Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-05-14
A eALA-DAY IN THE SOUTH.

49, p
A GALA-DAY IN THE SOUTH.
JEFFERSON Davis warmly Greeted at Mont
gomery. Ala.-lIe EuloKIxes the Spirit
of Southern Liberty from the Spot Whers
He was Inaugurated In 1861 as PresA-
dent of the southern Co~nfederacy.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, April 29.-Atan early
hour yesterday the sidewalks were SO
densely packed that locomotion was diff
cult. Jt had rained hard all night and the
deluge poured down until ten o'clock. The
hour for delivering the addresses by Mr..
Davis and General Gordon was changed to
twop. m. Instead OF going to hepark it was
Seeded, because OF the wind. to GO to the
capitol1 grounds, SO that the speeches
could be delivered from the very spot
where Mr.. Davis took the oath of office an
President OF the Confederate States. The
entire city was gayly decorated, and
the city hall had United States
flags fluttermg out Of every vim
dow. Pictures OF Confederate Gen
erals we're fastened to the out
side walls, while the names OF Robert q.
Lee, Stonewall jackson, Albert Sydney
johnson, Robert e. Rodes, and many
other Confederate Generals appeared on.
streamers. At one o'clock the pro-
cession formed on Commerce street
and marched mp Dexter avenue to the
capitol, where Mr.. Davis delivered his adj
dress. Tho ex-President rode in close
carriage drawn by four gray horaes and
driven by the same negro coachman who
performed the same duties when Mr.. Davis
came here in 1861. The military followed
close behind the carriage to keep back the
enthusiastic throng OF people. As the pro-
cession moved along the mass OF humanity
cheered until their throats were sore.
Arriving at the capitol no delay wa ex-
perienced inbeginning theexerclses. Mayor
Reese, in introducing Mr.. Davis, spoke as
follows: sMy Countrymen-With emotion
of profound reverence I introduce the high-
est type of. Southern manhood, the Hon.
Jefferson Davis" Prolonged cheers greeted
the appearance OF the venerable Mi. Davis,
and it was several minutes before silence
reigned. He spoke asffollows:
salv Coantry,mea: It would be vain IL !
should attempt to express to you the deep
stlation, but know that it is not personal,
and, therefore, I feel the more deeply
grateful because il is for q sentiment Tar
dearer to me than myself. [Applause.l
You have passed through the terri
bls ordeal Sid not e .s = war Wb whie She 4 4a7t
her wrongs too grievous for further tolera-
tion she sought q peaceable solution. That
being denied her, the thunders Of war came
ringing over the land. Then her people
rose in their majesty. Gray-haired tsires
s sSont bef T. Mas t boys xs eagerly wb;ch 5q Ghr;at; to sn the
alone approved-the holy warrior defense.hf
After referring in eloquent and feeling
tones to those who had sacrificed their
lives for the Confederate cause, MI. Davis
continued:
8 It were vain to attempt, 8 I have al
ready said, to express my gratitude to
you. ! am standing now very nearly on
the spot where / stood when took
the oath Of Office in 1881: Your demon
stration now exceeds that whichswelcomed
me then. This shows me that the spirit Of
Southern liberty is not dead. Immense
a.pplausel Then You were full Of joyous
hope, with the full prospect Of achieving
all you desired, and now you are wrapped
the mantle Of regret, and yet that re-
greet only manifests itself more profoundly
2 does 3obliterate the expression Of
preached the Exchange Hotel from the
gallery Of which your peerless
orator, William l. Yancy, introduced me
to the people Of Montgomery and COM
alended me in Language which only his
eloquence could yield, and which far ex-
ceeded my merit, Ifelt,, I say again, that I
was coming to my home, coming to the
land where liberty dies not, and her senti-
ments will live forever. Applause.
Enthusiastic and prolonged cheering fol-
lowed the speech, and Mr.. Davis. having
taken q seat, was forced to rise and bow to
the right and left. a