The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-08
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Address of the Ex-President Of the
Confederacy at Montgomery.
He Pays Tribute to the Sons OF Alabama
Who Sacrificed Their Lives For What
They Conceived to BE Their
Constitutional Rights

ceremonies yesterday attendant upon the
laying of the cornerstone of the Confed-
crate monument were very elaborate and
imposing, and attracted large and en-
thuSiastic crowd. Ex-Governor Watts
presided. He made brief address, and
then introduced Jefferson Davis, who
spoke for half an hour. After the Ma
sonic ceremonies a reception was held by
historic capitol Thousands of Confcd-
crate veterans attended and shook hands
with the ex-Confederate President.
Mr.. Davis address is as follows:
It Is deeply gratifying to me to be pre-.
sented by 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 his 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 1t
was the other night, after years of separa.
ton, some people liz the room gave a sar.
donlc smile to see two old weatherbeaten
men embrace But our hearts were young,
though our heads were old. Associated here
with so many memories, thrilling
and tender, have felt that 1t was danger
GUS for me to attempt to speak to you as my
heart would prompt me. Not that am al.
ways treasuring up bitterness against any
one, but am Overlooking with love and adj
miratlon for our beloved people. APP.
plause.l To avoid, therefore, any thing
whics might be prompted by the fullness OF
my heart, for l believe am case hardened
| In that condition of non citizenship which
leaves me very little TO fear Iapplausel. for
the purpose OF guarding others rather than
myself, have prepared some notes that
might read which would not contain any
| thing that would be constructive or hurtful
| IA voice: "Go on; say what you please !
| you are in the house OF your frlends"l
! My friends, partners in Joy and sorrow,
In trials and suffering, have come to join
| you in the performance Of a sacred task; to
| lay the foundation of II monument at the
cradle of the Confederate Government,
| which shall commemorate the gallant sons
! OF Alabama who died for their country;
who gave the lives, free will Offering in
defense OF their rights Of their sires, won in
the war of the revolution; the State SOW
eregnty, freedom, independence, which was
left us as an in heritance to their postcrity
forever. These rights the compact OF Union
was formed not to destroy, but the better
TO preserve and perpetuate. Who so de-
MES this can not have attentivelY read the
articles OF confederation orlof the Constitu.
tiOn OF the United states, the latter formed
! and designed the better to effect the purpose
| OF the first.
1t is not my purpose to dwell upon the
events OF the war They were laid before
you yesterday by that great soldier in so
able manner as to require no supplement
from me. They were laid before you by one
like Kneas, "Cuncta quorum Vidi ct magma
pars fui" General John B. Gordon was the
soldier who, when our times seemed darkest
at Petersburg, was selected by his chieftain,
General Lee, rs the best man to lead the
charge to repel the beseging army; to make
double up Grants army and II 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 CO. Again, that man
and gallant soldier was the one upon whom
Lee called ut AppottOmax, when he wanted
TO know whether 1t was possible to break
the line that INSTRUCTED his retreat toward
the mountains OF Virginia. He. answered
that II was impossible, tnat after four years
OF hard fighting his division was worn down
to a frlzZle 1t being then impossible ia
break the line that INSTRUCTED his march tC
the mountains, Lee, like Washington, with
out knowing, perhaps, that Washington ever
used the expression said II could reach the
mountains OF Virginia he could continue the
war for twenty years. But when he found
that the line which obstructed his retreat
could not be broken, he said there was moth
Ing to do but surrender.
he II remembered that Lee was not the
man who could contemplate surrender al
long Rs he had the power to fight or retreat
and when he came to the last moment on
surrender he said to Grant: IL have como tC
treat with you for the purpose OF surrender
Ing, but, General Grant, understand that
will surrender nothing that reflects upon thC
honor OF my army" Grant, like man, said
he wanted nothing that would have that eff
feet, and that Lee might draw up the papers
himself
1t is not my purpose, either, to discuss thu
political questions on which my views have
been elsewhere or Mt other times freely ex
pressed; neither 10 review the past, excep
In vindicatlop OF the character and conduc
of those to whom It is proposed to do homo
on this occasion.
That we may not be misunderstood BY
such as are not wllfully blind, II may b,
proner to state in the foreground that W,
| have no desire to feed the fires OF sectiona
hate, while we do not seek to avoid what
ever responsibility is attached to the belle
= in the righteousness of our cause and tn
+ virtue OF those who risked their lives to de
fend II. Loud applause and cheers. lie
venge Is not the sentiment OF chlvalrou
! people, and the apothegm that forgiveness
Is more easy to the injured than to thos
who intlict an injury has never had NOR
: powerful illustration than in the present at
titude of the two sections toward one an
, other. Policy, in the absence OF magma
& nimity, would have Indicated tina
: in a restored union OF the State
there should have been fuI
Z restoration of the equality, privileges an
: benefits as they had existed. Thong
this has not been the case, yet you av
> faithfully kept your resumed obligations a
citizens, and In your impoverlshment hav
borne equal burdens without equal benefits
am proud OF you, my countrymen, for TIL
: additional proof of you fidelity, and pra
k God to give you grace to suffer to be stronl
When your chlldren's children shall asl
Z "What means this mo lument" there will
b the enduring answer, sit commentaries th
deeds OF Alabama's sons who died that 20
and your descendants should be what you
9 fathers in the war for independence lie
n VOu."
II Alabama asserted the right proclaimed
u the Declaration of Independence as belong
IS ing to every people She found that III
a compact OF the Union had been broken o
c one side, and was, therefore, annulled; this
+, the Government OF the United States di
|. not answer the ends for which 1t was inst
:, tuted and with others of like mind proceed
u ed to form a new confederation, organizin
its powers in the language of the Declari
ton of independence In such form {
Y seemed to them most likely to effect the
/, safety and happiness.
. This was not revolution, because the Stat
u Government, having charge OF all domest
d affairs, both of person and property, r.
\ manned unchanged To- call It revoluto
~ is a gross solecism Applause !, as sovereign
s. never rebel, and as only sovereign ca
\, form National league, and II the stat
:, had not been sovereigns there could nc
% have been a compact Of union Applause
1, That the South did not anticipate, much le
, desire war, is shown by the absent
) of preparation for it as well as by the e
u forts made To secure a peaceful separatlo