Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-30
MONTGOMERY.
ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES At ALA
BAMA,S CAPITAL.
Addresses by Ex-President Davis
and Gen. John B. Gordon.

uay Will ever De memorable in the
history OF Alabama. Every locality
was represented, and many towns and
villages poured in their entire popula-
ton into the streets, At an early hour
the sidewalks were so densely packed
that locomotion was difficult. It rained
all night and poured down till 10
o'clock. The hour for delivering
the addresses by MI. Davis and
Gen. Gordon was changed to 2 p.m.
Instead of going to the park, it was
decided to go to the capitol grounds,
and the speeches be made from the
very spot where MI. Davis took the
oath as president of the Confederate
States. This change was made be-
cause of"mud in the park. The entire
city is gayly decorated and the city
hall has the United States flags flutter-
ing out of every window.
Pictures of Confederate generals are
ia Stoned to the walls, while the names
of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson,
Albert Sydney johnson, Robert E.
Rodes, and many other Confederate
generals are on streamers. The capitol
was beautifully decorated from the
topmost point. On the high dome
ioated the stars and stripes. The en-
tire front was covered with streamers,
while there was suspended along the
front columns Confederate flags, reach
ing down to the head of the speaker.
There were more Federal flags in
Montgomery today than at any time
since 1860. Private houses and bust
ness houses all have a liberal supply
of decorations and devices, and words
of welcome to Mr.. Davis. Great
desire to shake hands with him was
evinced by everybody, and it was
with difficulty there was entrance
and exit. They wanted to see their
old president, and nothing would
satisfy them till they had done so.
Being feeble, it was more than he
could stand.
The military escort formed in front
of the hotel and extended far up
the avenue leading to the capitol. 1t
was necessary to form a square in
order that the procession might move.
Companies were formed and stretched
out on each side. No one was allowed
inside the lines. A carriage with four
horses was drawn up to the door, and
promptly at two o'clock Mr.. Davis,
escorted by Mayor Reese, Gov. O'Neill
and ex.Gov. Walter, stepped from the
hotel and entered the carriage. The
shouts Of the multitude as he was seen
to emerge from the hotel
were louder than ever before heard in
this city. The next carriage contained
Gen. John B. Gordon and Capt. w. L.
Bragg, Miss Winnie Davis, and Miss
Reese, the mayors daughter.
The next carriage contained w. w.
Screws, Mrs, Gordon, Miss Gordon and
Miss Walter, the latter, a neice Of MIR.
Davis. The other carriages followed
with the trustees of the Monument
Association, amid the waving of hand
%kerchiefs, the booming Of cannons and
the playing of bands. The scene that
was presented was n rarely witnessed
in any country in honor of any man,
prescribed by the United States gov
eminent and a tribute to dead soldiers.
The procession was about half a mile
long. The avenue Is very wide, but
the crowd, when it began to move, was
packed from n side to the other.
When the procession arrived at the
capitol gate, the way was cleared for
Mr.. Davis, the military being formed
so as to prevent the overrunning of the
building and grounds before he had
reached the place. He was seated near
the historic spot he occupied on Feb,
ruary Is, 1861. Arranged in front was
a place for the press, and en- the sides
and in the rear of Mr.. Davis were
members of various organizations in
terested In the building of the monu-
ment, which it is proposed TO
erect on the hill Immediately
in front Of the capitol. The people
men, women and children, were pack
ed from the steps TO the front gate, and
while it was impossible for a great
part of them to hear, they stood il
their places outside, the place get
aside for Mr.. Davis and were content
to see him. When order had been
secured in the crowd, it was the
most orderly ever seen here, the
chairman advanced to the platform
and said
My COuntrymen:
1t is with profound emotions that
l present to you the foremost of
southern men, the Honorable
Jefferson Davis, ex-president of the
Confederate States of America
The scenes heretofore enacted were
gone, and therefore l feel more deeply
grateful, because it is a sentiment far
dearer to me than myself. You have
passed through a terrible ordeal of
war, which Alabama did not seek.
When she felt her wrongs too grievous
for further federation, she sought peace
in dissolution. That being denied her,
thunderS of war came ringing wei the
land. Then her people rose in their
majesty. Gray-haired sires and beard
less boys eagerly rushed to the front.
was that war which Christianity
approved, a holy war for de-
Tense. Well do l remember seeing
uO,,r sVoDfIo boua m ..aD