The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-01-23
MIR, DAVIS AND THEOLD BELL
The Confederate Chieftain Took
Last Look at the Liberty

lS
Bell.
We never hear Of the Liberty Bel
that We do not think of the iuitlal juur.
n'y II made through the South, lust
seventeen years ago. At that time It's
destination was New Orlrans, where
the Cotton Exposition of the South
was IN progress, and ,hc people OF this
S,cipn, Tor the lirst lmv, bchcld the
great locSlu which sounded the rcvolu~
u'n ust as tie bells OF parls sum-
lnonrd The frcvmcn to the standard of
Lafayette.
In January, 1889, the Liberty Bell
was bornc through the lnwianu5 of the
Gut and halted Tor II nrrnvnt beneath
! The pines and muGnolias ut Mlssissippi
sound. The air w.s sharp and cutting
lor that sunny cline, and among those
VINO Went out to see inns v.uuucul n,cs-
ScllGcr oi historic past, was an elder
~ gentleman, frrnlc ANA ilSt uCarlnu
ms SO'h year. TIE bel haI bpcu de-
tanned AT ljc.uVur long enough for
inns aged and distinguished man [ I,
greet 1t. The crowd ir.l back us he
ucarcd the car and watched ham us he
uncovered III the pres, nee ui thus mute
symbol OF independence He himself
had lilicd Il large an.lc in the public
eye. Sprung from Nrvulullouar, an
ccStors, he had fought under ihr ,ll
llag ami left his blood up n the fields
OF Mexico. He had bcch ii Senator of
the United States from the State Of
MISSISSIPPI and had occupied the uilcc
ul Secretary of War.
His position WAS now in retirement
and his liic was IN the past. He had
not SO much as Il vote in the village
election. The statutes Of Ibc United
States had expressly excluded him
from all h y" OF public amnesty. There
was none 20" poor politically to dn hun
honor. lie had no! assisted in inter.
nation Il fLncllous for ii quarter of Il
century, anh yet the committee bear
lng the lAhcrly 81 II from l'hlladrlphia
TO New Orleans summoned Jefferson
Davis from Il sick bed and carrlcd him
INTO lis Inspiring presence. 1t was IL
historic scene, and one worthy OF II
national setting III the Hall Of Famu
lie spoke, and his voice was irrInulouS.
lie announced his physical ihiirmilv,
but declared that i'll as he was he could
not stay at home when tina, glorious
old hrli was 1T the station. He sad :
:" lhailk you and your association
Tor sending me notice and trust ,lat
N"nr anticipation OF the hag!nUnzlu"
Tendency Of tins journey OF the bell
acroS the States Ui tie t'nion, some
OF which had II 1 :tSl'inng inlo existence
when lis tone Iirnt lil.rd the air, may
IN every rcsplcl br realized. | think
that the time iia:, come when passion
should hn su:' nc!ci 10 reason and
when men who have fought IN support
OF their honest convictions ShOuu do
justice 10 euch other. Iun sacred
organ gave voice 10 the l,rUulCSt de.
cl sration that Il handful OF men ever
iia'c, Tor they faced the greatest mill
larN power ul the globe. That hand
ful Of men drclarv,! to all the wolld
their lnnlicnablc rights and stakrd life,
liberty, and property in defense Of
lh& declaration. Then it was with
your clear notes You sent notice to all
who were willing TO 1--we or die Tor
liberty and icli that the day was III
hand when every patriot must do II
patriots du,y. Glorious old bell. the
son "l il Rev, lu,iunary soldier bows in
reverence to yor, worn hy time, but
incrCa~iny in sacred memories.
" Mr.. PreSidCni,' said jefferson
| DAVIS in conclusion, "acccpl my
| thanks, which are heartfelt and sin
ccrcly gwen" ."--Snvannuh Press.