The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-12-19
Grafton on the Life and Character Of
jefferson Davis.

/
at Memorial Meeting held in Hender
son. on the 9TH of Dec, 1889:
| Ny friends, even as the Planet of TIL
Morning is lost amid the glorious radi
ance OF the perfect day, so has the grand
illustrious, luminous life of Jefferson
Davis, on earth, been eclipsed by the NOR
gorgeous splendors of the Life Eternal.
He retained his mental powers to TIL
end. His last messages to his people
and especially his letter to the people o
North Carolina, showed that there was
No waning OF fire. no paling of ray.
But rising, still rising as passing away.
Farewell. gallant~Eagle, thou art buried
God speed thee to Heaven. loststar OF Oh
night"
Eleven great commonwealth ar
| to-day wrapped in the habiiment.
, OF woe. Flags are at half mast all owe
| the South. Muffed drums are beating
| Troops are marching with arms reversed
/ Bells are pealing their low sad melody
! Tears are falling.
J Scotland wept for Wallace Franc,
wept for Bonaparte. England wept fol
| Wellington. Germany wept for Emperor
| William. America mourned the loss O
Washington.
Why should not the South to-day dro1
her tears thick and fast upon the bier o
| Jefferson Davis, her great and honoret
son? Standing at the conclusion of his
| life, on the highest point of the nineteenth
century, and looking down the vista O.
past ages, with the civilizations of Greece
and Rome, and Of modern times ranged
Oh either hand, | see no character that
was nObler, no heart that was warmer
no patriotism that was truer, no honor
that was purer, no patience that was
more sublime than that which spanked
like a crown jewel upon the brow of JET
ferson Davis, the ''Uncrowned King OF
the South"
With hearts full of sorrow, Kentucky
and Mississippi, his natural and adopted
mother, together with their nine sisters,
stand by the casket to-day, that con-
tains his remains, to do him honor, and
to show how much they loved and trust
ed him, and to say to the world that they
will ever cherish the memory of this most
lllustrious son, that not only the South,
but that this great Republic has yet pro-
duced.
\ recent elegant, accomplished and
unprecedented Northern writer said, "The
name of Jefferson Davis is known IN all
And is it strange that his name iliumi-
mates the pages of the worlds history {?
Was he not "The Father of the Confed-
eracy,'' that brotherhood OF the South,
that fighting for principle crimsoned the
plains of war with the best blood that
the thirsty earth ever drank, and startled
the nations with their endurance, their
patience, their tortitude and their valor?
Could he not say of the Southern Con-
federacy, as Graf IAN said of Irish lib
tory, Il sat by its cradle, and followed
its hearse?"
The short time that | can permit my
self to trespass upon your attention On
this sad occasion will not suffice for even
brief review of his life at West Point,
his bravery and skill as an Indian cam
palgner and fighter; his brilliant and
services, strategy and he
rolsm at Buena Vista, his eventful and il
career as Secretary of War and
n the Senate of the United States and
MS course of action touching the Wilmot
Proviso, the Kansas Question, the meas
Tres OF 1850, and others of like moment. |
out OF which grew the agitation, which |
vas to give birth to the bloodiest civil war |
'ecorded in the history of the world. In |
egard to those events his course was e1r
nently wise and conservative.
LII every, speech, persuasive wisdom
n every act, refulgent virtue glowed."
Mr. Davis was opposed to Secession,
md exerted all of his pre-eminent powers
md all honorable means, to prevent it,
hough he all the while maintained the
lght of a State to withdraw from the
Mon.
- January 9th, 1861, the State of
Seeded and on the LIST of the
anne month Mr.. Davis delivered his ia
nous farewell address in the Senate of
he United States In that address he
aid:
. have for many years advocated. as
n essential attribute of State soverei on
Y, the right of State to secede from The
nion. Therefore, if l had not believed
here was justifable cause; if 1 thought
hat Mississippi was acting without suf-
Gent justification, or without an exist
lg necessity, l should still, under nv
leory OF government, because of nv al !
glance to the State of which | am q cit {
en-, have been bound by her action. I,
owever, may be permitted to say that [ | 6
think she has justifable cause, and I :
pprOve OF her act. | conferred with her .,
eople before that act was taken, coun-
lied them then that thestate of things y
Inch they apprehended should exist ,
hen the convention met, they should !
Ike the action which they have now
1opted. Secession.....is to be justified l.
1on the basis that the States are SOW -
elgn......and may reclaim the grants. y
ade to any agents whomsoever. \
carry with me no hostile remembrance.
On the 9th of February, 1861, Hon. y
ierson Davis was elected Provisional
'esldent OF the Confederate States of G
nerlca, by the Provisional Congress -,
en- assembled In Montgomery, Alabama. ~
Many Peace Overtures" were made to
e Federal Government immediately af- IT
rwards, all of which were refused.
In November, 1861, Mr.. Davis was -
'cted President of the Southern Con. .
leracy' for term of six years. =
When the people of the South selected q
N as their Leader they knew exactly "
lat they were doing. He had ALREADY ="
own the Nation that he was a profound y,
atesman and magnificent warrior. He =,
Is just the one to lead and to counsel "
chivalric sons of the South. "
For spirit ever quick re
With sword or rhetoric, -,
70 cleave for right, and dare the STERN !"
est brunt! nj
For that when Spanish steel Sc
Babe bristling Texans kneel. &C
And thy true heart had urged them to OF
the front, n,
y knightly blade leaped from the sheath. ia
d flashed against the Southern skv. a ~,
fiery wreath III ~
For honor pure as ice, b,
That spurned low artifice. n,
And brought no blemish from the TO- 10
runs brawlS Ae
For that exalted fame,
That bore so fair name N
With Cabinets, and in the Senate halls tic
Bayard's knightly pride that charmed, II
Sydney's courtly grace that wooed and pc
warmed ne
For that majestic mind pt
That lowered above its kind ge
Like some grand peak among the Sc
mighty hills! ri.
For that pure wealth of soul tn
That digniies the whole So
Rare song. that Clos trumpet trills- 'o
Mi attn al,