The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08

possible for him to ask pardon so long
as he felt he had done his duty con
scientiously, as he saw it, and he was
never forgiven. One after another
his great comrades entered the beyond
until he stood alone, but he never
wavered. He passed from us stern
and majestic figure, broken but never
bent.
Gen. Lee quoted from a speech de-
livered by Mr.. Davis IN the Senate in
December, 1860, in which he declared
that the union was dear to him as a
union of fraternal states. He argued
from this that Mr.. Davis was opposed
to disunion. and thai at the conference
called by Governor Pettis of Mississ,
ippi, of the representatives in Congress
from that State in 1860, Mr.. Davis de-
clared himself opposed to secession as
long as the hope of a peaceful remedy
remained.
As a president, the speaker thought
Mr.. Davis may have made mistakes.
He was a constitutional ruler, not a
revolutionary chief, but when the
night of defeat was darkening and the
dismantled ship of the Confederacy
was sinking beneath the waters, he
stood at the helm to the last.
A TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION.
He referred to the popular demon
stration of affection which always at.
tended Mr.. Davis appearance in pub.
lie, and referred with deep feeling to
the occasion when his remains were
en- route to Richmond for final burial.
No conquerer's march was ever half
so triumphant. In the capitals through
which it passed, his body lay in state,
visited by thousands, and every where
along the way the people, old and
young, thronged and stood with un'
covered head day and night alon I'M
railroads as the train rolled by, to tes.
tify their devotion to the dead. 1t was
spontaneous; it was universal.
A TYPICAL soUTHERNER.
General Lees peroration was mag
nifcent tribute to MI. Davis as the
typical southerner.
"As a soldier, his brilliant and
promising career Was cut short. He
hao no opportunity to develop tine
great qualities of Lee, the prince of
commanders AS q stateman, he
did not quite reach, perhaps, the
commanding staue of Calhoun, to
whose work he succeeded. As an ora
tor. he may have lacked the impetu-
Gus ferver OF Yaucey, the splendid do
claimation of Lamar-ae surpassed
them all in his majestic strength, the
chaste beauty of his thought, and his
thrilling earnestness. But Davis was
greater than them all in that he com.
bined them all. He was an accom-.
plished soldier, a great stateman, and
consumate orator. He was the typi'
cal southerner of his day and of all
time.
Around him stood that marvellous
group-Lee, the flower Of chivarlry !;
Jackson, the genius of war; Toombs,
the thunderer of debate; Benjamin,
the jurist; Campbell, the judge; Bled-
SOC, the scholar; Hunter, the states
man-men ft to measure with the
knightliest. Yet, from the vantage
ground of history his sublime head
lifts itself above them all.
IN vIRGINIA's SOIL.
1T is mete and fttiag that the
ashes of the great should rest in Vr-
einis's soil Round him sleep the
mighty ones who have gone before
soldiers who won American liberty
jurists who gave it perpetual form
statesmen who filled its flag with stars
and made it honorable throughout
the world. Let Richmond be added
to Mount Vernon, Monticello and
Lexington. The south has committed
the keeping of his ashes to the mother
of States and statesmen. Let him
sleep ia Virginia, where every river
whispers of Confederate herolsm, and
and every hill was crimsoned with the
soldiers blood. Let him rest in Rich
mond, his capital, the city which ne
walled around with the breasts OF the
bravest of the brave. His memory Is
safe with you. You were faithful to
the living, you will not forget he dead,
I'm calmer years, when the last
ember of sectional feeling has burned
out, and the last cord of love has gent
ly bound the hearts of all Americans
together, fathers will bring their little
children to this spot and tell OF a pure
great man, who suffered for his people
and for the right, as they under
stood it, and how for this they
loved him as they loved nc
other. Long as yonder river shall rol
its tide to the sea, it shall behold no
man more knightly.
HE was a very perfect gentle
knight. May the story OF his life bt
sweet in days to CONS, and, at last al
men come to understand Jefferson
Davis.
The benediction closed the exercises
and the great and weary, but still en-
thusiastic crowd began to leave Mon
roe park for places to quence thirst, tc
appease hunger and to obtain needed
rest.
THE RETREAT BEGINS.
Tonight the city is resonant witt
the sounds of departing camps anc
their bands playing the airs OF Dixie.
The serenade to Mrs. Jefferson Davis
at the Jefferson hotel by residents ano
visiting Marylanders, accompanied by
the band of the Fifth Maryland regi
ment, consisting of 40 pieces, was one
of the notable events of the night, anc
was attended by all the celebrities a
the reunion.
THE GOVERNORS RECEPTION.
Governor O'Farrell gave reception
at the executive mansion tonight a
which visitors from every State in the
south called to pay their respects tc
Virginia's distinguished governor.
When the reception to Mrs. Davis a
H. Toaox,o,, LII ,oao1,,Jod aorlD n