The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-01
LOST BUT LEGITIMATE.
SOME REMARKS OF THE LATE PRES
IDENT OF THE cONFEDERAcY

Regarding the Right and Wrong Of the
Late Unpleasantncss-''No Change OF
Time" Seems to Change His views-A
Rumble of Protest from the North.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Nay IAN i'm
Jefferson Davis Thursday when he spoke on
capitol hill at the laying of the cornerstone
of the Confederate monument Mr.. Davis
was introduced by ex Governor Watts and
said that to prevent misconception he had
written down what he wanted TO say and
would try to speak so that his words would
not bear misconstruction. He began with
an eloquent tribute to the dead, in whose
honor the monument was to be raised, and
10 tho memory of Gen. Lee; criticised the
government for failing to put the southern
people back after the war into full citizen
ship, and said the people were an illustra-
ton Of the apothegm that those who are in
jured forgive more easily than those who in
tiict the injury. He spoke of the surrender
OF Leo and remarked that Gen Grant, "like
man" agreed not to demand anything that
would reflect on the honor of the Confed-
crates He then proceeded as follows:
When your chiIdren's children shall ask
That means this monument there will he
the enduring answer, 1T commentaries the
deeds OF Alabama's sons who died that you
and your descendants should be what your
fathers in the war for independence left
you" Alabama asserted the right proclaimed
in the declaration OF Independence as be-
longing to every people. She found that
. he, pf nff ba lT.,fr had hraL ar,
on one side and was therefore annulled /;
that the government Of the United States
did not answer the ends for which it was
instituted, and with others of like mind,
proceeded to form a new confederation,
organizing its powers in the language OF the
declaration of independence in such form
as seemed to them most likely to effect their
safety and happiness This was not
revolution, because the state govern
ment having charge of all domestic
affairs, both Of person and property, re-
manned unchanged. To call it revolution
is gross solecism [applausel as sovereigns
never rebel, and as only soyereigns can
form q national league; and if the states
had not been sovereigns there could not
have been a comRct OF union [Applause
That the south did not anticipate, much less
DESIRE war is shown by the absence of prep
aration for it as well as by the efforts made
to secure peaceful separa-
ton. The successful party always
held the defeated responsible for the war,
but when passion shall have subsidized and
reason shall have resumed her dominion, it
must be decided that the general govern
ment has no constitutional right to coerce a
state, and that state had the right to re.
pei invasion 1t was a national and consti-
tutional right IApplausel From the
| early part of the century there had been
prophecies and threats of dissolution
| of the union These began at the
| north on the question OF preserving
| the balance OF power and eliminated during
| the war of 1872, on the decline of theii
trade, though the war was waged for tbs
| protection of sailors rights In the courst
| of years, the balance of power passed to the
north, and that power was so used that the
SOUTH despairing of the peaceful enjoy ment
| Of their constitutional rights in the union
| decided to withdraw from it; this without
| injury to their late associates This righ
to withdraw was denied and the nortf
made ready for war TIE distant mutter
| ing of the storm was readily understood by
the people of Alabama. Gray -haireC
sires and beardless boys, all unpre
| pared as they were, went forth to NEE
the storm ere it burSt upoa theiI
homes. 1t required NJ bemosthenes t,
arouse them to the duty of resisting the in
vaders, no Patrick Henry to prepare then
| for the alternative of liberty or death /
was the people. not leaders, who resolves
| and acted One sentiment inspired al
classes Yet believe there were very few
who did not regret the necessity
which left them no alternative between
fighting for their state or agains
it Mothers, wives and daughters, chokin,
back their sobs, cheered them on the patl
of honor and duty. With fearless trea,
these patriots, unframed to war, advan ce,
on many battlefelds to look death in th
face Though Alabama, like Niobe, mus
mourn her children in death, yet is he
wee tempered by the glorious halo which
surrounds their memory
For more than century after his death
is said that Philip Devalogne's name wa
borne Of the roll OF the grenadiers to whom
he belonged, and when his name vas calle
it was answered from the ranks, Mort su
lechamp dhonneur.' Long, yer,
| long would lie the list whic
would contain the names of Alabama
sons whose valor and fidelity would justin,
the same response To name few woul
be unjust to the many. They are all, there
fore, left where they securely repose, in tn
hearts OF a grateful people. This monr
ment will rest upon the land for which the
died, and point upward to the Father VIII
knows the motives as well as the deeds c
his children"
The ceremony of laying the corner ston
was then proceeded with and successful
completed, after which Mr.. Davis held r,
ception and shook hands with a multitude {
ex- Confederates.