The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-14
,zpFBRsoN DAVIS BODY.
nav Decides in Favor Of Rich
I'd as It's Resting Place.

-7evs Decides in Favor Of Rich
Nj ,7ond as It's Resting Place.
cha MORNING NEWS Sunday there was
l.s.cb stating that Mrs. Davis had de-
| '.5t1i, favor Of Richmond as the resting
cl If the body of her husband. The
l Ping is the text of the letter
~. I-eferqns aud People of tie Southern
/ states. e.,.,,-s
AZ - i've to Virginia the care of my hus
l5 - mortal body. aud feel that my reasons
| @H-i ha made public as he was IN many senses
l-'-,Tarrv of the whole country.
| ATt-radalely after the death or exPresldent
/ it--son Davis, Louisiana expressed her desire
-, ms hallowed remains for all time, but
| Y A5JIlf;ned only the right 70 guard him until
ne ornament place could be selected for his
7T1a military organizations of New Orleans
!lI I'm, With ilial grief and splendid pageant
~ ~ t1rnb of the Army of Northern Virginia,
W.o-a they have guarded him by night and day
ts.-.si5bteep months, and the gratitude of my
us;tTan and myself is too great for words.
Dil,o-ed wear for cons ideration and cOnsulta-
49,. lin nv family Eighteen months have
r.a-ly expired and feel that the matter should
!. 5soijei and set at rest now.
%,IissjssinDi claimed preference, because Mr..
n,vis belonged to her By right OF the seventy
2.sars residence within her borders and the
~ NJ oars O: service to the state Of his adop-
- during which she conferred upon him, un-
rcI@itad every office in her gift save one. AS
her citizen, cOmrade In arms, congressional
-,r-a.entative, senator, Reneral-in chief and
nv-essiiant. she felt hers to be the first claim.
FTannassee urged that IN her state after the
a- he had found occupation, home and troops
~ friends and there his dead had been buried.
,Iehana r .Inembered that within her borders
las elected president of the confederate
states. there be had been inaugurated; that
Montgomery had been the first capital aud that
rom her lps mad issued the first general invi a
han 10 break the silence which be had observed
since our defeat; that she had received him
rb sucb enthusiasm as has been manifested to
cor9uerors, but was Dever before accorded to a
Gsfranchised citizen, poweresS to give aid or
confer favOrs.
GEORGIA claimed him and has constantly re
rewei the request because his father had long
baan citizen of the state. There the ex presi-
dent had received the same royal welcome
watch Alabama had extended; ana lastly she
pleaded her great Iovefor him as reason for
granting the request.
Kentucky expressed her pride in being the
safe of his birth and urged her claims.
Virginia asked for his hOnOred remains be-
cause the most strenuous efforts OF his life had
been made upon her soil and in the defense of
states At short intervals throughout the last
eighteen months she has renewed her tender in
sistence that he should rest among the heroic
dead Of all the states who fell in defense OF the
fullness Of his fame belong exclusively to any
part of the country Every hillside about
Richmond would tell of the valorous resistance
which he initiated and directed with tireess
vigilance as chief magistrate, that there he re
caived generous and unwavering support in the
darkest hour Of our unfortunate country's de-
feat.
All these claims have touched my heart and
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, unfort-
unatey. Besuvoir is on the coast of the Mexican
gulf aud on q peninsula very little over mile
wide, and the half mile of shallow water in
front covered with submerged stumps of large
trees shows that the sea has been stead
lily eCcroschilg on the shore for many
years. l feel therefore, that as the mon
ument is for all time, it would not be wise
to place it there, and submit to the personal
sacrifice with the hope that the states of the
will also relinquish their cherished
plans for the sake of gratifying the majority of
the veterans who have written countless letters
10 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
Tor their glory with all his might. during the
heat and burden Of the days granted to him
here. Your countrywoman,
VARINA JEFFERSON DAVIS
New York Hotel, july H. 1891.