Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-24
" Died FOR THEIR State" ="
AN EXHAUSTIVE PAPER ON
GREAT QUESTIONS.
By BENZ. J.. WILLIAMS, ESQ, A
WELL KNOWN NEW ENGLANDER.

terest to the people of this country
North and South. 1t treats OF MIR
jefferson Davis and his connection
with the Southern Confederacy
from a Southeran standpoint. The
writer handles his subject in man
ner unfamiliar to our readers, who
if they do not agree with the senti-
ments expressed, will at least find
it a very interesting and instruc'
| tive communication, particularly at
this time:
Editor of the Sun:
Dear Sir The demonstrations
in the South in honor of Mr.. Jeifer'
son Davis, the ex president of the
Confederate States, are certainly
of a remarkable character, and fur
nish matter for profound cOnsidera-
ton.
Mr.. Davis, twenty.one years after
the fall of the Confederacy, sudden
| Iy emerging from his long retire
ment, journeys among his people
to different points, there to take
part in public observances more OF
less directly commemorative, re-
spectively, OF the cause OF the Con-
federacy, and of those who strove
and died for it, and everywhere he
receives from the people the most
overwhelming manitestiOns OF heart
felt affection, devotion and rever-
ence, exceeding even any Of which he
was the recipient in the tine of his
power; such manifestations as no
existing ruler in the world can OBJ
tain from his people, and such as
probably were never before given
to a public man, old, out of office,
with no favors to dispense, and dis
franchised.
Such homage is significant, start
ling. 1t is given, as Mr.. Davis
himself has recognized, not to HIM
self alone, but to the cause whose
chief representative he is. And it
is useless to attempt to deny, dis
guise, or evade the conclusion that
there must be something eat,and
noble, and true in him, and in The
cause to evoke this homage.
As for Mr.. Davis himself the
student of American history has
not yet forgotten that it was his
courage, self.possessiOn and leader
ship, that in the very crisis of the
battle of Burena Vista won for bis
country her proudest victory upon
foreign fields of war; that as secre-
tary of war in Mr.. Pierce's admins
tration, he was therecognized lead
er of the United States Senate at
the time of the secession of the
Southern States. For his charac.
ter there let it be stated by his
enemy but admirer, Massachusetts
own Henry Wilson.
"The clear-headed, practical,
dominating Davis" said Mr.. Will
son in speech made during the
war, while passing in review the
great Southern Senators who had
withdrawn with their States. When
the seeding State 60 I'd their new
Confederacy, in recognition Of Mr..
Davls's varied and pTedomin. =
abilities, he was unanimously chos.
en- as its chief magistrate. And
from the hour of his arrival at
| Montgomery to assume that Office,
when he spoke the memorable
words. ave are determined to
make all who oppose us smell
Southern powder and feel South
ern STEEL" all through the Con
federacy's four years. unequal
struggle for independence down to
his last appeal as its chief, in bis
defiant proclamation from Danville,
after the fall OF Richmond, "Let us
not despair, my countrymen, ou'
meet the foe with fresh dehahce'
aud with unconquered and IN
conquerable hearts h" e1n'o'ted
everywhere and always the same
toud and uuyielding spirit. so ex
s..,ve of his sanguine and resO
rs pc temper, which no disaster
.LnUvld subd1e, which sustained him
even whel it could no longer sus
tain Others, aud which, had it been
possible, wopld of itself have as
sured the adepeDdence OF the Con
federacy.
tt And when at last the COnfeder
Y acy had fallen, literally overpower
ed by immeasurabIy sup,rior mum
bers and means, and Mr.. Davi
was a prisoner, subjected t. the
prossest indignities, his prou'
snirit remained unbroken, an
b never since the subjugation of hi
noonle has he abated in the leas
his assertion Of the cause for whlc
thew struggled. The Seductlons
mower or interest may move lesse
men. that matters not to him; tn
}. cause Of the Confederacy, as fl
ed moral and constitutional prime
III ole, unaffected by the triumph
ref physical force, he asserts today a
q unequivOcslly as when he wa
seated in its executive chair a
Al Richmond in apf.'' ~4-s'y irl -
\ bic pO@er with its victOri'qs E NJ A"'
az his command. ha
Now when we consider o this
Bwhat Mr.. Davis has been, SeFmos'
( of all what he is to-day in tIolmOra
! greatness of bis position n W.
/ t wonder that his people turt ASIDE