The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-12
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: JEFFERSON DAVIS. F!

Lee chapter, Daughters OF the Confederacy.
held In Houston, June 8:
AS Daughters OF the Confederacy" We
nave met together to comm m ,rate the
NE and virtues Of our immortal chieftain
ana patrlot-Jefferson Davis. A sacred and
pleasing task is before us, and from the
very fullness and depth Of the theme, q
uihicult one as we'll, as we approach with
loving hearts and reverent tread. this
shrine made imperishabe by the sublime 4
heroism and devotion to right and truth
and country. Poetry, song ANA history have
Drought their richest treasures to per-
petuate his undylng fame; and as daugn-
tiers Of the South, whom he honored and
remembered In his last labor OF love, when
the shadows OF evening were gathering
about his life, we come TO offer the tender
tribute which grateful, loving ana loyal
hearts can bestow, and to keep alive the
memories Of his grand and unapproachapie
lie, as they gather about our hearts and
trembe ON our lips.
In the year 1905 ON the Sd OF June, IN
Christian county, Ky, there was born the
subject OF this memoir There lay cradlci
destiny that was TO attract the gaze Of
christendom as he filled his place in the
domain of history, the leader of a country's
cause, upon whose altar he laid S for
tune, his talents and his life For his coun-
trys interests he lived and labored, and
the annals Of the world furnish scarcely
parallel for the sublime fortitude AID lofty
heroism that marked his diversified lite
amid the vicissitudes OF his eyentful and
tragic history.
He moulded a nation. land In that SUI
pieme hour when naught was thought OF
but the honor and glory Of the infant CIV
eminent which was about to begin It's
struggle for existence. and TO which he
was called as its leader and chief eNscu-
tive" he showed the world the subj me-
spectacle Of that high moral courage based
on truth and faith in right, which elab ed
him 10 follow his conviction OF dur5, al
the peril OF his freedom and his life
Greater love than this could no mau
show, that he lay down his life for his
friends"
1t may not be irrelevant, in this brief
memoir. TO give hurried review OF his
public life ms n soldier and statesman, es-
necially Ct those epochs of his life con-
nected with the stirring and MON entous
events of which he was so conspicuous
participant. Tried by the fires of three
wars" and not found wanting: standing
In the United States senate, the incom-
parable statesman amid storms of debate
and conflict, with this knowledge OF gov
ernment and consummate skill as a leader
combined with his versatility OF genius,
"he was not eclipsed by the prudence OF
Pitt nor the policy of Napoleon"
He attracted the admiring gaze of the
American people as a soldier when scarce
ly n man in years. and when war was de-
clared with Mexico. under his gallant
leadership the immortal First Mississipri
regiment repaired to the field of strife and
courage. 1t was said Of him that his
courage, self-possession and leadership In
the very crisis Of the battle of Beuna
Vista won for his country her proud ast
victory upon foreign fields of war"
Having served his country with sucn
renown and valor on the battleiisld we
sec him when the smoke and dust have
cleared away, again in his country'e sery-
Ice as member of the United STATES sem
ate. Being twice elected and continuing In
the senate until his resignation on the Sc
cession of HIS State in 1861 ibis career
was brilliant and unsurpass d, and he W
regarded the pear of his colleagues
With the power and skill of a master, h
grappled the great ideas and events of
those momentous times, when the waves
OF sectionalism dashed high and thrcat
ened the very fabric OF the Union. His State
sccebsd and called him to her service. As
.sloyal son she went to her defense AID
was made major general Of the Mlssissipp IL
troops. socn after this he was chosen the
leader Of the Southern cause, and became
its chief magistrate No pilot ever took
the helm in darker night to encounter
fiereer storm or more turbulent sea. Tr"st
Ing in the people of his own Southland n
himself and the god OF battle he laid down
his sword and took the helm Of state
He was rot secessionist per Sc - but
sscessionist only when. according 10 h s
vi-w, tn States could not enjoy their
rights within the Union. Southern people
have too much interest in the Union not
to love It. In a speech delivered in the
general assembly in Virginia, in 1890 by
John W. Daniels, we find a graphic inven-
tory of our interests. "Who wrote the
great declaration? Who threw down the
gage, liberty or DEATH Who became its
great expounder? Who wrote the bill Of
rights? Who presided over the convention
that made a constitution. and became In
fisld and council its all and all defender"
Every school boy will answer. jefferson.
Patrick Henry, Madison, Marshall, Mason.
Washington"
Beyond the confines of the South her 8 M
fought and died in the great struggle for
independence. You may follow the tracks
of the continentals at Long Island, Sara
toga Trenton, Princeton, Brandywne, Ge"-
mantown, Valley Forge, Monmouth and at
Other battlefields, by the blood and graves
of Southern men. Did the South love the
Union? Did not tho South do its part IN
acquiring the imperial domain of the Ma
| ton? Virginia cedei to the Union that
portion Of the United States which en-
braces Ohio Indiana. Illinois, Michigan
ana Wisconsin. Kentucky WAS a gift TO
the Union. Our vast d1man from the gu I
| TO oregon was acquired BY Thomas Jeffer-
son. John C. Calhoun OF South Carol ma
| offered the bill In 1912 wt'ch proclaimed
the second war Of independence. Andrew
! Jackson of Tennessee achieved al New
Orleans the eliminating victory. In 1886
! General Sem Houston won the indereri'
! ence of Texas. Under James X. pix two
! southern generals. Zachary Taylor and
! Winfield Scott whose armies were more
! than half Southern men, made good the
| cause CT Texas AMI extended her boundaries
around New Mexico and California. The
/ South hae a right to love the Union. when
/ the contention had been settled in the Ia I
| throes of battle II was natural for ihavops
/ of the South to come back into the homes
and house provided for them BY their fore