The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-02-02
WHAT DAVIS DID SAY.
Ready 10 Unsheath His sword
for the Union.

New Orleaps Picayunc
The ex-president of Tho late Con-
federate states, tall and unbent by
age, but with certain signs of LESSEN
ing vigor, rose in his place at the ia
BILE, and, amid deafening plaudits,
in ringing voice and with his ac-
customed dignity of manner said:
Brethren of cause not lost, but
sleeping, it makes me happy to be
with you this day. Your history Is
written in my heart, your deeds are
craven on the tablets of the history
ofheroes. II is not, however, the re-
collection of these great deeds that
gives me the most pleasure, but it is
the knowledge that they were
wrought in behalf of grand princi-
pies that are the very foundations of
the American Union-states' rights
and self-government. It is this
knowledge that gives me the most
! pleasure.
You were not conquered, but
ovcrborne by vast odds and superior
ply sicai force. You never hesitatcd
when you marched to the assault,
but attacked the force in front OF
you, however great its numbers.
Stonewall Jackson had come like an
avalanche in the valley Of Virginia,
encountering numerous armies
greater than his own, and sweeping
them away in defeat. That was the
history Of the army in North Vir-
ginia.
Lee and Jackson, its great chiefs,
made combination which had
never been surpassed. With Lee to
plan and Jackson to strike, the army
had been invincible, and well had
Lee said when Jackson fell that he
had lost his right arm. Jackson had
fallen in the hour of victory by the
hends of his own conquering troops.
You have raised for him n lofty
monument, and you have done it
nobly.
Louisiana had hero, wise in coun-
sci, glorious in arms. He fell on q
victorious battle field and sleeps in
a distant state. To him Louisiana
owes q monument. Albert Sidney
Johnston, the first commander of the
army of Tennessee, was one of the
heroes of the Confederacy, the peer
of chiefs in his own or any day. /
knew him and Lee well, and even at
the very beginning oftheir career in
the army.
Jackson did not know before the
war, but when / came to know him,
/ loved and valued him with Lee
and.Albert Sidney Johnston. / re-
member Jackson after the battle of
Malvern Hill, when he galloped up,
saying: "The enemy are gone, but
let us take their track and follow
them" This was his ruling idea,
10 push an adventure with his won
derful energy and unfailing deter
minatIon.
The first battalion of artillery
furnished the Confectionery was from
Louisiana. remember il well, and
saw and felt its wonderful value at
: Manassas. 1t is represented here
tonight, and l now thank its men,
bcrs for its magnificent services.
Brothers, you have endured all the
fatigues of many campaigns and the
dangers OF hundred battleflelds.
Yon remember how, amid the tolls
and hardships of those trying times,
comrade gave you piece of bread
or draught OF water from his can
teen. There are no ties like those
which grow up amid such scenes,
and you are indeed brothers.
You have written your record,
you have done your duty. The
principles you then asserted are as
necessary for The preservation of
the American Union as they were
when you struck for them, and the
existence of the best government
the world ever saw, the American
Onion, is still indissolubly bound M
in the principles for which YOU
fought. BE still ever ready TO fight
for this Union as would be willing
TO unsheath my sword for it. have.
no regrets for the past, for II in
wolves these principles.
Ifyou suffered for your principles
and lost all in war save honor, You
still preserve that and you came
from a great war with your hands
unsiained by plumber.
This is your record, and l thank
God for IL.