Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-12-14
THE DEAD CHIEFTAIN
A Splendid Wreath to the Memory of tn
Late President Jefferson Davis.


Late President Jefferson Davis.
Alexandrla's tribute 10 the memory of the
late President Jefferson Davis, last night, at
the Opera House, was one worthy the great
southern chieftain and hero in whose mem
DRY 1t was called forth. Iftruth and justice,
devotion to principle, evenwhe that devotion
calls for great personal sacrifices, and fidei
ty 10 trusts. private and public, lofty patriot
ism and sublime purity of life and purpose,
and all the elements of character that 90 to
make up noble manhood, combined with
superior intellectual attanmennts, is to be
esteemed among men, of whatever political
opinion or religious conviction, then the
memorial wreath placed upon The grave of
the late President Davis laet night by those
who admired him fnost because they knew
him best, must be acknowledged by all,
whether of North or South, East or West oil
this great country, to be most fitting.
Long before the hour for the commence
ment of the memorial exercises the Opera
House was literally packed with one OF the
most refined audiences of ladies and gentle
men ever assembled in that hall, hundreds
of people being unable to gain admitisnce
at all.
The hall was most tasteiully decorated
appropriately SO, for the spotless purity OF
the long life of President Davis is something
to rejoice over, not bemish having been
discovered by the microscope of prejudice,
in the hand of his most rancorous enemy
white blending with the emblems OF sorrow
sorrow, not for his life, for that was as
pure as mortality can attain, and TIE world
has been made better By his living; not for
his death, for be is not dead, be bas just
teen granted eternal life; but sorrow for
those be has left-sorrow for the vacancy.
never to be filled, bis departure has created
sorrow for her whose hand was only re-
leased by the looseniDg Of the silver cord
that introduced his spirit into the presence
of bis Maker.
Ia the rear of the stage were fine por-
traits of Mr.. Davis and Generals Lee
aud Jackson heavily festooned with Grape.
o. the stage were Commander VIM. a.
Smoot, OF Lee Camp of Confederate Neter
ans, which organization attended the meet
ing in body, each member wearing the
badge of the Camp, and under whose suspi-
ces the ceremonies were held Senator
John w. Daniel, of Virginia Senator Rea-
gan, of Texas Senator George, of Mis-
sissippi; Hon. st. George Tucker, of
Virginia Hon. George D. Wise, OF
Virginia General VIM. II. F. Lee,
of Virginia Gen. Eppa Hunton, Virginia;
Gan Dabney q. Maury, Virginia; Gen. NJ
ID Corse, Alexandria, Va; Hon. VIM. Ell
lott, South Carolina Gen. Joseph Wheeler,
Alabama Hon. Clark Lewis, Mississippi;
Col. Arthur Herbert, Alexandria, Va; Col.
Hoxton, of the Episcopal High School, Vir
ginia ; L. M. Black ford, esq, principal OF
the Episcopal High School, Virginia; Henry
| tIJi n;~L pohi
Prof W. D. Cabell, WASHINGTON, D. c.;
E E. Dowpharn. e.q Mayor VIM. H. Mar
bury ESQ President of the Board of Alder.
men; ]. T Sweeney, esq, President of the
Comm Council, Alexandria, Va Rev d..
Minnigerode, Alexandria. Va Rev. DIR. Me-
Kim, Washington, D. O.; Rev. Dr.. Norton,
of St. Paul's church and Chaplin of Lee
Camp Kew. Father O'Kane, of ST. Dlsry'e
church; Rav. DIR. Suter, Of Christ church;
Rev. MIR. Young, NJ. e church south Rev.
Mr.. Vance, of the Second Pfesby terian
church Rev. Mr.. Bishop, of the Trinity M.
E. church; Rev. Mr.. Sharp, of Grace
| church Rev. Mr.. Mercer, of the Baptist
church Rev. Mr.. Dyott, of the NJ. z. church.
and many others.
At O'Clock Commander VIM. a. Smoot,
as presiding officer of the meeting, advanced
to the front of the platform end opened the
exercises with short speech. H. said 10 bis
comrades and the ladies and gentlemen pres
ent that they had assembled, In response lc
the call of r F. Lee Csmp.to pay respect to
the memory OF that great and illnstrlous
mau, the late President Davis, whose death
and burial had been announced by the toll
ing of bells and firing of cannon throughout
the southern land. 1--WE are here, he said,
ito show our love and generation for our
departed chieftain. The distinguished gen.
tlepen who are present to address you will
need no introduction from me"
Rev. DR.. George 81. Norton then offered
prayer, in which he invoked the blessing OF
Almighty God upon the bereaved family
such blessing as will comfort and sustain
them in this their hour of their trial.
Rev. DR.. Mirnegerode, OF this city, Mr..
Davis's pastor Tor the four most eventfu
years Of his long public career, was the next
speaker. "We have assembled" he said, ito
pay an honest, earnest tribute to the MEM
DRY of that man who not one OF us, whO
knew him best, will ever forget" He would
not speak of Jefferson Davis as soldier
he was born soldier. He detailed how he
became acquainted with Mr.. Davis after the
first battle of Manassas, and how he came
to know him and love him for his Christian
character, and admire him for his maGnG
cent architectural attainments. Gen. Miles,
who had charge of Fortress Monroe when
Mr. Davis was in custody there and who he
said, was very kindly gentleman, had said
TO him (Minnegerode that the wonder
was, not that the South had been defeated,
but that the people of that section had
maintained themselves so long, and this he
Gen. Miles) attributed to the superior
craftsmanship and generasbip ofthe South
ern leaders. He epoke of the admission of
Mr.. Davis into the Protestant Episcopal
Church. and said that be was not only one
of the most lovable men be ever knew, but
that his Christianity. not a profession. was
filed with practical piety-a Christianity
filed with the love of Christ producing love
and charity towards his fellow man. He
did not even encourage persona! enmity to-