The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1889-12-28
ESTO PERPETUA.

! LAJ4O 4 AL4G1 AZ - IL.
| The following interesting ccmmun-
ication is taken from the New Orleans
City Item of the 10th inst:
"And the graves of the dead
| May yet form the foetstool Of Liberty s
throne,
And each simple wreck in the war-path
! of might
Shall yet be q rock in the temple of right"
The late war between the states was
a public war. 1t was a war for the
constitutional rights of the people.
The constitution recognized the right
of secession. 1t recognized the insti-
tuition of slavery-both wrong and a
blot upon civilization. There was no
way to wash and purify the constitu-
ton except by an appeal to the "high-
er law" by the arbitration of arms,
and there are few now who would have
the decision other than it was. Slav-
cry and secession we're but incidents
in the great cause for which the
Southern people fought-constitution-
al government. The fundamental
principle of republican government is
true. 1t lives and will live as long as
the Republic. Jefferson Davis was
the representative of this great prin-
cirle.
His early manhood he gave to the
service of his country. Settling in
Mississippi, he was called to the SER
vice of the State, and was trusted and
honored by her people. From this
service he was summoned to take
command Of the First Mississippi Reg
iment for service in the Mexican war;
1t was regiment composed Of the
flower of Mississippi's chivalric sons,
and on a foreign field achieved glory
and fame for their State and added
lCstre to the Stars and Stripes.
Like all great men, Mr.. Davis was
q man Of strong and unyielding convic-
tons. No man will question the just
ice of his principles, while many did
his policy. He was human. Human
ity is fallible. While not what is
known as a magnetic man-his heart
was full Of the milk of human kind
ness, and his life was, without single
selfish motive, devoted to the service
of his country.
When my countrymen of the North
SANDER Jefferson Davis they SANDER
the American name. He was the
chosen leader OF the Southern people
and no people are SO purely American
as the people of the South. Undilu-
ted by foreign immigration there are
few who can not trace their ancestry
to the Pilgrim or the Cavalier.
He loved the Union, but he was
called upon to decide between love
and duty. With him there, was no
choice, though his decision rent his
heart in twain. Let those who would
revile and slander him remember that
he was gentleman, scholar and a
patriot.
The Southern people are an honor
able people. Where the principle Of
honor is concerned they act as one.
On policies affecting material interests
they would and should be divided.
In the decentralization of war Presi-
dent Davis never lost sight of the
great principle of his life-the rights
of the States-a principle never more
clearly announced and vindicated
than by the Hayes and Tilden COM
mittee.
As the representative of this prin-
ciple, as representative Of the people,
a mausoleum should be erected by
the Southern people--more enduring
than the pyramids, more beautiful
than that Of Napoleon, grander than
that of Albert. A tomb for the chief,
a tomb for the soldier, surrounded by
the lieutenant generals of his army,
that the love of constitutional liberty
may never die in the hearts of the
| people. There is but one place where
such monument should be erected,
at the Capital Of the Confederacy-
Richmond-in that grand old State,
the Mother Of States and of statesmen,
who so .nobly barred her breast to the
battles fury, and in whose bosom lie
the ashes Of SO many who have made
our country illustrious.
Who 50 fitted to take charge of such
q labor of love as the illustrious chief
as the veterans, the grand marshal at
his obsequies, Gen. j. B. Gordon?
MIssIssIPPIAN.