Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-10
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The Full Text of His Recent Speech Be-
fore the Mississippi Press
Association.


Seashore t>liss.l Gazette.I
We publish By authority, a report
of x-President Jefferson Davis re-
marks at the press convention at
Scranton. 1t is proper to say that
Mr.. Davis went from the train to the
hall of the convention, and spoke
without previous preparation.
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GEN
TLEMEN 1t is not in the power Of
words to express how deeply | am
touched by the warmth and cordiality
of your reception. From my earliest
youth my hopes and aspirations and
interests have been identified with
Mississippi. Duty has often led me
beyond her boundaries, but whether
serving in camp or cabinet, in the field
or in the senate-whether leading her
brave sons to battle or bound with
chains in the darkest dungeon-my
allegiance and my affections have been
ever true to Mississippi. In hat dark
period of which you have spoken Ito
Major Barksdale), VIC were not only
fettered in body, but bound in speech,
so that scarcely a word could be ut
tered in v"indication from calumny, for
the voice Of the press wa hen hushed
by the power of the bayonet. Among
the charges with which we we're so freely
iOuted was the renewed accusation
that Mississippi had att former period
repudiated her own Just aud honest
debts. As one who had no part or
agency in the legislation of that period
las one who was always known TO be
the advocate of the payment Of every
honest debt at whatever cost Of labor
or sacrifice of interest-let INC say here
that the charge is untrue. aud that no
faint Of population sullies the fair
fame OF our State. | rejoice with you
in the restoration Of freedom. and that
Mississippi is again governed by Mis-.
sissippians. In the darkest Of our
troubles it has been a consolation TO
be able to say with the patriarch Job,
Il know that my Redeemer liyeth, y
and to feel an abiding confidence in
the final triumph of truth. Gentle
men of the press, it is especially graft
tying to meet SO many Of you assem-
bled In council, for on 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 the pro.
melton of a higher standard Of public
and personal morality through mutual
conference and counsel. The tone Of
the press in Mississippi is already, in
my Judgment, unsurpassed by that Of
any other State and ! think | have q
right to judge, having formerly been
+, an active member of a political party.
and as such amenable to the criticisms
of the newspapers of the opposite
2 party, No man has eyer had losl
cause 10 complain Of his opponents on
the score Of truthfulness, or candor
= or courtesy or decoruui. Ut may MOI
S be improper here to state that, sine,
S the meeting, Mr.. Davis has said il
e private conversation that this rewarl
p. before him Colonel !. 4. Tyler, Of Ii,
e Holly Springs South, who was thirty
; years ago the editor Of a paper oppqsel
] TO him in politics. hut Away,
$ distinguished by its fairness and cour
tesy.) Mostcheeripg ofall, my country
women ,isthe expression ofthe kipdnes
2 and approval Of 50 many of that SCI
: which was last at the cross aud frat .