The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-02-02
JEFF. DAVIS SPEAKS.
Really to Unshsath His Sword for
the Union.
New Orleans PicaYune. |

New Orleans Picayune.l
The ex-president of the late Con-
federate States, tall and unbent by
age, but with certain signs of lessen
ing yigor, rose in his place at the
table and amid deafening plaudits
and in ringing voice and with his
accustomed 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
of heroes. 1t is not, however, the
recollection of these great deeds
that gives me most pleasure, but it
is the knowledge that they were
wrought in behalf of grand prin-
ciples that are the very foundations
of the American u1ion-states
rights and self-gavernment. 1t is
this knowledge that gives me most
pleasure.
You were not conquered, but
overborne by vast odds and superior
physical force. You never hesitated
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 of Northern
Virginia
Lee and jackson, its great chiefs,
made a 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 hands of his own friends, He
fell only before his own conquering
troops. You have raised for him a
lofty monument, and you have done
it nobly.
Louisiana had a hero, wise in
council, glorious in arms. He fell
on q victorious battlefield and
sleeps in a distant state, To him
Louisiana owes a monument. AL
be, t Sidney johnson, the first COM
mander Of the army of Tennessee,
was one of the heroes of the Con
fsderacy, tie peer o. chiefs IN his
own or any day, l knew him and
Lee well, and even at the very be
ginning of their career in the army.
Jackson l did not know before
the war, but when L came to know
him, L loved him and valued him
with Lee and Albert Sidney John
son. L remember 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
wonderful energy and unfailing de-
termination.
The first battalion of artillery
furnished the Confederacy was from
Louisiana. 1 remember it well, and
saw and felt its wonderful value at
Manassas. 1t is represented here
to night, and now thank its mem
bers for their magnificent services.
Brothers, you have endured all
the fatigues of many campaigns and
the dangers of hundred battle
fields. You remember how, amid
the tolls and hardships Of those try
ing times, a comrade gave you "a
piece Of bread or draught of water
from his canteen. 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
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
Union, is still indissolubly bound |
up in the principles for which you
fought. BE still eyer ready to fight |
for this union, as / would be willing
to unsheath my sword for it. Ihave |
no regrets for the past, for it in
wolves these principles.
If you suffered for your principles
and lost all in war save honor you
still preserve that, and you came
from 4 great war with your hands !
unstained by plumber.
This is your record and L thank |
God for it."