The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-05-04
SAYS HIS SAY.
LAYING the Corner Stone OF the
Confederate Monument at
Montgomery.
Jefferson Davis, of the Late Con-
federacy Makes a Long
Speech.

an animated scene. The whole hilltop
and premises were covered with people,
gathered 10 witness the laying OF the cor
ner stone of the Confederate monument, or
as some expressed il, "The official burial of
the confederacy." The foundation Of the
monument was ready, presenting surface
of thirty-five feet square. Near at hand
stood the corner stone, on which, IN raised
letters, was the inscription, corner stone
laid by ex-President Davis, April %, 1886"
THE DEMONSTRATIONS
along the route of procession were as en-
thusiastic as they were yesterday. The ex-
ercises were opened with prayer. Ex-
Governor Watts then presented Mr.. Davis
in brief speech. The scene, as Mr.. Davis
arose and grasped the hand OF his old at
torney general, was very affecting. 1t was
some moments before he could proceed,
and as the cheers were again and again
repeated, and when there was sufficient
quiet, Mr.. Davis said:
at is deeply gratifying to me TO be pre-
sented to you BY him on whom L leaned
for advice when advice was wanted, and
associated here with
So MANY MEMORIES,
thrilling and tender, feel il were danger
Gus for me to attempt to speak TO you as
my heart would prompt me, and not that l
am always treasuriDg bitterness against
anyone. but l am overlooking with love
and admiration for our beloved people.
Loud applause To avoid, there
fore, anything which might be
prompted by the fullness OF my heart, Tor
believe am case-hardened in that con-
dition of non-citizenship which leaves very
little to fear. [Applausel. For the pur-
pose of guarding Others, rather than my
self, have prepared some notes that
might read, which would not contain any
thing th.t would be constructive or hurt
| full. Voice-"Go on. Say what you
please; you are in the house OF your
friends. Ny friends, partners in joy
and in sorrow; in trials and suffering
have come TO join you in the perform
ance of a sacred task-lo lay the founda-
ton of
MONUMENT AT THE CRADLE
of the confederate government, which shall
commemorate the gallant sons OF Alabama
who died for their countrywide gave their
liyes-a,free will offering-in defense OF
the rights of their sires, men in the war of
the Revolution, and the state sovereignty
freedom and independence which was
| left us an inheritance to their pos
terity forever. These rights, the conf
pact of union was formed not
10 destroy but the better to preserve and
| perpetuate. Whose denies this cannot
have attentiyely read the Articles OF Con-
| federation or the Constitution of the
United States. The latter was formed and
designed the better to effect the purposes
of the first. 1t is rot my purpose 10 dwell
upon the events of the war. They were
laid before you yesterday by that great
general so ably. Ii is not my purpose,
either, to
DISCUSS THE POLITICAL QUESTIONS
on which my views have elsewhere and in
other times been freely expressed, or to re
view the past, except in vindication OF the
character and conduct of those to whom II
| IL proposed to do honor on this occasion
That we may not be misunderstood by such
as are not wilfully blind, it may be proper
to state in the foreground that We have no
desire to feed the fires of sectional hate
while we do not seek to avoid whatever re-
sponsibility attached to the belief in
the rightfulness of our cause
and the virtues of those who
risked their lives TO defend it Long
applause and cheers Revenge is not the
sentiment of chivalrous people, and the
apothegm that forgiveness Is lar more easy
to the injured than to those why infiict any
| injury has never had a more powerful
| illustration than In the present attitude oil
| the two sections TO one another. Policy
| in the absence of magnsnimity, would
| have indicated that In a restored union OF
the states there should have been full
restoration of the
| EQUALITY, PRIVILEGES AND BENEFITS,
as they had pre-existed. Though this ha:
not been the case, yet you have faithfully
kept your resumed obligations as citizens
and in your Impeachment have borne
equal burdens without equal benefits.
am proud of you, my countrymen, for this
additional proof Of your fidelity, and pray
God to give you grace to suffer and be
strong; and when your children's children
shall ask, What means this monument 2
there will be the enduring answer, 1T COM
memorates the deeds of Alabama's sons
who died that you and your descendant:
should be what your fathers in the war OF
independence left you
Alabama asserted the right proclaimed
In the Declaration of Independence, as be
longing to every people, and she found
that the compact OF the union had beer
broken on one side, and was therefore, An
nulled that the government Of the United
States did not answer the end for which il
waeocnstituted, and, with others Of like
MIL, proceeded TO
FORM NEW CONFEDERATION,
Organising its powers in the Language oi
the Declaration of Independence
In such form as seemed 70 them most like.
ly 70 effect their safety and happiness.
This vas not revolution, because the state
government, having charge of all domestic
affairs, both of person and of property, re.
NAMED unchanged. To call il revolution
is gross solicism. (Applsuse.J As GOV
ereigns never rebel, and as only sovsreigna
can form q national league, IL the states