The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-12-14

With the spirit and terms OF these resUIu-
tions, which you have adopted, | am heartily
in sympathy. May my tongue cieave to the
roof Of my mouth, and my right hnUd fOr"et
H. cunning before | shall cease to honor the
virtues and to revere the memory al Jefferson
DAVIS. and Of those who stood with him III
their stem battle for the south.
The present generation knows but little Of
the man in whose honor we meet to-day. III
J would. on this account, he a or tefui task
had | The ability or the time-tO present, on
this occasion. many of the features Of SIR.
! Davis eveutful career from the time he was
| appointed by President Monroe IA cadet at
! West Point. until the hour on last Friday.
when, amid the benedicliJnS and grateful
rec0lIections Of his southern countrymen,
he ''fell on Sleep" | might tell Of his services
Ia the Indian vars, Of his brilliant career IN
Mexico. OF his political life, OF those stormy
times when, rs president of the confederate
states, he guided his country through the
most momentous struggle OF tins century,
Such a recital would form a sure foundation
for that estimate of MIR. Davis character
which is voiced in these resolutions and
which | shall now describe in other terms.
In all respects jefferson Davis was II noble
representative Of that type Oi the American
gentleman which Our busting civtliZat ion Is
fast crowding out of existence. He wa1 one
of those rare men who combine in one person
and character all the virtues both OF The puri-
tan and of the cayill,er. with the vices OF
neither. With the manners ~ Prince Ru1"rt,
he had the courage and the fortitude OF oIircr
Cromwell, He had Il wOman's tenderness;
and with him fidelity, chivalry, honor were
thingS-not names. Men might doubt his
wisdom; no man could doubt his falthihlness.
Not the breath of suspicion ever tainted The
absolute purity of his public life. His per-
sOnal friendships were rs true, as sacred 3S
untarnished. as those sweet domestic JOYS
which adorned and blessed his home. He
was a good man a. well as "A great man. Con-
trnry to the opinion of many. Mr.. Davis was
in no sense a lire eating fanatic, nor IA rPd-hot
secessionlst, seeking for mere sectional or
personal ends, 10 plunge his country IN civil
war. So late as December, 1860. he was APP
pointed by the senate OF the UnItei States
one of a committee OF thirteen TO consider
and report on the agItated state OF the coun-
t~v. On that occasion he said from his place
in the senate:
az. in the opinion of others, it he possible
for me to 10 anything for the public go0d,tbe
last moment while | stand here is At the com
mapd of the senate. Ii | could see any meals
by which | could avert the catastrophe Of 4
struggle between the sections of the union
nv mast lite, | hope, gives evidence OF the
readiness with which | would made The
effort, IL there be any sacrifice which
could offer on the altar OF nv country to hea
. all The e wills, present or prospective, no MAJ
has the right to doubt my readiness to do IT.
; OF MI. Davi:' mental qualities | need no
speak, He stands in this respect among tn
foremost men that the country has produced
Perhaps. hismOSt prominent characteristic wa
3 wuI-power. No wreck of private or politi
u chI fortune, no prospect OF chains AMI slavery
no obiiuuy that could he heapcd on him. eV"
served to darkGn the hrilliancy of his lntrli"c'
or to depress the unittnchin% courage oil M
convictions. In all his life he never ialie
friend or foe; and he met with equal from
with the same sublime devotion, and III
" same heroic for;itude, both good and eY
%fortune. He was sOrely tried BY tho extreme
e of both, He stood the test OF lire. lie nrNt
Il 1iucbed. When lie rode along the vlcJorior
and cheering regiments on the plains {
Manassas, when he lay in chains IN a dungeon
when he confronted his accuserS and eNccl
tionrrs AT the bar Of The federal court at Rici
monI. CHARGED not only with treason, bt
with the base acts and crimes OF the ASSASSIN
Il he WAS ALWAYS The same calm, intrepid. ecu
II teous gentleman, like AgamemnOn, II king
le men.
More than all this, and a point specially
* he noted on this occasion, Mr.. Davis wEs
Ie Christian. He believed, when men of lcssr
p mind and mould doubted. lie feared Gn'
a lie followed Christ. Amid all the thr0"S
~ a great revolution, amid all his anNie;ie- al
I'll cares and larours as president OF the cnntrl
- rate states, he found time to worship do,
lie WAS IN his place at church on that mem,
rubIe sunday when the news came that ltici
mond was to be abandoned, and That Il
cause was lost for which ne had suffered
much and WAS still so much to suffer.
To me, this Is the trait IN MIR. DAVIS cha
actrr that love to dwell on. That IA man
nj Keen of intellect, 10 highly cultivated.
Il, strong Of will, 50 wonderfully Nclf-rel'ant,
nj singularly tenacious OF his own opinions,
or cminrntlY qualified 10 lead men, should
~, mcckIv aS IA little child at the feet OF Je>ti
P' His great heart thrilled AT the story Of I
IS cross; his hand ever opened to respond NJ
II, blunt like sympathy to want and SuilerIn
Errnt A. was Mr.. Davis in council and III W.
nd he was greater suli aS 4 Christian IN
,,f church and IN his home. Among his fellow
me WAS AS one that served.
The time has not come. aH Is IniImnicd
We these resolutions, wheh MIR. Davis eXl
nd niacc can be determined III the history Of |
roun,rv. BY some he is reviled aN Il traito
by others he is perhaps too highiN regard
AZ the iicaIIZcd representative OF "a grt
..nuse. IL is not for me 10 predict the III
when exact aud even justice VII, Oe met
out TO the heroic dead. or one thing d
"a sure, The time is coming ana II may cor
all soon. when out of the rad struggle
'mnney. and place aud power, auother COhl'