The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-11

Is Fl Mr. Davis Speaks.
Mr.. Nicholas Davis Of Madison followed
Mr.. Jemison. The father Of Mr.. Davis
had been the leader of the wings Of
North Alabama from the day when the
State was admitted to the Union. Twice
had he been an unsuccessful candidate for
Governor The son possessed the fathers
eloquence. spirit and devotion to the
Union. He said; 81 cannot allow this oc-
casion to pass without saying word in
reply to what has fallen from the gentle
man from Montgomery. Under other cir
cumstances, his remarks might pass UNI
noticed: but l feel 1 owe 1t to those
represent. ut least, to state correctly the
position they hold upon the question so
Unexpectedly brought before this body. /
claim, sir, to know their views. and II
say to this convention that they have not
intended to resist its action when In con-
formity to the wishes of the people of the
State. The question with them. sir. Is.
docs the convention represent the will of
the people. If II does they will stand by
it, no mattep what its decision may be.
Now. sir, l need scarcely say that the act
of this convention will not be conclusive
in this matter. And why? Because. as
every one knows. the popular vote of the
State may be pne way, the convention
another. and this resulting from the man
ner in which 1t was called by those who
are guilty Of an usurpation Of power. In
short, the sovereignty of this body Is
denied, and its action will be sustained
or resisted as the popular will may be
reflected through it. The gentleman from
Montgomery asserts upon the authority
of a newspaper statement. the vote may
be one way: the gentleman from Tusca-
loosa. upon like authority. claims 1t to
be another. 1 submit In deciding ques-
ton of such moment. that the proof on
either side Is unsatisfactory. The people
of the State will so regard 1t. We have
the means in our hands of ascertaining
their will by submitting our action for
their ratification or reflections; and should
| course SO manifestly just be refused. a
committee of this body, with the evidence
at the door, can arrive at a satisfactory
conclusion. In either event ! pledge
| those i represent to stand by the express
| ed will of the people. repeat that /
| know this to be the position of my con-
1 stituehts, and such, SO far as my knowl-
| edge extends. is the position of the peo-
| pie of North Alabama.
| At this point Mr.. Yancey interrupted
Mr.. Davis by saying that he Yancey)
had said nothing about the people Of
| North Alabama.
not, but it is very we'll understood by
every member upon this floor to whom
your remarks were applicable. IL 1t
| should turn out that the popular vote is
| against the act of secession, should II
| pass, ! tell you, sir. / believe it will and
ought to be resisted. The minority OF
this State ought not to control the ma
jority. But we are told that this is a
representative government not a pure
democracy, and in this form minorities
may rule. If our State government be
representative in this sense, who made II
| SO? The people, who. in convention
| framed its Constitution and organic law
| They set it on foot and whilst 1t moves
In the orbit which they prescribe, i grant
that 1t Is representative and has the fea-
ture which ii is claimed. Secession, how
ever. destroys the Constitution, and the
people are muzZled in this convention by
a Legislature which denied its existence
from the instrument to be destroyed. But
do not proposevto discuss this matter
Judging from the speech of the gentle
man from MONTGOMERY this Is not tht
mode in which it Is to be decided. w,
are told by him that resistance to the &C
ton of this convention is treason. ant
those who undertake 1t traitors and reb
els. The nomenclature of the Revolution
Is to be revived land the epithet of Tor,
in future may ornament the names o
Alabamians. I cannot accept this as ap
plicable to my constituents: nor do per
| ceive the fitness or force OF the intende,
illustration. The Wings of the Revolu
; ton were the friends of this Government
the Tories it's enemies. If names shall
, hold the same relation to the Government
now as then, 1 shall have no objection t,
! the historical Renaissance. And not les
odious in my estimation than the name o
Tory is the doctrine which is claimed o
the right to coerce an unwilling people
We must be dealt with as public enemies
But yesterday this convention condemned
this doctrine. With one voice you de
clared against II, and EXPRESSED your de
termination to meet such an invasion o
your rights as 1t ought to be met. witt
, | arms in your hands. 1t will be asserte,
as readily against IA tyrant at home al
abroad; as readily by the people of m!
section against usurpation and outrag
here as elsewhere. And when compelled
to take this course, they will cheerful!
no doubt assume all the responsible,
that follows the act. ] seek no quarre
: with the gentleman from Montgomery o.
/ his friends. Towards them. personally,
entertain none other than the kndes
feelings. Butt tell him. should be engag
in that enterprise. that he will not be al
lowed to boast the character OF an In
vader. Coming at the head of any fore
he can muster. aided and assisted by tn
Executive of this State, We will meet hin
at the foot of our mountains, and there
, with his own selected weapons, hand t,
hand, and face to face. settle the ques
ton of the sovereignty of the people,"
Action Delayed.
In the midst of deep excitemen tn
convention adjourned without taking ac
ton upon the resolution. With such evi
dences of hostility to the manner l,
which the convention was called, and IL
refusal to submit it's action to the people
what would happen on the morrow
Would the minority, claiming to represen
a majority of the people. secede from tn
convention and defy the Act of Secession
There were many seepless eyes in Mont
gomery on the night of the 9Th of Jan
uary, 1851. What would the morrow brinl
| forth?
On the 18th, two days after the aboy
scenes. the convention adopted the ordi
nance Of Secession by a vote of 81 to Il
amidst great excitement and interest
This action of the convention will be re
served for future article.
ASSIST NATURE. There are time
when you should assist nature. 1t Is nov
undertaking to cleanse your SYSTEM
! Won will take Hoods Sarsaparilla the I'm