The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-05
LIFE IN THE old MAN YET.
THE SPIRITED SPEECH OF MR.. DAVIS AT
MONTGOMERY.


ReyivinS RecoIlcctions of the Times
that Tried Mems SOuls-.-An Irrc-
sistibIe Defence OF the Logic Of
Secession.-A Tribute to Alabama's
ueroism..-Partins Advice -.- faav.
ing been True to the Confederacy,
s be True to the RECONSTRUCTED I'm
ion.
MONTGOMERY, April o. The Capitol
grounds at IL o'clock to-day presented an an
imated scene. The whole hilltop and prem
ises were covered with people gathered to
witness the laying of the cornerstone OF tne
Confederate monument, or, as some expressed
it. 1.-The official burial of the confederacy.'
The skies above were cloudlesS and pleasant
breezes waited the cool air Of the hills to the
city The foundation of the monument was
ready, presenting surface of thirty.five feet
snuare: Near ut hand stood the corner stone
on which In raised letters was the inscription,
aa sy this e1sr Tas
q large platform for the speakers.
The procession formed before the Exchange
Hoee. Mr. Davis, his daughtrr, Ex-Governor
Watts and the Hon. H. G. Tompkins, chair
man of the committee of arrangements. were
in a carriage drawn by four white horses
each led by negro In livery. The neXtcaf- :
riage contained General ana Mrs. Gordon;
his dahghter and Mrs. Clement G. Clay. and
was surrounded by the survivors of the 9th
Alabama aud other Confederate veterans.
'rhe procession was preceded by cavalry
and artillery escort, and was further maze up
0f other local military, uniformed Knights of
Pythias, Grand Commanders Of Knights
Templar and Masonic bodies from different
parts of the State.
were rs enthuSinstic as they were yes
yesterday. The EH-President was. as is
usual whenever, people eaten q sight OF
him, chccrcd enthusiastically. lie took his
seat with the committee Of the Memorial AS
sociation behind him, Mrs: Gordon and Miss
ps Davis and Gordon on his left. and Gen
the offlcers of the 9Th Alabama and others
er.erc on the PLATFORM. The 9Th regiment was
Irescnt also, as were the trustees of The Sol
aiers' Monument Associaa1ion; Col; W. RI; i.
Vim. X. Jones, Col. W. w. Screws and Gov
ernor O'Ncal
Before the services began Col. Bragg pre-
sented Mr.. Davis with an elegant basket of
flowers from Major Bo'ng Hall. who lives
near this city. Major Hall is a G,escendcnt of
iieorgia's Lyman Hall. He was Il noted op-
ponent to secession, but had eight sons In me
war. seven of whom gave their lives to the
(onfedcracy, and the eighth carries lead in
him as evidence of his devotion.
a striking picture was witnessed when
some old soldier brought forward the muster
roll of the 9th Alabama and The two ladies,
Misses Gordon and Davis, examined it with
Ew.Govcrnor Watts. the presiding officer Of
ence to the Importance of calling down
the benediction Of Heaven upon the occasion
and requested the Rev. Mr.. Andrew, pastor
of the NJ. F. Church. to pray. His prayer was
earnest and simple. Ex-Governor Watts
linen spoke and was followed by Mr.. Davis.
The scene as Mr.. Davis arose and gr"sped
affecting. It was some moments before he
ae again repeated. When there was sufficient
quiet Mr.. Davis said:
r to nplx
to YOU bv one on whom l leaned for advice
when advice was wanted, whose sterling
qualities always made me sure that the jud@-
ment he was drawing was from the hcttOm of
his heart, When you called him away, trlIe
place was missing which he once filled. and
have al ways desired to lay my hand upon
him again. fApplause.l Thus it vas when
ave met the other night. after years of scpa-
ration, some people in the room gave q sar
.donic smile to see two old weather-hcatcn men
embrace. But our hearts were young, though
many memories, thrilling and tender have
felt that 1t were dangerous for me to attempt
ITO speak to YOU as my heart would prompt
s1ne. Not that am always treasnring up bit
.terness against anyone, but am overfowing
with love and admiration for our beloved
neople, rLong appiauSe.] To avoid, there
fore, anything which might be prompted by
the fulness of my heart, FIR believed am
case-hardened in that condition of non-citi-
Zenship, which leaves me very little to fear,
(applause,l but for the purpose of guarding
others. rather than myself. ! have nrr-
would not contain anything constructive or
hurtful. Voices: $50 on; say what you
please: you are in the house of your friends. -
NV friends partners in JOY and in sorrow, i'll
trials and suffering, have come to join ynu
.n the performance of n sacred task. to lay
1he foundation of monument at the cradle
.,f the Confederate Government which shall
who died for their country. who gave their
lives free-will Offering in defence Of the
rights which their sircs won in the war of the
Revolution and the State Snvcrcgnity, free
dom and independence. which was left as an
Inheritance to their posterity forever. These
sfshts the compact OF union was formed not
.todeStrOy but the better to preserve and per-
petuate. Who so denies this cannot have at
Ientiveiy read the articles of confederation or
the Constitution Of the United States. The
latter was formed and designed the better to
effect the purpose of the first.
1t is not my purpose t. dwell upon the
events Of the war. They We're laid before
you yesterday by the great soldier in so able
a manner as to require no supplement from
me. They were laid before you by one who
like Eneas. could say, "Cunctn 4Ior%ne rtdt
etmagnn purs fti." Gen. John b. Gordon
was soldier, who, when our times seemed
darkest at Petersburg, was sent for by his
. chieftain, Lee. as the best man to lead a
charge to rcpe the hesiegins army, to make Il
sortic and attack in flank and reverse, to
douhlc up Grants army. and II may say So
in his presence here. he failed, but his failure
was due to the failure Of his guides to carry
him where he proposed TO go. Again, that
man and gallant soldier was the one person
whom Lee called at AppnmattOX VIXEN he
wanted 70 know whether it were possible to
break the line that obStrnctcd his retreat to-
wards the mountains OF lrginil. lie an
severed that it was impossible: that after four
wears of hard fighting his division was worn
vlown to fragment. 1t being then imnoSsi-
sbie to break the line that obStrurted his
.anarch tothe mountains, Lee, like Washing
.fon without knowing. perhaps, that Wash
.jnstan everuScd the expression, SAID that II
13le cnr,id reach the mountains of Virginia he
could continue the warrior twenty years. But
when he found that the line which otStrurted
his retreat cOuldmOt be broken, nc SAID there
was nothing to do but surrender. BE 1t re-.
Inembered however, that Lee was not q man
who contemplated surrender SO long as he
had power TO fight or retreat, and when he
came to the last moment OF surrender he
sSnM to Gen. Grant: Il have come to treat
with YOU tor rale purpose Of surrender. But
Gen Grant, understand I will surrender
nothing that reflects upon the honor of my
army" Grant, like q man, said that he
,uanted nothing that would have that effect
and that Lee might draw up the papers him.
r. Is not my purpose to either discuss pollt-
scoi questions on which my views have been
heard ard expressed, or 10 reXlew tne past
except in vindicalien OF the character ana
conduct of those to wnom 1t is proposed 10 20
honor on this occasion. That we may not ne
InisunderstO Ood by such as trre not wli1ully
blind it may be proper to state in the lore
ground thatwe have no desire 10 Ieea ING
fires of sectional hate. while sTe 90 not seek
1oavoid what responsibility may he attached
to belief in the Righteousness Of our cause
and the virtue OF those VINO risked their
lives to defend it. Long applause and
cheers ... -. o,;1
,,ans pc0plc and the apOthegin that forgive
ness is more easy 10 the injured tAan 1othose