The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-07-17

Jefferson Davis Contrasts IL with the
Living Present-A Remarkable Speech
at Mississippi City Yesterday.

New ORLEANS, July 10.-A Mississippi City
synopsis of the address made to-day by JEFF
ferson Davis on the occasion of the presenta-
ton to him of gold badge and certificate
OF membership of the association of the army
of the Tennessee.
Colonel James Lingan made the presenta-
ton address.
Mr.. Davis after expressing graft
tude for the kindness and honor
conferred, recapitulated the stirring
events of the war and the hardships en-
dured, and SAID:
The question of the state right of secession
in 1861 was at least debatable, but the course
pursued by the federal government after the
war had ceased Endorsed the Judgment OF
those who held separation to be necessary for
the safety and FIRE edom of the southern states.
The unsuccessful attempt 10 separate lett
those in power to work their viii as it had
Deen manifest when they first got control OF
the government.
The events are roo recent to require recapitu-
Iation, and the ruin they have developed re-
quire no other memorial than the material and
moral wreck which the country presents. The
speaker treasured his hearers OF his unshaken
belief in the right of secession and the duty OF
the citizen 10 battle for the cause OF the state
after secession. He reviewed the cam paigns
frO,u Fort Henry 10 shiloh, and speaking OF
Albert Sidney Johnson he said, "Mas Ii tnat
his grand presence inspired you with unmeas-
urea confidence and the hope OF happier days
when opportunity should Cffer, or was IL that
your Judgment told yeu that you followed,
as / verify believe you did. the great
est soldier, the ablesJ man, civil or
military, confederate or.federal?" Mi. Davis
then reviewed the operations about Nicks
burg and Port Huron, and spoke in glowing
terms of their defenders. de said: Let no
one suppose that in thus vindicating our case,
I am seelSfn~ TO disturb such peace as we have
a. ANAnfS q
done your duty in the past, and would ask
no more dhan that you should fulfill equally
The bravest are as rule the
gentlest. and they are also the
truest to every obligation assumed. You
struck for independence aud We're unsucceSs-
full. You agreed to return TO the Union and
aoide by the constitution and the laws made
in conformity with IL. Thus far and no is r.
ther do i understand your promise TO extend" y
Referring to the legislation of the congress
which followed the war he said the tax payers
knew that an increased burden was imposed
on them by contracts made with bondhoiders,
merchants and shipowners. They know that
we have lost the carrying trade, and TO what
will they assign the policy which prevents the
Iere Eistration of American ships that had
changed the flag during the war, which i'm
poses such duties upon raw material as TO in
registration of a foreign built shi ?, though it
be by pun chase the property of citizens of the
United States. WI the people, If
allow long continuance of such
palpable wrongs to the masses, such ruin
to the interests which have been equally our
pile and means of prosperity? A form of
government must correspond to the character
of the people for which 1t is formed. 1t Is
therefore that republics have failed whenever
corruption enters the BODY polite and rem
dered the people unworthy TO rule
Then they Became the hit subjects of despot-
ism and despOt is always at hand 10 respond
10 the call. A-CPssr could not subject people
who were mt to be free, nor coula Brutus
save them If they were nit for subjugation.
The fOrtitude with which our people have
borne the oppression imposed on them since
the war was closed the resolute will with
which they have struggled against poverty
and Official pillage is their highest glory and
give the best assurance of final triumph.
Well may we rejoice in the regained possession
OF local self government, in the power of the
people to CHOOSE their own representatives
and to legislate uncontrolled by the bayonet.
This is the great victory, and promises an
other as the sequence 10 #. a total nOn-inter-
ference by the federal government with
the domestic affairs OF the states;
doctrine of state sovereignty and the suprem-
acy Of law Will secure permanent peace, free-
dom and prosperity. The constitution OF the
who made It, is the prophets rod TO sweeten
the bitter water from which flowed the strife,
the carnage and the shame OF the past, as well
as the foiis OF the present. Every evil which
has Defa;len our Institutions Is Directly trace
able to the perversion OF the compact
the federal government OF undele-
gated powers. Let one memorable
/ SUFFICE lot MIS-
souri, asked for admission a state into The
| Union, TO which she had a two-fold right I'M
der the constitution and the usages OF the
/ United safes and also unoer the terms of the
/ treaty which the territory was acqJtr her
| application was resisted, and her admission
l was finally purchased by the unconstitu-
/ tional concession miscs lied "the Missouri
compromise. When that establishment of a
politico geographical line was announced To
l the apostle of the democracy, who full. OF
years and hOnors, in retirement wytched with
profound sOlicitude the course of government
/ he had SO wisely contributed TO inaugurate
his prophetic vision saw the end of which
| this was the beginning. The news
fell upon his ''like the fire bell at
night" Men had differed. and would
DIFFER about measures and public policy ac-
cording to their circumstances or mental char
acteristics.- Such differences tended to the
| calculation of truth, the triumph of reason
over error. Parties so founded would not be
4 sectional, but when the federal government
made parallel of latitude q political line
sectional party could not iul-
! I'll the ends for which the Uuion
was ordained and established. II the iimita-
tons OF the constitution haG been observed
] and its purposes had directed federal legisla-