Telegram-herald., 1886-04-30
TREASON DEFENDED
The Right OF Secession Re
Asserted by JEFF Davis.
TIE OLD MANS ADDRESS YESTERDAY,
ne Says re Is "Cass-ttsrdsaeo' -
''The General Government ftas No
Constitutional Power 10 Co
cree State laying
Corner Stone

Il aigtaltc today atteni4nt upon the laf lHg Ol
/ the cornerstone II the Confederate n0na-
msnt we're very eiabofaie aud imposing,
and attracted q sr.e and enthusiastic
crOWd Ex-GoY. " aGls presided. Ne made
brief address, and then introduced Jeifer-
son Davis. Who spoke for half al hour
/ After the Masonic ceremonies a reception
wAs held by Davis in the GsysrnOrs room
Of the historic CApiEcs. Thousands OF Con-
fesierate veterans attended and shook hands
with the sK-ConfesisFate President. Davis
address Is a. follows
1T Is deeply gratifying 10 me 10 be pre-
sented 20 yOa b one on whom ! leaned for
advice when advice was wanting. whose
stern qualities always made me sure that
| the Judgment he was drawing came from
the bottom Of his heart When yOn called
hin away the place Was missing which be
once nlled AMI have always desired To
| hy nay hand upon him again. lAPplausel
Thus il was when We met the other night
after years OF separafiOn. Some .scOple IL
the room gave a sardO1ic smile 10 see
two old weather beaten men embrace
But our hearts were young though our
heads were old. Ascosted here with, SD
rlany memories. thrilling ami tender | alave
10 speak 70 you As ms heart would prompt
me Not thaC | am always treasCring up
bitterness against any one, but / am over
flowing with love and admiration for our
beloved people. lApplause.l To avoid,
therefore, anything that might
De prompted by the fullness of
my hsart-for | believe am case
hardened IN that condition of citizenship
which leaves me very little TO fear APP
ff.lf q ~ Hsr4
rather than myself have prepared some
notes that might read. which would not
contain anything that would BE- cOnstruc-
tive or hurtful voice. Go on; say what
YOU please; vOc are in the house of your
friends J. Ny friends. partners IN JOY and
in sorrow, in trials and in suffering, have
come 70 a.. ;Ou in the performance of a
sacred task. - lay the foundation Of u
monument al the cradle of the Confederate
government which shall commemorate the
gallant sons OF Alabama wIo died for their
country. who gave Iher lives, n free will
Offering IN defense OF the rights Of
their sires, won IN the war of the
revolution. the State sovereignty, freedom
and independence, which Was left rs an in
heritance 10 their pOsterity forever These
rights the compact OF union was formed,
not % destroy bat the batter 10 preserve
and perpet1ate " hOsO 1.'nies this can not
federation, Or the Constitution of the United
States the latter formed and designed the
better 10 effect the purposes of the first.
Il Is not my purpose 10 dwell upon the
events OF the war. They were laid before
you yesterday by the great soldier IN 80
able a manner a to require no supplement
from me. They were laid before you
by one who, like Aeneas,
'Cuy.cta quorum ridi ct atgnd pas f,ti'
o. T. l. ~br.
when eur times seemed darkest at Peters
burg. was selected by BIS chiettain. Lee, as
the best rsan 10 lead the charge 70 repel the
besieging army. TO make a sOrtie and at
tack the flank and reverse to double up
Grant sarny, and II NAV 50 say in his pres
ence here. he failed, but his failure was due
10 the failure Of his guides 10 carry him
where he proposed 10 20. Again that man
and gallant soldier was the one upon whom
Lee called at AppOmattox where he wanted
10 know whether - was possible to break
the line that obstructed his retreat towards
| the mountains OF Virginia He answered that
10 was impossible, that after four years Of
| hard fighting his division was worn down
| To A frixxle n being then impossible 70
break the line that Obstructed his march 70
/ the mountains, ice, like Washington with
cut knowing, perhaps, that Washington
/ ever used the expression, said If he could
/
continue the war for twenty years Bat
when he found the line which ObstruCted
/ his retreat could not be broken he said there
was nothing % do but 10 surrender. Be II
I remembered Lee was not the man who
contemplated surrender so long as he bad
Z the power % fight or surrender and when
7 ne came % the last moment he said
p 20 Grant. Il have come To treat with you
Tor the purpose Of surreudering. but. / will
Z surrender nothing that reflects upon the
{ honor Of my army. Gen. Grant. ike n
man. said he wanted nothing that would
I have that effect and that Lee night draw
no the papers himself To Is not my pur-
pose either. 20 discuss the political ques-
I fions on which nv views have elsew here
or Al other times been freely expressed
/ neither 10 review th- past, except in vindi-
/ cation Of the character and conduct Of those
{ tO whom it is proposed 30 do honor on this
F occasion That We may not De misunder-
stood hv such as are not wilfully
blind it NAY be proper % state IN the
foreground that W. have no desire 20 feed
F the fire IT sectional hate. while ve do not
seek % avoid whatever responsibility IS
attached "a the belief in the righteousness
/ of our cause and the virtue Of those who
r;sksd their lives 70 defend it loud applause
/ and eheers Revenge is not the sentiment
I Of A chlvalruss reoFis and The spothegm
Z tnSf furg1 veneSS = more easy 10 E0e inl l9Tefi
than 20 chose who inhiCt an injury has
/ never bad a move powerful illustration
4 than in the present attitude II the twO Sc
/ hon toward one another Policy, in the
: absence II mas farHinitv. would havC indy
I Gated that in the restored union # the states
+ there should have been = fall restoration Of
I equality of privileges and benefits az they
had Pc exisfed Though this has not Zen
the case yet Won have faith fully sep3 vouT
f resumed obligations As citiEsns. and IN your
{ iuauovarish ment have been squai - he bur
Zen withoHf equal benefit I am proud o'
you. my countrvmen. for This Aiditions
proof ~ your 6deiitv and prsg God 10 give
( vnrl grace - suffer ansfhe strong When vouI
Ga ldren children shall ass what means
I this monument" there viii oe The endurins
/ answer. -ft com raer0rrstes the deeds a
/ Alahanaas SINS Who iied Thar you and voul
/ descendants should - What vour fathers
Z ~ the var Tor independents left you Ala-
bslaa asserted the right proclaimed IN The
. declaration of indeuenSenCe ard "a belong
ing a8 averr people She fsnud that ihs
com pact NJ the unf0n hsd been hrosen or
one side snd vss therefore annullesi. that
the government - the United States di3 RS
/ snswar the ends fsr Nhich &c VS. institutes
ani wish others 81 isa nsin6s abe proceeded
+ ta f,rrn rev confederation. 3rzanifinE 81.
rover IN fhe language cf the declaration
f ~ insinlenSerce IN such ferns A. seemed 81
them most fseir ~ eject their safety ST.
+ hsvriness rais vas rof revaiufien 30
-ause fhe stsra govern weut having fnarg.
~ I'll ipneSi,c a.furs. hefn ~ ners5n sug
prsue-ty 'rnaainesi nnchsnse3 II esi 4