the regain
ed possession of local selEgovern-
ment, in the power Of the people to
choose their own representative and
to legislate uncontrolled by bayonets.
This is the great victory, and prom
ises another as sequence to it-a to-
tai non-interlerence by the Federal
Government with the domestic af-
fairs of the State. The renewal OF
the time hOnOred doctrine of State
sovereignty and the supremacy OF
the law will secure permanent peace,
freedom and prosperity. The Con-
stitution of the United States inter-
preted as it was by those who made
it is the prophets rod sweetening
the bitter water from which followed
the strife, the carnage, the misery
and shame of the past, as well as the
evils of the present. Every evil
which has belallen our institution is
directly traceable to the perversion
of the compact of union ana the
usurpation by the Federal Govern
ment of undelegated powers.
Mr.. Davis then referred to the
Missouri compromise, and said:
When that establishment of polit.
Typographical line was announced
to the apostle of Democracy, who
full of years and hOnOrs, in retire.
ment watched with profound solici.
tude the course of the Government
he had so mainly contributed to in
augurate, his prophetic vision saw
the end Of which this was the begin
ming. The news fell upon his eal
"like a fire. call at night" Men haC
differed and would differ about meas
ures and public policy according t(
their circumstances or mental char
acteristics. Such differences tended
to an elucidatlon of truth-a triumph
Of reason over error.
Parties so founded would not b(