The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-07
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Another Glorifcation of State Rights, Which
lie Declares, Can Never Die.

SAVANNAH. Ga, May 6-The feature of to-
days festivities in connection with the Chatham
Artillery centennial, was the unveiing of
the tablets on the monument Of Gen.
eral Nathaniel Green, of revolution
ary fame The oration of the
occasion was delivered by Col G. G. Jones, of
guns was fred by the Chatham Artillery, from
the same guns they used at the unveiing of the
monument. over fifty years ago. At the con-
clusion of the firing calls were made for Mr..
Davis. In response he arose amid tremendous
cheering
1T might be possible" he said, ITO speak at.
but not to this vast audience.s He could not
find words to equal the occasion. ''rhis gather
ing is significant" he said, 'as it expresses the
sympathy of . the people of Savannah
with this centennial event. In 1776
the colonies acquired State sovereignty. They
revolted from the mother country in desperate
struggle. That was the cause for which they
fought Isit a lost cause nowp And here the old
man became eloquent, and spoke with some
thing like the fre and pathos of old: HAS
Georgia lost the State sovereignty which, with
Rhode Island, she won in 1776a No, thousand
times no! Truth crushed TO earth will rise
again.. You may hold it down for time, but it
will rise again. 1t is might clothed in all
the majesty and power that God gave 1t.
And so the independence of these States, the
constitutional liberty, the state sovereignty
which they won in 1776, and which Nathaniel
Greene, the son of Rhode Island. helped to win for
Georgia as we'll as for Rhode Island. never
die thank you for the honor of your regard,
and hope God may bless YOU"
At the close of Mr. Davis's remarks there was
mighty surge in the crowd, and the next mo-
ment the stage was filled by veterans, anxious
to grasp the hand of the old statesman. So
great was the rush that there was danger of Mr..
Davis being crushed. A lane was cleared, how
ever, and he was escorted TO carriage, in
which he was conducted to the City Exchange.
Here he gave aNreception to the battalion.
Banquets in honor of the visiting soldiers are
in progress tonight at the armoIies Of all the To-
cal military
This morning, in response to note from the
Sister Superior, expressing the wish of having
the honor of tertang the first and last Presi
dent of the Confederacy," Mr.. and Miss Davis
visited the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy,
where the latter was sent for protection during
the late war.
At the banquet given by the Savannah Volun-
teer Guards battalion, tonight Mr.. Davis en-
tered while Governor Mcdaniel was speaking,
and was greeted with tremendous cheering.
When Governor Mcdaniel had concluded Mr..
Davis, in response to continued ovation, said
IF Savannah needs a guard, here it is; if the
United States needs defenders, here they. are.
If the United States needs troops for war, I
don't know where they could get better, brayer
or more trustworthy soldiers than right here in
Georgia In the days of Cotemans existence Geor-
gians were taught the path of duty by a man who
spent his fortune in taking debtors out of prison.
Yours is grand history as the Empire State of
the South. You gave to the Union out of your
original territory two States-Alabama and Mis-
sissippi-and they proud of their parent.
Applause. In the history of Georgia one
thing always stood reeminenty promi
nent the assertion and maintenance
of independence and the dignity
of sovereignty-not the sovereignty that op-
presses, but that which always uplfts its hands
in defense. There some who take it for
granted that when allnde to State sovereignty
/ want to bring another war; | am too old to
fight again, and God knows don't want you to
have the necessity for fighting again. Jap
plause. However, if that disaster should arise,
l know you would meet it, as you have always
done"
Mr.. Davis paid handsome compliment to the
Dubuque Drum Corps, relating his remembrance
of Dubuque of long ago. saying: ''The celebra
ton to-day is link in the long chain of affection
that binds you and the North together Long
may it be true as it has been in the past, that
Georgia is always willing to open her arms wide
to welcome every man, every true patriot that
comes to put his foot on our SOIL"
The conclusion of Mr.. Davis's remarks was the
occasion for another enthusiastic outburst