Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1878-07-25
A Speech by the Confederate
EX-PreSident.
HIS VIEWS ON SECESSION.
ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION.
THE PRESENT CONDITION AND
FUTURE HOPES OF THE
COUNTRY.
from the Rome (Ga.) Bulletin

ss made by Jefferson DAVIS oi
Ythe occasioa- of the presentation to
him of gold badge and certificate
OF membership Of the Association 0.
the Army, of the Tennessee. Col
James Lingan made the presentation
address.
MIR. Davis, after expressing graft
tude for the kindness and honor con-
ferred, recapitulated the
STIRRING EVENTS OF THE WAR;
and dhardships endured. esaid that
the question of the State right of Sc
oession in 1861 was at least debata
BILE; but the course pursued by the
Federal governments after the war had
ceased indicated the judgment OF
those who held separation to be nec-
essary for the safety and freedom OF
the Southern States. The ursuccess-
ful attempt to separate left those In
power 10 work their will, as it had
been manifested when they first got
control of the government. The
events are too recent to require re-
capitulation, and the ruin they have
developedr requires 10 other memorial
than the material aud moral wreck
which the country presents. The
speaker re: assured his hearers of his
nnshaken
rE1IEF IN TIE RIGHT OF SECESSION
AID the duty of citizen to battle
for the cause of his State. After Sc
cessioa, he reviewed the campaigns
from For4 Henry to Shiloh, and
speaking of Albert Sidney Johnson
he said: "Was it his grand presence
inspired you with unmeasured conf
dence and the hope of happier days
wheA the opportunity should offer ?
Or was IL that your judgment told
you that ysS followed, as I verify be
lieYe you did. tee greatest soldier
the ablest man, civil CT military, Con-
federate or Federal ?" Mr.. Davis then
regis wed the operations about Vlcks-
burs and Port Hudson, and spoke IN
glowing teFHss of their defenders.
BE said +: Let ~ one suppose that
in thus uindicating .opF fase IN pay
ing due tribute 10 your gallant deeds,
I am seeking to
DISTURB SUCH PEACE AS WE HAVE
or 10 avoid the logic of events You
have doaa your duty in the past and
3 would ask 10 more than that you
should fulfill equally veil the duties
of the present and the fqtass. The
hrayest are, as q rule, the gentlest'
and they are also tho truest to every
obligation assumed. Yoa struck tor
independence and were unsuccessful
You agreed to return to the Onlon
aa,d abide bv the constitution and the
laws made in conformity with 1t.
Thus far, and no farther, do | under
stand your promise to extend
TIE soAD TO RUIN.
Referring to the legislation of Con-
srass which followed the ~ar, he
.said. The tax payers know that in-
creased barden was imposed on them
bv contracts made with bondholdels
merchants and shap owners-know
that we have lost carrying trade
and to what will they assign a policy
which prevents the re-registration o
American ships that had changed faS
.asring the war; which imposes sucf
!, durs,s upon raw material as to in
Aterfere with ship building and pro
{glibits the r@gistration of foreigr
aosis-ah:p, thn=sI-it.be-b by purchas'
tae property of SitNeas ofthe Unite'
States? Will the people, if worth,
the source Of all power. allow 8 lon'
60 ,tinuance of such palpaple
WRONGS TO THE MASSES,
o,,cb r,ass to the interests which hav
6een equally snr pride and means o
prosperity? a trn of governmen
sn,ast correspond to ita4s character Q
the people for whichit is appropriate
It is. therecorc, that republic hav
oiled whenever corruption enter
tte body polite and renders the pee
pie unworthy to rule. Then the.
become the fit subjects Of deapo@sm
and
A pEspor Is ALWAYS AT HAND
to respond to the call. A C%sa
could not subject people who wer
6t to be free, nor could a Brutus say
them if they were fit for subjugatlon
The fortitude with which our peopl
have borne the oppression impose
a., them since the war closed: tn
,res,s.nte will with which they hav
struggled, against poverty and offciS
,pillage. is, their highest glory an
give the; iRass assurance OF hna
triumph. We'd @sy we rejoice In
THE REGAHGEs POSSESSION,
of local self government, IN tEe pow
ssr ,f the people to choose their o"
representatives and to legislate nc
,controi,ad by the bayonet. This
,tbe great victory, and promises ar
s.ber as. the sequence to ia t't'
saap.iplerfsrencs by the federal s0'