The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-05

x-Gov. Watts ended and Mr.. Davis stood
orth.
The scene as Mr.. Davis arose and grasp
d the hand OF his old Attorney General
vas very affecting. II was some moments
,eiore he could oceed, as the cheers
we're again and again repeated. When
here was sufficient quiet
Mr.. DAVIS SAID:
III is deeply gratifying to me to be pre-
sented to you by one whom have asked |
for advice when it WAS so much needed. |
When you called him away the place was
missing which he once filled, and have
always desired to Law my hand upon him |
again doing so. Applause-l Thus it was
when we mel the other night after years OF
separation. Some people in the room gave
a sardonic smile 10 see two old weather
beaten men embrace, but our hearts were
Young though our heads were old. Asso-
ciated here with so many memories | have
felt tLat it was dangerous for me to at
tempt 10 speak to you as my heart would
prompt me, not that | am always treasur
ing up bitterness ag ainst anyone, but | am
Overlooking with love for our beloved
people Loud applause To avoid,
therefore, anything which might be
prompted by the fullness of my heart, for
| believe am case hardened in that con-
dition Of non citizenship, which leaves ME
very little to fear. Applause. 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 hurt
ful- Voices, Go on; say what you
please; you are in the house OF your
friends
"My friends, partners in Joy and in sor
row, in trials aud suffering, | have come to
join you in the performance OF a sacred
task, to lay the foundation of a monument
at the cradle Of the Confederate govern
ment, which shall commemorate the gal
liant sons of Alabama who
DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY;
who gave their lives a free-will offering in
defense of the rights of their sires, won in
the war of the revolution and State soy
| ereignty-a freedom and independence
which was left as an inheritance to their
posterity forever These rights the COM
| pact Of Union was formed, not to destroy
but the better to preserve and perpetaate
| Whose denies this cannot have attentively
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. II is no,
my purpose to dwell upon the events of tbs
war. They were laid before you ye>terda y
by that great soldier in so able a manne
as to require no supplement from me
They ~ere laid before you by one, who
like Eleas, 'eUneta quorum rid ct magma par
fui'
Gen. Gordon was the soldier who whel
times seemed darkest was selected by hi
.t.,f fh.,h hoe IL L.
repel the besieging army, to make a sorti
and attack in flank and reverse, to doubl
up Grants army, and may saw, in hi
presence here, he failed, but his failure wa
due to the failure OF his guides to carr
him where he proposed to go; again, tina
man and gallant soldier was the one perso
whom Lee called at Appomattox when h
wanted to know whether it were possibl
10 break the line that INSTRUCTED his trac
to the mountains OF Virginia He answer
, ed that it was impossible that after fou
years of hard fighting his division wa
worn to a fragment 1t being then impoSs
BILE to break the line that distracted h
! march to the mountains Lee, like Wasl
ington, without knowing perhaps that Wasl
: ington ever used the expression. said ii h
could reach the mountains OF Virginia
! could continue the war for twenty year
but when he found the line which obslruc
ed his retreat could not be broken. he sal
there was nothing to do but surrender
BE it remem bered, however, that LIE
6 was not the man who contemplated SUI
render as long as he had the
: POWER TO FIGHT OR RETREAT,
4 aud when he came to the last moment ,
: surrender he said to Grant Il have CON
4 to treat with you for the purpose Of su
: render, but, ten. Grant, understand.
! will surrender nothing that reflects upo
the honor of my army Grant, like a M
said he wanted nothing that would hay
that effect, and that Lee might draw u
the papers himself.
1T Is not my purpose either to discus
the political questions on which my view
have elsewhere and in other times bee
freely expressed, or to review the pas
q except in vindication of the character an
= conduct of those to whom it is propose
to do honor on this occasion. That v
# may not be misunderstood by such as al
u not blind. II may be proper to state in II
n foreground that We have no desire to fee
e the fires OF sectional hate, while we do NJ
= avoid whatever responsibility attaches
belief in the right of our cause and II
virtues of those who risked their lives
t defend it. [Applause.l
: Revenge is not the sentiment of CHI
d various people. Policy, in the absence
r magnanlmity, would have indicated that
S restored Union OF the States there shout
: have been a full restoration of the equalit,
: privileges and benefits "a they had pre-e,
+ isted. Though this has not been the cas-
e yet you have faithfully kept your oblig,
e tions as citizens, and in your impoverisl
Y ment have borne equal burdens withol
! equal benefits.
: AM PROUD OF YOU
for this additional proof of your fdelit
e and pray God to give you strength
d suffer and be strong.
Alabama asserted the right proclaime
/, in the Declaration Of Independence :
:, belonging to every people. She found TIL
the compact of the Union had been broke
3. on one side and was, therefore, annulled
that the government of the United Stat
did not answer the end for which il W;
o instituted, and with others of like min
h proceeded to form a new confederation
v organizing its powers, in the language
l the Declaration of independence. in suc
a form as seemed to them most likely
!. effect their happiness. This was not rev,
h luton, because the State government. ha,
a ing charge OF all domestic affairs, both
g person and property, remained unchange
That the South did not anticipate, muc
less desire war, is shown by the absence
preparation for it, as well as by the effor
made TO secure peaceful separation. TT
successful party always hold the defeate
responsible for the war, bat when passio
shall have subsidized and reason shall hay
: resumed her domination, it must be deciC
ed that the general government had Il
! constitutional power to coeree State. an
that State had the right to repel inv,
sion. 1t was national and constitution;
right. GApplause.
From the early part of the century ther
had been prophecies and
:; THREATS OF DISSOLUTION
OF the Union. These began at the Mort
on the question of preserving the balane
OF power and eliminated during the Wa
OF 1872, on the decline of their trad,
Though the war was waged for the protee
ton OF sailors rights, in the course G
years the balance OF power passed to tn
North, and that power was SO used that h
, South, despairing of the peaceful enjoy
ments of their constitutional rights in TN
Union, decided to Withdraw from il with
out injury to their late associates. Til
right to withdraw was denied and tn
I IL