The Brookhaven leader., 1886-05-06
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Address Of the Ex-President of the
Confederacy at Montgomery.
Ne Pays Tribute to the Sons Of Alabama
Who Sacrificed Their Lives For What
They Conceived to BE Their
Constitutional Rights.


crate monument were very elaborate and
imposing, and attracted a large and en-
thusiaslic crowd. Ex-Governor Watts
presided. He made brief address, and
then introduced Jefferson Davis, who
spoke Tor half an hour. After the Ma
sonic ceremonies reception was held by
Mr.. Davis in the Governors room in the
historic capitol. Thousands of Confed-
crate veterans attended and shook hands
with the cX-Confederate President.
Mr. Davis address is as follows:
II Is deeply gratifying to me to be pre-.
sentedhv one uponlwhOm 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 hip heart. When you called him
away the place was missing which he once
filled, and have always desired to lay my
hand unon him again. Applause Thus it
was the other night, after years of separa-
tion, some people in the room gave a sar-
donic smile to see two Old weatherbeaten
men embrace But our hearts were young,
though our heads we're Old Associated here
with so many memories, ling
and tender, have felt that 1t was dan ger,
Gus for mo to attempt to enCak to you as my
heart wonld prompt me. Not that am al.
ways trcasuring mp bitterness against any
one, but am Overlooking with love and adj
miratton for our beloved people. [Ap.
plause.l To avoid, therefore. any thing
which might be prompted by the fuIlness OF
my heart, for l believe l am case hardened
in that condition of non citizenship which
leaves me very little to fear IapplausN, for
the purpose of guarding others rather than
myself, have prepared come notes that
might read which would not contain anv
thing that would be constructive or hurtful
IA Voicc: "Go on: say what yOu please
you are in the house of your friends"
My friends, partners in 10y end sorrow
In trials and sufferlns, have come to join
you In the performance of sacred task: to
lay the foundation OF monument at the
cradle of the Confederate Government,
winch shall commemorate the gallant sons
OF Alabama who died for their country;
Who gave the lives, a free will Offering In
defens" of their rights of their sires Won ir,
the war of the revolution; the otate SOW
ereigEtv, freedom lndcDendence which was
ieit us as An IN heritance to their posterty
forever. These rights the compact OF Union
was formed not to destroy, but the better
to preserve and perpetuate. Who so de-
MES this ca1 not have attentivelv read the
articles OF confederation ortof the Consti itu.
ton of the United states, the latter tormhd
and designed the better to effect the purpose
OF the fret.
Il is not my purpose to dwell upon the
events OF the war. They were laid before
YOU yesterday by that great soldier in so
abIe manner a. to require no supplement
from me. They were laid before YOU by one
like EneaS, "Cuncta quorum vidi ct magma
pars fui " General John B. Gordon was the
at Petersburg, WAS selected by his chleftain,
General Lee, rs the hest man TO lead the
charge to repel the beSieging army; to make
sortie and attack in flank and reverse; to
double up Grants army. and If | may say so
in his presence, he failed, but 1t was due to
the failure OF his guides to carry him
Where he proposed to 90. Again, that man
mud gallant soldier was the one upon whom
Lee called at ApnottOmax, when he wanted
10 know whether IL was possible to break
the line that otstructcd his retreat toward
the mountains nf Niruini0, lfp
that 1t was impossible, tnut after four years
OF hard fighting lis division was worn down
to a trI2ale. 1t being then impossible to
breEk the line that ohstructed his march to
the mountains, Lee, like Washington, with.
ont knowing, perhaps. that Washington ever
used tie cxprc ssion. said if could reach the
mouh. .ins'Of Virginia he couli continue the
war toi twenty years. But when he found
that the line Which ob,tructed his retreat
could not be broken he said there was moth.
Be 1t roinrmhcfed that Lee was MT che
man who could contemplate surrender as
iong as he had the power to fight or retreat,
and when he came to the last moment of
surrender he said 10 Grant: II have come TO
treat with YOU for the purpose of sIrrender.
ipg, but, General Grant, understand that
will surrender nothing that reflects upon the
honor OF my army" Grant, like a man. said
he wanted nothing that would have that ef-
himself.
1t Is not nv purpose, either to discuss the
political questions on which my views have
been elsewhere or at other tim"s freely ex-
pressed; neither to review the past, except
in vinaication OF the character and conduct
of those to whom 1t ls proposed to do honor
on this occasion.
such as are not wilfu1ly blind, it may be
proner to state In the foreground that we
have no desire to feed the fires OF sectional
hate, while we do not seek to avoid what.
eF.r RESI- onsibiity Is attached to the belief
In Sle righteousness of our cause and the
virtue of those who risked their lives to de-
for nRNI NlNtN Rn-
venge is not the sentiment OF a chivalrous
people, and tile apothegm that forgiveness
is more easy to the injured than to those
who infict an injury has never had more
powerful illustration than in the present at
titude of the two sections toward one an
other. Policy, in the absence of magma
% in restored unio9 nfoe of n'theeu the states
there should have been full
restoration of the equality, privileges and
benefits as they had pre- existed. Though
this has not been the case, yet you ave
faithfully kept your resumed obligations as
citizens, and In your imDoverishment have
0ornc equal burdens without equal benefits
am proud of you, my countrymen, for this
additional proof of you fidelity, and pray
God to give you grace to suffer to be strong.
When Your chldren's children shall ask,
"What me- ans this monument" there Will be
the enduring answer, ut 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 belong
compact OF the Union had been broken on
one side. and was, therefore, annulled; that
the Government of the United States did
not answer the ends for which 1t was insti-
tuted, and with others of like mind proceed
ed to form new confederation, or2anizing
It's powers in the language of the Declara-
tion OF independence in such form as
seemed to them most likely to effect their
safety and happiness.
This was not revolution, because the State
Government, having charge OF all domestic
affairs, both of person and property, re-
maiued unchanged. t. call IL revolution
is a gross solecism [Applause |, as sovereigns
form a National league, and If the States
had not been Soveregns there could not
have been compact of union Applause g.
That the South did not anticipate, much less
desire war, Is shown by the absence
of preparation for it as well as by the eff
forts made to secure peaceful separation.
IN Ihe successful party always held the defeat, defeat,
shall have subsidized and reason shall have
resumed her dom ion, 1t must be decided
that the General Government has no consti'
tutional power to coerce State, and that a
State had the right to repel invasion. 1t was
a natural and constitutional right Zap
piause.I
From the early part of the century there
had been prophecies and threats of a disso-
luton OF the Union. These be gan at the
North on the question of prese rving the bal
ance of power and culminated during the
war of 1872 on the decline of their trade,
though the war was waged for the proteo-
ton of sailors rights. In the course OF years
the balance of power passed to the NORTH,
and that power was so used that the South.
despair ng of the peaceful enjoyment of
their constitutional rights 10 the Upion, dc:
cided TO withdraw rom it, this without in
jury to their late associates. This right TO
withdraw was denied, and the North made
ready for war.
The distant mutterRg of tho storm was
readily understood by the peOHle OF Ala.
bama. Gray. haTed sires and 6eaEdless boy =
tli naprsrAaad AZ they we're, went forth 10