The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-07-02
ADDRESS OF EX-PRESIDENT
DAVIS.

BEFORE THE MISSISSIPPI PRESS ASSOCIA-
TIoN AT PAsCAGoULA, JUNE 4TH, 1879.
Mr.. President, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
1t is not in the power of words to express
how deeply | am touched by the warmth and
cordiality of your reception From my ear
liest youth my hopes and aspirations and in
terests have been identified with Mississippi.
Duty has often led me abroad beyond her
boundaries, but whether serving i'll camp or
cabinet, in the field or in the Senate
whether leading her brave sons to battle
or bound with chains in the darkness of a
dungeon-my allegiance and my affections
have been ever true to Mississippi.
In that dark period of which you have
spoken, Sir Ito Major Barksdale,l we
not only fettered in body, but bound in speech
so that scarcely a word could be uttered in
vindication from calumny, for the voice of
the Press was then hushed by the power of the
bayonet. Among the charges with which we
were freely fiouted was the renewed accusa-
ton that Mississippi had at former period
repudiated her own just and honest debts.
As one who had no part nor agency IN the leg
islation OF that period-as one who was al
ways known to be an advocate OF the payment
OF every honest debt, at whatever cost oflabor
or sacrifice OF interest-let me here say that
the charge is untrue, and that no faint of re
pudiation' sullies the fair fame of our State.
| rejoice with you in the restoration of free
dom, and that Mississippi is again govern
ed by Mississippians. In the darkest of
our troubles it has been a consolation TO
be able to say, with the patriarch Job Il know
that my Avenger lives and to feel an abid-
ing confidence in the final triumph OF Truth.
Gentlemen of the press, its especially graft
fving to meet so many OF Won assembled in
council for in you is largely dependent the
future veal or woe of our beloved State. The
power which you WELD Is one most potent for
good or evil. 1t can hardly fail to be exerted
for greater good and for the promotion Of
higher standard OF public and personal moral
ity through mutual conference and counsel.
The tone OF the press of Mississippi, is al
ready, in my judgment, unsurpassed by that
of any other State: and | think have Alright
to Judge, having formerly been an active MEM
Der Of political party, and as such amenable
to the criticism OF the newspapers OF the OPP
posite party. No man ever had less cause to
complain OF his opponents on the score OF
truthfulness, or candor, or courtesy, or deco
rum
Most cheering OF all my countrymen, is the
expression OF the kindness and approval of so
many OF that sex which was Z" last at the cross
and first at the sepulchre," and which in our
own day have furnished the most shining ex-
amples Of unselfsh and heroic fidelity to truth
and right to God and country. Seeing you
here, | am tempted to repeat 4 remark made
once before, although it misinterpreted
and misrepresented by our enemies-that I
had never vet seen a southern woman who
your steadfast fidelity gave US reason to hope
that the children of such women will yet vim
dictate the principles which tailed to main
tain.
Let no one suppose than I am advocating
revival OF sectional strife. 1t is not the good
of the South alone, but of all parts of the
country, that requires the maintenance of sound
constitutional principles. We, of the South,
have never been disunionists We were al
ways the most steadfast friends of the Union
as organized by the Constitution. Nullifca-
ton and secession-for a resort to which in
our despair OF the preservation of a constitu-
tional union We have been so bitter reviled-
were first suggested to US by the North. They
originated in New England. We resorted to
them reluctantly, in the last extremity, as
dire necessity, and not from choice or on
light occasion. As the South was then as it
has always been, so may it ever be- true to the
union of the Constitution.
Ny friends, for all Mississippians are my
friends, L love Mississippi, and love Missis-
siPpians, may God bless you, each and all,
now and forever
We have not attempted TO interiect any ex-
preston OF the repeated and most enthusiast
tic outbursts OF applause by which these re-
marks were interrupted at every possible OPP
portunity.
1t may not be improper here to state that,
since the meeting, Mr.. Davis has said in pri-
vate conversation that this remark was
specially suggested by seeing before him Col.
F. A. Tyler, of the Holly Springs South, who
was'thirty years ago the editor of paper OPP
posed to him in politics, but always distin-
guIshed by its fairness and courtesy.