Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-30

We are called here to-day to erect q
monument over those noble heroes who
fell in the glorious cause, aud he Is .
coward, let him live in the North, or
in the South. or in the East, or in the
West, who would cast q slur upon the
emotions which animate the great peo-
pie Of Alabama in the display Of their
affection to-day. Prolonged applausel
My fellow-citizens, these graves OF
our soldiers deserve the erection OF .
monument. ! have not forgotten an
incident which happened during the
progress Of the war. remember
after the battle Of Gettysburg, the turn
ing point, perhaps, in the history Of the
war between the States, that Abraham
Lincoln. standing upon the heights Of
Gettysburg, on Cemetery Hill, sur
veyiDg on one side the graves
OF the Union dead. and on
the other in the valley beneath
the graves Of the Confederate dead,
some gentlemen stepping up to him
said, in substance "Mr. Lincoln, the
men who defended these heights will
live in history" Eyes" said Mr..
Lincoln, "these men will live in his
tory, and likewise will the men who
attacked these heights live in history"
And j, too, most fondly hope they will,
my country men.
Fcllow-citizens, that was prophecy
from great and good man. When the
shadows Of prejudice and passion gene
rated by the war shall have passed
away--for twenty years is day to
them--the dear people Of the North
will fulfil the prophecy Of Abraham
Lincoln. Now, fsllow-citizens, erect
this monument to perpetuate the manly
courage of our dead build it so high
that its peak will kiss the first beam of
the morning sun. Let it be grand
in all its proportions-grand as
the courage, bravery, and for
titude of our men, whose men,
DRY it is intended to perpetuate.
Carve on it the estimate in which you
hold these dead heroes, and leave a
space upon the northern portion Of it
for another people in some future time
to carve the estimation in which they
hold those dear boys who died attempt
ing to achieve what they believed to be
their rights and the rights Of constitu-
tional liberty.
The people Of the North--the mag
nanimity of the North, the sterling
men, the good men Of the North-will
some day write upon that monument
the fact that these brave heroes who
are dead here were their common coun-
trymen and were defenders of liberty.
| Enthusiastic applause
Fellow-citizen the time is coming,
and believe it is not far hence, when
the people of the North, the people Of
the East, the people Of the West-the
people Of the South already do twill
take up this bloody shirt that has been
Haunted in our eyes for twenty years
and will fold it up and bury it so deep
that the hand OF resurrection will never
find it. Applause and cheers.l They
will bury it in some secluded spot, with
no headstope to mark its eternal rest
ing-place.
Now, fellow-citizens, | desire to intro
duce to you this grand old man. de-
sire to say to you why we love him. We
love him because he has ever been true
to constitutional government; we love
him because he has ever been true to the
people Of the South, and we love him
above all because in the time Of misfor-
tune-in prison at Fortress Monroe-his
hands were crossed and manacled for
southern blood; llong applausei and
hence we love him.
Now, Mr.. Davis (Mr. Davis takes his
position beside the speaker, desire
to present you to our Alabama people,
and you must permit me to say, fellow
citizens, that in all my reading Of an
Gent and modern history / have never
read Of single man who possessed the
sterling qualities Of Jefferson Davis.
Long and repeatedly-renewed applause
and cheers as Ex-Governor Watts end.
cd and Mr.. Davis stood forth
MR.. DAVIS SPEAKS.
Mr.. Davis arose and grasped the
hand of his old Attorney General. The
scene was very affecting. 1t was some
moments before he could proceed, as
the cheers were again and again re-
peated. When there was sufficient quiet
Mr.. Davis said 1t is deeply crafty
ing to me to be presented to you by
one on whom leaned for advice when
advice was wanted, whose sterling
qualities always made me sure that the
Judgment be was drawing was from the
bottom of bis heart. When you called
him away the place was missing which
he once filled, and l have always
desired to lay my hand upon him
again doing SOY. Applause Thus it
was when We met the other night after
years Of separation. Some people in
the room gave ssrdonic smile to see
two old weather-beaten men embrace,
but our hearts were young though our
ueauo Wcic Oius aooOCidtcu ucIc Will
so many memories, thrilling and tender,
/ have felt that it were dangerous for
me to attempt to speak to you as my
heart would prompt me. Not that |
am always treasuring up bitterness
against any one, but I am overlooking
with love and admiration for our
beloved people. Long applause.l To
avoid, therefore, anything which might
beprompted by the fulness of my heart
for | believe am csse-hardened in that
condition ofnon-citizenship which leaves
me very little to fear [applausel-for
the purpose of guarding others rather
than myself | have prepared some notes
that might read which would not con-
tain anything that would be construc.
tive or hurtful." Voices $50 or" ";
"Say what you please "You are in
the house Of your friends."l "My |
friends, partners in joy and in sorrow,
in trials and suffering, have come
TO join you in the performance
Of sacred task I; to lay the foundation
of monument at the cradle of the |
Confederate Government, which shall |
commemorate the gallant sons of Ala
hama xvtn d;ad for tba;r onunt., ,rho 4