The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1889-12-21
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
On the Life and Character
of Hon. jefferson Davis.
Delivered in Grenada, Miss, Dec. II, 1889
BY T. B. LAWSON, d. ID.

II Samuel III, ~
"Know you not, that Prince and grea
man hes fallen.'
Among the many notable events which
n coming ages, will mark the present
,D1cb, will be the death of great men
As ration, we have been called upon
I, cast the garlands of affection, upon
the graves of our most beloved and
honored heroes, and stateemen. FIX
pressions of grief with lightning speed.
nave passed over our land, filling all
hearts with sadness, sorrow, and grief.
The Young and the beautiful have
adorned, with earth's choicest flowers,
the bier of the eloquent and the brave
the si!very headed and the decrepld have
moistened, with tears Of affection and
love, the new dug earth, which covers
the virtuous and the god: while the
learned and eloquent nave proclaimed.
The paths of glory lead but to the
grave" in their eulogies Of laurel
wreathed veterans and philosophic
S! esnen. What remains now of the
stern patriotism OF the hero of Apomatox
Courthouse What..of the elegant re
fnement and military chivaIry of
Virginia's great son? What of the
mastery drill and discipline of New
Jerseys noble patriot? Where is the
lgious love of country and the sub
lime sel-abnega CATION of General Leonadus
Polk? Alas They live only in the
historic page, and in the memory Of a
greatful people. Man is dust and to dust
ne must return to fertilize the earth from
which hecame-and ALT greatness and
glory and honor and power are feeting
evanescent Meteors that illuminate the
orbe of life for few months, and then
sink into the shades of historic darkness.
The fame of Alexander, Caesar, NapoIean;
Wellington, or Washington, may claim
for their consecrated dust the highest
veneration and respective may tread
more lightly upon it, but no human eye
can distinguish their ashes from those of
the humb.est child ofAdam, that sleeps
in the bosom of mother earth. Who is
there at tue close of long and brilliant
life, that may not exclaim, ALAS what
shadows we are, and what shadows we
persue"
The men, who had their birth in the
antebellum days of the Republic, like the
aged monarchs of the forrest, in "the
scar and yellow leaf" one by one are
falling PROSTATE to the earth. We gaze
upon their lifeless forms, we stand around
their bier, and weep over their graves.
One of these monarchs' who, in grandeur
of character, has never been surpassed,
in neigh boring State, lies robed in the
habiliments Of death. We have as
sembled here to-day, as citiz ns, to do
him honor, and pay our las tribute OF
respect to his life and character. We do
not come to discuss questions of policy or
government; the occasion is too sacred.
We stand, as it we're, around the grave
of one of natures noblest sons, and
Mississippis's most distinguished citizen,
and our hearts are too full of sadness and
sorrow to open the political grave of the
"Lost Cause" The merits or dement's Of
that cause to you and me are now practi-
cally ended, but the warrior heroes of
that cause will ever live in our hearts
and memories, and could I to-day, /
would engrave their names upon the
Sword>belt of Orion, that the angels OF
Heaven might read their roll of undying
fame.
Among these heroes, Jefferson Davis
stands in the front, and although men may
fault and abuse the political principles, OF
which he WAS the embodiment, they can
not assail his personal character-his in>
tegrity, his honor, his truthfulness, his
devotion to principle, whether political
or religious, is unassailable. In these
sublime elements of character, he stands
rs Prince among men, and will pass
,nto history as the great defender Ct con-
stitutional liberty. His long experience
n legislative and governmental affairs,
made him familiar with the history and
political PRINCIPLES OF our government,
and his great admiration of Thomas JET
ferson, Americas greatest statesman,
..used him to adopt the Constitutional
ideas of this great man. He stood upon
these Jeffersonian principles, and when
the hour for action came, he had the
courage of his convictions. He reluc-
tsntlv Withdrew from the Senate Of
the United States, "Nulla retrorsum
vestigia." In the Senate his career was
mar.;ed by personal courtesy, urbane and
dignlfed manners, splendid oratory, un-
daunted courage, and honesty as man.
The political historian can collect much
that is brilliant, noble, and heroic in the
Senatorial life of Jefferson Davis, as a
man always true to his convictions and
faithful to his principles.
When the balck clouds of war loomed
up all around, Jefferson Davis sreturned to
brs adopted State, Mississippi, amidst the
huttering of banners, plumed horsmen,
end martial music. Educated at West
Point Military Academy, trained in the
Indian wars of the west, and distinguished
Tor Military services in the Mexican wal
he naturally was chosen as the President
of the Confederate States. During the
terriable war rofseccesion, war unequaled
in the annals OF me for daring chivalry
on the one side, and number of soldier
on the other, President Davis carried a
responsibility rarely, If ever equaled, by
any other man, politically and morally.
BY some he was severely criticised, but
the masses of the people, in the army and
out of it, sustained him, and freely con-
A