Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-14
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
ELS RlHsMs WILL RVSY PERMANENTLY At
RICHMOND.
Saca Is the Decision his Widow Arrived at-Htr
R'asors hr So Coucluding-l Letter in Which
al tie Claims are Reviewed at Length.

leans at little after midnight on the
morning Of December 6, 1889. His
home at the time was at Beauvoir, Miss,
but he was on visit to his lifelong
friend, Mr.. ]. Q. Payne of New Or
leans, when he was stricken with his
fatal illness.
1t was decided that the remains should
temporarily remain in New Orleans.
Many Of the Southern States, expressed
through representative bodies, sent
messages 10 Mrs. Davis begging for the
honor Of sepulture within their respec-
tive borders. So earnest were their
pleas and so strong the various argu-
mentS adduced that Mrs. Davis hesitated
and asked for a years space in which
TO consider them and to arrive at a
final decision.
Mrs. Davis has definitely decided the
much-mOOted question during the past
week, and yesterday dispatched her
answer TO the citizens Of Richmond an
nouncing her selection of the former
capital OF the COnfederacy as the final
resting place OF her husbands ashes.
Her letter discusses all the questions at
issue and gives her reasons for the
selection of Richmond. 1t is as fol-
lows:
''Io the Veterans and People Of the South
ern States:
''After much anxious thought l have
finally decided 20 give 10 Virginia the
care OF my husbands mortal body, and
feel that my reasons should be made
public, as he was in many senses the
property of the whole country.
Immediately after the death of ex-
President jefferson Davis, Louisiana ex-
pressed her desire to keep his hallOwed
remains for all time. but she claimed
only the right to guard him until some
permanent permanent place could be
selected for his rest.
''The military organizations OF New
Orleans bore him with tilial grief and
splendid pageant 70 the tomb of the
Army Of Northern Virginia, where they
have guarded him by night and day for
is months, and the gratitude OF my
children and myself is too great for
words.
~ asked q year for consideration and
consultation with my family. Eighteen
months have nearly expired, and feel
set st rest now.
mississippi claimed preference be-
cause Mr.. Davis belonged to her by
right OF the 70 years residence within
her borders, and the 90 years OF service
to the State OF HIS adoption, during
which she conferred upon him, I'M
solicited, every Office in her gift, save
one. AS her citizen, comrade In arms,
congressional representative, senator,
general-in-chief and president, she felt
hers to be the first claim.
Tennessee urged that in her State
after the war he had found occupation,
home and troops & friends, and there
his dead had been buried.
Alabama remembered that within
her borders he was elected president OF
the Confederate States; there he had
been inaugurated that Montgomery
had been the first capitol and that from
her lips had issued the first
general invitation 70 break the
silence which he had observed since our
defeat; that she had received him with
such enthusiasm as had been manifested
70 cOnquerers, but was never before ac-
corded TO a disfranchised citizen, power
less 10 give AtQ UT tQlAtA l0NbAo.
Georgia claimed him and has con-
stantly renewed the request because his
father had long been a citizen OF the
State. There the ex-President had re-
ceived the same royal welcome which
Alabama had extended; and lastly she
pleaded her great love for him as a rea-
4 son for granting the request.
''Kentucky expressed her pride
in being the State OF his birth
and urged her claims.
: Virginia asked for his hOnored re-
mains because the most strenuous efforts
/ of his life had been mSde upon her soil
. and in defence of Richmond as the cap
I ital Of the confederate States. At,shOrt
intervals throughout the last is months
she has renewed her tender insiStence
that he should rest among the heroic
dead Of all the States who fell in defense
of the Confederacy. She urged the fact
that he did not In the fulnesS OF his
fame belong exclusively to any part OF
the country. Every hillside about Rich
mOnd would tell of the valOrous resist
ance which he had initiated ond d.
rected with tirelesS vigilance as chief
magistrate. that there he received gen.
erOuS anu uuWhNtt AhS oOPbOAN
in the darkest hour Of our I'M
fortunate country's defeat.
"All these claims have touched my
heart, aud contended together for the
mastery. 1t has been hard TO give up
the hope Of dwelling near my husbands
resting place in Mississippi, where my
home and interests are, but unfortu-
nately, BeauvOir is on the coast OF the
Mexican gulf and on peninsula very
little over q mile wide, and the half
mile of shallow water in front covered
with submerged Stumps Of large trees,
shows that the sea has been steadily en-
croaching on the shore for many years,
] feel. therefore, that as the monument
is for all time, it would not be wise to
place IL there, and l submit to the per-
sopal sacrifice with the hope that the
States Of the Confederacy will also re-
linouish their cherished plans for the
sake OF gratifying the majority OF the
veterans who have written countless
letters to me from each OF the before
mentioned States to urge Richmond as
the proper place for the grave OF him
who loved them all and labored for
their glory with all HIS might, during
the heat and burthen of the days grant
ed to him here.
''YOur cOuntrywoman,
"VARINA JEFFERSON DAVIS.
ssNe,o York Hotel. JAIN II, 1891.