The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1902-05-16

presidency. Jeffer-
What Is Due son, as every boy
Southern knows, was the au-
State smen. thor of the Immortal
Declaration Of indie
pendence. Under his administration
was negotiated the Louisiana purchase
by which we acquired from France that
imperial domain embracing the entire
states of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Ne
braska, North Dakota, South Dakota,
part of the states of Minnesota, Kansas,
Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Louis
lana, all of the Indian Territory and
part of the Oklahoma territory,
Madison, who did so much to explain
and popularize its provisions, has been
frequently called the father of the con-
stitution. Under his administration
the war of 1912 was fought, in which
we achieved such glory upon the seas,
and which forever secured our shipping
and seamen from the interference OF
foreign powers
Monroe promulgated the doctrine
which bears his honored name, which
has been accepted as part of internal
tional law, and which warned all ma
tions of the earth, that they would not
be allowed to make further acquisitions
upon, or intermeddle in any manner
whatsoever with the affairs Of the
American continent. The wisdom and
benefcient purpose of the Monroe doc
trine is such that it has become one Of
our fundamental traditions, to be
maintained and enforced at all times
under all circumstances and at any
cost, whether of blood or treasure.
Under his administration was negO
tiated the cession of the entire Floridas,
covering SO, 749 square miles, which en-
braced the present state of Florida and
small parts of Louisiana, Mississippi
and Alabama.
Under the administration of Presi
dent Tyler was negotiated the treaty
by which Texas, with it's 97G. G91 square
miles, was admitted as a state of the
Union.
Under the administration of President
Polk was fought the Mexican War
which added fresh lustre to our arms
The great leaders of our forces in that
war were Winfield Scott and Zachary
Taylor both Southern men.
President Polk also negotiated the
treaty with Mexico by which we ac
quired that immense domain which
embraces California, Nevada, Utah
Arizona, New Mexic6hI9dn I9dnf parts of Col
orado and Wyoming. He also nego
tiated the treaty with Great Britain by
which or title was confirmed to thai
section of our country including the
states of Oregan, Idaho, Washington
and parts Of Montana and Wyoming,
Although Van Buren, Pierce ant
Buchanan were Northern men, tht
policies of their administrations WERE
along the lines which had been laid out
by the great Southern presidents which
had preceded them.
The illustrious expounder of the con
stitution, whose fame as a jurist has
spread to the uttermost parts of the
civilized world, was John Marshall, oi
Virginia, who for thirty-four years pre-
sided as chief justice of the supreme
court of the United States.
The people of the South contemplated
ed with lofty pride the greatness and
glory to which the republic had attain
ed under the leadership
Of What and guidances of theil
the South statesmen. 1t was with
Was Proud profound regret thai
they reached the conclu
sion that a just regard for their pres
ence and safety demanded of them &
severance of their relation with the
Union. 1t is no part of my purpose tC
pass Judgment upon the wisdom of theil
determination in this regard. 1t may
be that their apprehension was not JUS
tilted, and that their constitutional
rights were not endangered as they sup
posed. However that may be, we have
the proud consciousness thai wien we
surrendered to our brethren Of the
North the flag which had been almost
in our uninterrupted custody, it was as
pure and stainless as on the day when il
was first unfurled and flung to tht
breezes. In those ominOus and storm
charged days that ushered in the tire
mendous struggle between the States
the passages between the contending