The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-27
DIXIE'S CROWNED KING.
THE PATRIOTS OF MISSISSIPPI
LAUDED IN A LETTER.

Duty's Call Never Foun1 Them Lag
CARDS Though Danger and Death
LurRed Roldfaced in Every Bush
All Honor to the States Fair Daugh-
ters.
JACKSON, MISS. May 26-During the
ceremonies yesterday connected with the
laying of the corner stone of the Confeder-
ate monument here, the following letter of
regret from Hon. Jefferson Davis was read
by Col. j. J.. Powers:
BEAUvoTR, MISS, May 81, 1888.
Ladies Of the Confederate Monument Associa-
ton Of Mississippi.
duly received your gratifying invitation to
my family and myself 10 be present at the Law
ing of the cornerstone of the monument to com
memorate the dead OF Mississippi who died for
the state: This acknowledgements has been de-
layed under the hope that my health would so
improve as to enable me to participate in the
ceremony, The earnest desire TO
pc with you on that occasion
others, that might be physically able to Join
IN the work which Is very near to my heart.
Tho monument will be the first reared by Mis-
sisslppi to her sons, who at the call Of their
mother forgot all selfish cares and went forth
If need be to die for her cause This omission
cannot be ascribed TO the absence of meritorous
claims TO such consideration, for Mississippians
iitNo pttil III LIlb NhI party III peace nor
OF the pence party in war In the territorial
infancy of our State, when its popuat ion
W as II ainly confined TO few river counties,
an Indian war, with its characteristic ferocity,
was ravagng the frontier settlements At the
cry of tho helpless, Mississppans rushed to
arms, though few and lily prepared for war;
Among the earliest of my men,
ories was the grief OF our
people because Of the massacre at Fort Mirams.
where many of our neighbors died in the fulhll-
ment of that noblest motive of human action,
which causes one to give his life that others
struction of the rising generation com.
memorates the event. and the commonly
used school books are not devoted to Southern
history. AT Pensacola or Fort Bowyer and in
the battle of New Orleans, Mississippi bore an
honorable part. Your monument will stand
in the country of Kinds the name OF
the leader of the Mississippi Dragons
whose conduct In the battle Of New Orleans
was commended in general orders for the ad.
mlration Of one army and the wonder of the
other. AT later day, when Mississippi was sent
a. reguiStion for troops TO serve
state and Mexico. the difficulty
was not to get the requisite number Of com.
panes, but to discriminate among those offer
ing In excess of the numbers which would bs
received. An attempt was made to build a
monument to those who bed and died
In a foreign land but II failed.
II asked why, the reason is on the surface II was
not woman's work. Daughters of Mississippi
you have labored In O cause, the righteousness
of which only he can deny whose soul is so de-
void Of patriotism that ia his country's strifa
he could give aid and comfort TO the enemy
IL would have been great qualification 20 mo
to stand among the survivors of Mississlppi's
army and in laying the corner stone Of the
monument to their deceased comrades
to recall their virtues, the mingled attributes Of
the hero and the saint. Please be assured that
in spirit | shall be with you, and for the zeal
with which you have faced all discouragemenC
and the devotion you have shown to purpose
which had only its merits for It's reward, | pray
you to accept from the inmost fibre Of his
heart the thanks Of an old Mssissippian.
Faithfully, JEFFERSON DAVIS.