Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-19
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Complete Text of his Speech Before the
Legislature OF Mississippi.

Legislature OF Mississippi.
The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion gives the
following complete report of the speech
Of Jefferson DAVIS at the ovation extend
ed to him by the Legislature OF that State
on the 10th inst:
Friends and Brethren Of Mississippi:
In briefest terms, but with deep
thanks for the unexpected honor you
have conferred on me. Away from
the political sea, L have in my secluded
home observed with intense interest all
passing events affecting the interest or
honor Of MISSISSIPPI, and have rejoiced to
see in the Investigation Of labor, the de-
Yelopment of new sources of prosperity,
and the increased facilities of public edu-
cation, reason to hope for future to our
State more prosperous than any preceding
era. The safety and honor OF republic
must rest upon the morality, intelligence
and patriotism of the community.
eve are now in a transition state,
which is always bad one, both in So
ciety and in nature. What is to be the
result Of the changes which may be an
ticipated it is not possible to forecast, but
our people have shown such fOrtitude and
have risen so grandly from the deep de-
preston inflicted upon them that it is
fair to entertain bright hopes for the
future. Sectional hate, concentrating it.
self upon my devoted head, deprives me
of the privilege accorded to others in the
sweeping expression Of without distinc-
ton of race, color or previous
condition., but it cannot deprive
me Of that which is nearest and
dearest to my heart, the right to be
a Mississippian, and it is with great
qualification that l receive this emphatic
recognition of that right by the repre-
sentatlves of our people. Reared on the
soil of Mississippi, the ambition of my
boyhoOd was to do something which would
rebound to the honor and welfare of the
State. The weight of many years adj
mOnishes me that my day for actual SER
vice has passed, yet the desire remains
undiminished to see the people of Missis-
sippi prosperous and happy, and her fame
not unlike the past, but gradually grow
ing wider and brighter as the gears roll
away.
cit has been said that I should apply to
the United States for a pardon, but re-
pentance must pFecede the right of par
don, and | have not repented. Remem-
bering as I must all which has been
suffered, all which has been lost, disap-
pointed hopes and crushed aspirations,
vet l deliberately say, if it were to do
over again, | would again do just as / did
in 1861. No one is the arbiter Of his own
fate. The people of the Confederate States
did more in proportion to their numbers
and means than was ever achieved by
any in the worlds history. Fate decTeed
that they should be unsuccessful! in the
effort to maintain their claim to resume
the grants made to the Federal govern
ment. Our people have accepted
the decree; it therefore behOOves
them, as they may, to promote
the general welfare Of the Union, to
show to the world that hereafter, as here
tOfOre, the patriotism of our people is not
measured by lines Of latitude and longi-
tude, but is as broad as the obligations
they have assumed, and embraces the
whole of our Ocean-bOund domain. Let
them leave to their children and
children's children the grand example of
never swerYing from the path of duty,
and preterring to return good for evil
rather than to cherish the unmanly feel
ing of revenge. But never question or
teach your children to deSecrate the men,
DRY of the dead by admitting that their
brothers were wrong in the effort to
maintain the sovereignty, freedom and
independence which was their inaliena-
bic birthright. Remembering that
the coming generation are the
children of the historic moth
ers whose devotion to our cause
in its darkest hour sustained the strong
80. 80" -, a Si0AiN" VIZ "O''N; N"ihNV "
lieVe that the cause for which our sacri-
fees were made can ever be lost, but
rather hope that those who now deny the
justice of our asserted claims will learn
from experience that the fathers builded
wisely, and the constitution should be
construed according to the commentaries
of the men who made it. 1t having been
previously understood that l would not
attempt to do more than to return my
thanks, which are far deeper than it would
be possible for me to express, l will now,
Senators and Representatives and to you,
ladies and gentlemen, who have hOnOred
me by your attendance, bid You an aliec-
tiOnate, and, it may BE, a last farewell"