, 1879-07-10

Tho Tuli Taxt of 1tiA Rrcent Speech nnfore
tho mississippi rress Association.
tSfathors {1ffSs.1 GAzffff,

The It'll TGxt Of IgiA Rfcent Spccch Hctof6
tho ni1ssisalppf rress Association.
Stashors {Nlss.) Gazette.
We publish by authority 4 report Of cx-rfesi-
dent Jefferson Davis remarks at the Press Cou-
ycntlon at Scranton. It IL proper to say that
Mr.. Davis went from tho train to the hal Of
tho Convention, and spoka Without previous
preparation.
afn. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND 0HST1RMEN:
1t IA not in the power af words to express how
deeply a,n touched by the warmth nhd cordial
ity Of your reception. From my earliest youth
i%s neen ge1t entis n VIII Mis.'.siopI Dasy has
often led INC beyond her boundaries, but wl1cth-
ct serving In canlp or Cahtnet, IN the Held OF It,
the Senate,-whethcr leading her brave suns to
battle or hound with chains in ille darkcst dun
geon,-lny allegiance md my affections hive
been ever trile to Mississippi. In that dirk
pcr'od ot Which Jou hare spoken Ito Afas.
BaEksdaiel VIC were not only fctterctl III body,
could be uttered III vlndtcat!t'l from cal,tmny,
ior The yuicc of the press was tllen hus!ed by
Tho pnwcr OF tho bnyonct. Among tho charges
with which We were q, freely fluutcd was The
former pc.io1 repudaicd her, own Just md
iloncat debts. As ono who had no part or
agency in tic legislation Of that per1od,-tas
ono who Nns always known to be tllr
advocate Of the payment bf every honest
iHtercst,-1et Ine suy here tint the Charge Is un-
true, a,d That no tnInt OF "rcpudlatiof sui.
tics tho fair fame Of o.ts Staic. rejoice with
yo,, iii the restoration ot freedom, alul that
Mississippi is aga!n governed BY Al'ssissppans.
In the durkest al our troubles It has been
consolation tu be able to sur, With the mi r[arcl
Job, ~ know that my Iscdecmer l!yet!'n mil
to feel an abiding sonfldcnce ;, n The lral trl.
especially gratifying to meet 30 many of yon as
acinuled iii cotlncll, for On yon Ia |nrgcly de-
pendent tho tntura veal or woe Of our beloved
state. The power which yon wicld Is :he mnst
potent for good or evil. It eau I'ardly fail 10 b:
cxcrted for greater good, mud t'a promotion Of
higher stntluard OF public md prrsonal moral
ity, through mutual conference ntll co1sFeI.
Thu tone Ok tho press In Mississippi u a1ready.
other siatc; md think l hayo u right /"
Judge, having formerly been All active mcm-
lcs ot n political party, and as slch
nmcnsblc to the criticisms Of tis newspapers
Of tic opposite party. No lnan has srer had
sepre Of truthfuluess, or cantior. or courtesy,
or tlccorun. III may not bc impropes hcrc 10
state t.lut s!rre tho meeting. Mr.. Davis has
sasd in private conversation that this remark
Col. i. i. Tyler, of the Holly Springs South,
WHO wns thirty years ago this editor Of n paper
opposed to ifUr III politics. but 'hlwaYs dis
t!nsuislled BY rs fairness aud e.,'stesy. Most
prcsslon Of the kindncss md approval Of ST.
many Of that sex which was "lost at the rross
and first 1t tho scpulchcr," and which, In our
own duy, has furnished the most shin!ng cx-
anplcs Of ,,t,selsh a4,ti heroic fidelity to truth
and right, to God and country. Seeing Sou
here, aln tempted 10 repeat remark fnade
os,eo before, although II was sn'sftl-
tcrprctcd nml misrepresentcd BY our enemies,
That | had neycr Eecn Southern woman WHO
,Yus reconstructed" Your devotion and your
steadfnst fidelity give s rcaeon to hope tint tho
children Of such women will set yihdlcato tho
principles we innuta!n. Let no QUO suppose
| tint an advocating revolution Or reyiyal Of
sectional strife II is not tho good of tilu South
nlonc, but Of a!l parts Of tlo country, TINT re-
o.,!rcs the maintenance of sound constitutions.
principles. We, Of the South. hayo mover becti
disun!oniets. We wcro always the most stead
fast friends Of tho Union as organized By the
| Constitution. Nl,liiicatlon and scceeslon-for
q resort 10 which In our despair Of the preser-
walton OF q constitutional union VIC hayo been
81 bitterly royi]ed--werr first suggested to Us
| by the North. They orieinatrt. III Now England.
| We resortrd to them reluctantly-in thu last
cxtretnIty-as dire necessity, and not from
choice or on light uccaslon As tho snuth WIS
| tllen-sp lnny. II ever hu-trne to the Union 1T
tllu Constitution. My frIrnds,-ior all Aissls:
sippiaus arc m5 fTic'lis.-.l love Mississippi and
nj! MississIppians Cod hluss you, each aud
| ail-nuw Atld forever.