Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-20
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Il
regarded with affection as the chief of cause
which, though lost, is still dear. Mr.. Davis
did not, of himself, make the occasion OF
| this speech, neither did he seek it. A body
| OF men, representatives Of that army whose
| glorious record can never die-the survivors
| In louisiana of the army of Tennessee-ap-
| preciating his devotion to his native south,
and the unquenchable spirit of self-sacrifce
with which, since the war, he has sealed that
| devotion, rendered him the only honor within
their power, and made him member of their
association. Proud of their record as SOL
| diers, and proud of the achievements in
battle which won for the army of Tennessee
a deathless name and fame, they saw no rea-
son why they should convey their wishes to
| so distinguished a statesman, so hon.
| orabe a soldier and illustrious a
| patriot otherwise than as becomes free men
| in free land. They reasoned that the pre-
| sentation of gift worthy of his acceptance
and their bestowal should be made an occa
| sion of more than ordinary eclGt; that they
should summon their former comrades in
/ arms, the friends of the cause that is lost,
and if they could not make it what it might
have been, were they the victors and not
| the vanquished, they would make it all that
| true hearts like theirs could They went out
| from New Orleans without ostentation and
met Mr.. Davis at Mississippi City, and there,
| in the presence of a vast throng, presented
him with the badge of their organization and
| a certificate of membership. The spokesman
of the occasion could not avoid the memories
which the association perpetuates, and in do
ing so he could not hold Jack expressions of
love and respect for the living embodiment of
those memories. Hamlet cannot well be
played with Hamlet" left out The part
which the south played in the war between
the States cannot be touched upon
or alluded to without reviving
the services of a gentleman whose record
is part Of the history of the south, and who,
SO long as there is appreciation of earnest en-
deavor, of craftsmanship instinct with truth,
and Of manhood that is the type of all pa
triot soldier should be, will be honored, loved
and revered by the south. ave can honor
the living" says Colonel Lingan, addressing
the people present on the interesting occa-
sion, 1--WE can honor the living without incit-
ing any of the antagonisms of the past, be-
cause, throughout its length and breadth the
country, from the Rio Grande to its northern
most part has rung with the name OF him
whom we meet here to-day to honor" Ard
he was right. Jefferson Davis, before the
war, was one of the most cherished of the
public men of the country. The party to
which he belonged regarded him as its chief.
His constancy, his devotion and his zeal as
Democrat, added to his gifts as an orator and
his knowledge of affairs, entitled him to the
first place among them. When war called,
he gave up the promising opportunities of
public career in civil life and placed his sword
at the disposal of his country He returned
the hero of that war. His subsequent
career as senator and cabinet officer increased
the public respect and confidence. His most
implacable foe, search as close as he may,
will find nothing in his life since the secession
of his State that can in the least impair that
respect or that confidence. The fact that he
was President of the Confederate States of
America is not an mpairment-certainly not
at the southland if it Is at the north it is
because he could not, for the sake of continu-
ing conspicuously in public life, yield the con-
vlctions of his life, forego his record and be-
gin under new conditions fresh career. He
was no worse than others as a secessionist,
and was not as responsible for the Sc
cession of the States as many others whom
the north has long since made peace with
There was no good reason, therefore, why he
should not be honored by public demon
o. L
be recalled and his pant in it was to be ex-
tolled as it deserved. No one but an illiber-
al Radical, who would if he could bend the
world to his will, or one in sympathy with
such, could object to it. No one
but a member of the Radical party,
which forbade education, the preaching
of the gospel and marriage unless by loyal
men, would ever think of raising an objection
to any honors being paid Jefferson Davis, or
deny to him the freest, fairest, fullest ex-
preston of his views. A free man, standing
upon the soil he defended and under the flag
he fought for, still pleading for the constitu-
ton whose violation by the Radicals was the
cause of war, he spoke as became him and as
became the occasion. He eulogized the SOL |
diers of the army of Tennessee, and the gen.
erals whose abilities and genius made that |
army almost invlncible. OF Albert Sidney |
Johnston he spoke with special warmth, Civ
ing him, what some of his friends think, a
higher place than he deserved. But this, or
any preference he may express for this or that
officer, is to be pardoned In the speaker, who,
soldier himself, knowing how to appreci-
ate the soldierly qualities and attributes of
great commanders, had known the hero of
Shiloh tor many years and had marked him
IN the old army. as he had many others of
The Federal as well as Confederate army, who
justified his selection by the achievement of i'm
perishable renown. He traced the history of
he army OF Tennessee up to the surrender,
and touched upon the evils of reconstruction,
not half as strong as he might, and congrat-
llated his hearers that local self-government
lad been regained and that they were now
rec from Federal control. "This," he said,
lis the great victory, and promises another
IS the sequence to it, total non-interference
y the Federal government with the domestic
Lfalrs OF the States. The revival of the time
IGNORED doctrine of State sovereignty and the
supremacy of law will secure permanent peace,
reedom and prosperity. The constitution of
he United States, interpreted as it was by
hose who made it, is the prophets rod to
weeten the bitter water from which flowed the
trife, the carnage, the misery and the shame
fthe past, as well as the folies of the present"
lie dwelt for few moments on the fatality
Intending the Missouri compromise and on
he necessity for strict construction of the
constitution and strict observance of it. "It
vas no part of my purpose, he says, 'as
las been already shown, to discuss the poll
les of the day, though the deep interest
must ever feel in the affairs of the country
as not allowed me to ignore them, and will
ot permit me to be unobservant of passing
vents, Or Indifferent to the humiliating ex-
osures to which the Federal government has
|. late been subjected. Separated from any
ctlve participation in public affairs, may {
ot properly Judge of those who have to bear ;;
be heat and burden of the day. Renresent !