The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-12-12

AS S0!ul6I. statesman, l)dtriOt. CisiiaA.
md Christian gentleman. be has estab-
ished for himself and the people Of the
South name and fame that will live
for centuries after his tradIcers and the
walls behind which he was incareerated
Fortress Monroe are forgotten and
into dust. jefferson Davis
was 10 traitor. If he was. then Robert
E. Lee aid Stmewail Jackson were trait
ors. Ave. and more If JEFF Davis was
a traitor. every man, woman and child
who took sides with and sympathized
with the South were traitors. But he
was not, and the Federal government
knew it when it failed put him on trial
for treason upon which false charge he
was arrested and incarcerated. And
in time to come it will be so written
by others. The poet will sing of his
virtues, the bard will write his praises
and the historian will do him simple
and even handed justice. Capt. Kitch-
ms speech was in every way worthy
of the man and the occasion. 1t was
a splendid effort, as eloquent as it was
At times he was sweetly
touching and pathetic moving many of
audience to tears.
Col. VIM. H. S. Burgwyn was then
called for. He said he would be false
to every sentiment Of his nature if he
did not raise his voice in behalf of the
noble dead and speak in praise of his
character and manly virtues. He read
letter from Mrs. Davis written while
the ex-President was confined in prison
in Fortress Monroe, which was warmly
applauded. While on a visit to Rich
mond he learned of the wants and ne
cessities of Mr.. Davis and upon return
ing to Chapel Hill where he had again
entered as q student upon his return
from the army, a purse amounting to
between SIS and 500 was made up by
the students and forwarded by him.
The letter was in acknowledgment of
this act and was written by Mrs. Davis.
We publish it below:
FORTRESS MONROE, VA, Feb. %, 1867
W. II. S. Burg,oyn,
MY DEAR SIR Mr. Davis, not being
permitted by the U. S. authorities to write
to his friends. desires me to thank you for
for him, in the name of yourself, and fell
low students. He recognizes and fully
appreciates the motives which led to the
contribution which you enclosed to him,
and is much touched that from which, in
the present state of the country, must nee
essarily be SANDER store. you and the
young gentlemen associated with you have
offered so much to him. For the future he
insists that you will pay him all that you
are so kind as to consider his due, in love,
and confidence that though unsuccessful
he may have been, he gave you all his en-
ergies, and his whole heart
1t is a source of great and constant graft
fication to him when such words as you
have written come to him from the young
men of the South. Please make his &C
acknowledgements to his friends, your as
sociates. The splendid book of prayer
reached him safely, and but one regret at
tended its reception. We were grieved
that you could not have presented it in per-
son, and that Miss BurgWyn could not have
accompanied you to receive our thanks for
this addition to her former kindneSSes. !
have to-day written to her to offer Mr..
Davis's thanks. When again you shall
have leisure to visit us, if we should yet
come you even here. Believe me sir.
Very respectfully and truly yours,
VARINE DAVIS
Col. Burgwyn spoke feelingly and
appropriately of the great Confederate
leader, and said that Mr.. Davis died il
the sublime assurance that he had the
love and confidence Of the people of the
South. He was loved as was no Other
man amongst us and in paying the last
sad tribute Of respect to his memory
now we were but simply doing our duty
to the man who had stood for us ant
suffered in cur stead.
Mr.. w. r. Henry was next calico
upon. He said he did not have thu
honor of participating in the stirring
events Of the war, but he had read his
tory and was familiar with the deeds O
our leaders both upon the field of bat
tie and in the halls of State. He hon
ored them and revered their memory
The name of no man stood out NOR,
conspicuously and was worthy of NOR
honorable mention than that of Jeffer
son Davis, our great Chieftain who's
lamented death in the Crescent City O
the South, at the advanced age of more
than four score years, we are calle
upon to mourn, and in respect to who's
memory we had gathered to give ex
preston to the deep sense of sorro,
that filled the hearts of his loving an
admiring countrymen. Mr.. Henri
spoke with great fervor and feeling
and touched the hearts of his nearer
by his eloquent tribute to the wort
and character Of the dead hero. JetfeI
son Davis was grand figure. AS so
der. civilian. statesman, patriot. h
measured up to the full standard of tn
perfect man and we may not behold hi
like again. Mr.. Henry said that Will
Mr.. Davis had commanded our admire
ton and confidence by his condu(
prior to and during the war, in til
years of defeat which followed, he ha
I gained a stronger hold upon our affet
) lions and won more lasting dominic
: over our hearts. The attitude of til
Federal government and the calumnie
of his would-be traducers, have serve
,, only to deepen the love and reverend
, of the people of the South for hin
History nowhere furnishes a higher i
, lustration of every manly virtue tina
that which is furnished by the life al
career of Jefferson Davis. His hero
endurance and forbearance have wrestt
from his bitterest enemies their test
: mony to the worth and grandeur of Il
n man, and his motives, his characte
n his acts will yet receive justice at Il
hands of the historian.
Col. Cheek spoke next. Jefferst
Davis presents the most compile
statue of the well rounded man tn;