The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-14
MRS. DAVIS DECISION.

THE T1MKs congratulates its readers upon
the decision Of Mrs. Jefferson Davis to COM
nit the care of the honored remains of her
husband to the people of Virginia The hest
tancy Of Mrs. Davis in making this decision
can be fully appreciated, especially after her
eloquent and pathetic letter Is read. which
was published in full in these columns Sun
day morning. The people of every Southern
State were anxious 10 be selected as the custo-
dams Of the sacred dust of their revered
leader, and the State Of Mississippi had pecu-
liar claims for that honor. Mr.. Davis splen-
did achievement in turning the tide Of battle ut
Bueua Vista and saving the day for the Alneri-
can army, which made him famous as a
soldier, was done while he was in
command of Mississippi troops; his
services as Secretary of War in the
Cabinet of President Pierce, which made
his fame as one of the most brilliant Cabinet
officers the United States has ever produced,
was as Mssissippian, and his record in the
United States Congress as one of the most
thoughtful and leading statesmen of the coun-
try was as United States Senator from Misss-
sippi No wonder then that Mrs.
Davis, herself a Mississippian, should
have hesitated long, and felt much
embarrassment before she decided 10 COM
NIT all that was mortal of her distinguished
husband to the keeping of any other State
than the one with which he had SO long been
identified and whose people had always un-
hesitatingly shown their appreciation of his
rf,,1
capacity Of public life to which they saw fit
TO call him.
But when Mrs. Davis came TO consider that
the climax Of his eyentful life was identified
with Richmond as the capital Of the Southern
Confederacy it is not strange that she should
have decided that it was proper that to this
city should DO confded the sacred trust of
tenderly caring for his mortal remains She
knows that Richmond is the Mecca to which
every Southern heart which has ever throb-
bed, or will ever throb, with sympathy for
the South will naturally turn whenever
the memory of the Southern battle
for independence is awakened. AS time goes
on the magnificent valor of the South waging
a most unequal and heroic contest for right
against such tremendous odds as would have
paralyzed any people not fully imbued with
the consciousness Of the rectitude of their
cause, will appear more and more glorious.
and the story of how few South
ern States, with jefferson Davis as their
leader, were able by themselves to cope sue
cessfuny for three of the four long and bloody
years OF the war against their enemies. who
had the resources of the world TO aid them.
will always be regarded as one of the most re-
markable examples # human proves the
world has ever seen And it is with this
memorable epoch Of his life that Virginia, as
the battle-ground of the famous struggle. with
federacy will be forever linked. and that the
fame of Jefferson Davis, with that Of Lee, Jack
son and the long list of Southern heroes, will
be forever identified.
1t is right then that the remains Of Jefer-
son Davis should rest in the State and city
with which the climax of his fame is so init
mately associated and it is gratifying that
Mrs. Davis has recognized this fact The
whole South will heartily and SIN
cerely applaud her decision. aud she
may rest assured that Virginia and
Virginisns will. throughout the ages, never
fail TO appreciate the responsibility con-
fded TO them of guarding the sacred dust Of
the great Southern leader, nor ever cease 10
appreciate the high trust with which they
have been charged.