Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1884-05-03
FULl Tsyg OF na. DAYls's spEEa.:

The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion gives tbs
following complete report of he speec
of Jefferson Davis at the ovation extent
ed to hin by the Legislature of that Stalc
on the 10th utimo:
Friends and Brethren of Mississippi:
In b,icfest terms, but with deepest feel
ing, permit me to return my thanks for
the unexpected honor you have conferred
up III ile. Away from he political se;l,
1 have in my secluded home observed
with intense interest all passing events
affecting the interest or the honor of Mis-
ssippi, and have rejoiced to see in the
diversificatiun of labor, the development
of new sources of prosperity, AMI the IN
creased facilities of public education,
reason to hope for future to our State
more prosperous than any preceding er;t
The safety aud honor ofa republic mus.
rest upon the morality, intelligence ana
patriotism of the community.
We are now in transition state, which
is always bad one. both in society aoG
in nature. What is to be the result or
the changes which may be anticipated
is not possible to forecast but our peo-
pie have shown such forttude, and have
risen ST. grandly from the deep depression
INFLICTED upon thcm that it is fair to en
tertain bright hopes for the future. Sec
tional hate, concentrating itself upon my
devoted head, depriyes me of thu priviI-
ego accorded to others in the sweeping
! of'swittont distinction of race, color OF
pre- prevousrondtou, but it caunot deprive
| me of that nearest and dearest to my heart
the right to &c a Mississippian-and j,
is with great qualification that receive
| this emphatic recognition of that right
| by the representatives of our people.
| i:eare.l on the sol. of Mississippi, the am
bition OF my boyhood was to do some :,
thing which would rebound to the honor
| aud welfate of The State. The weight O..
many years admonislies me that my dag
OF actual service has passed yet the de-
| sire remains undimn;shed to see the peo-
pie o.. Mississippi prosperous and happy
and her fame not unlike the, past, Sbut
g-a,lually growing wide and brighter as
the years roll away.
It has been said that should apply t."
the United States for IA pardon, but r.
|
den. and Ir1ve not repeuteI. ReneIn-
bcripg as must all which has been su .,
:eretl, all Of which has been lost disal.
po;uteI hopes and crushed aspirations,
yet | deliberately say, II it were to d"
over again, wolII again do just as 1
dil; il 1851. 80 one is the arbter of his
own fate. The people Of the Confederate
! States cid more III llr"portion to their
numbers auii means than was ever
achieved by any in he worlds history.
Fate t!ecrecd that they should be uhsuc-
cyssiul il the effort TO maintain their
claim to- resume tie grants made to tic
Federal government. Oar people have
accepted the decree; it therefore be-
Looycs them, AS they may to promote tho
general welfare of the Union, to show to
the world that henIeaft~r, as heretofore,
| he patriotism Of oar people Is not meas-
ureu By lines Of latitude and longitude,
but is us broad rs the obi isations they
have assumed, and embraces the whole
| of our ocean bouhd domain. Let them
| leave TO their children and children e
children the grand example OF never
sseIviny from The path OF duty, and nre-
| icrriug to r. turn good for EVIL rather than
| to ClrIlSG lHt IftlttliiS ltSiihS VI .SNthSo
| Bat never question or 10 teach your chi.
. | ,iTcu to descc:.ltc the memory of the dead
| bv admitting shat their brothers we're
| wGong in thcir efforts tn maintain tho
snvarej.rty, freedom and inderendece
which was their inalieIsabo birthright
Remembering = that the coming gcncratio:
are, the ciIitiren Of ;he histor!o mothers
whose deviation /" our cause III the darhCs
! hour sustained the strong and strength
| eueL the weak, l cai.not believe that thu
, | cause Tor which our sacrifices were mad,
can ever be lost, but rather h.'pc thai
: these who deny the justice of our asscr
! ted clniru will learn from experience thai
: The fathers build wisely, and the ccnsti
, | tuition shuu,l be construed acc"riing Il
the ucut.Yics OF tie men who inad
it..
y 1t having hecn previously understood
:. | tha, wonld not attempt to do more tina
return my thanks, which arc far dccpe
~ | than it would ho possible to express,
ii viii now. Senators and Representatives
= and ,ou ladies and gentlemen, who nav
rt honored :ae by Your attendance, bid 80
, an a.lcctiouate, aud it may De, "a las; tar
- wall