The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-01-22
MIR. DAVIS ANDTHE OLD BELL
The Confederate Chieftain Took
Last Look at the Liberty
Bell.


Last Look at the Libert,
Bell.
we never hear of the Liberty Bel
That we do not think of the initlnl Jour
nty IT made through the South. inst
seventeen years ago. At that time its
destination was New Orleans, where
! the Cotton Exp, sition of the South
was IN progress, aud ihe people of this
eclon, Tor the first time, behgld the
great tocsin which sounded the rcvolu-
ti'n just DIS the bells of PARIS sum-
noned The freemen TO the standard of
Lafayette.
In January, 1885, the Liberty Bell
was borne through the lowlanas of The
gulf and halted for moment beneath
the pines and magnolias OF Mississippi
sound. The air was sharp and cutting
lor That sunny cline, and, among those
VINO went out TO see this eloquent mes
sen ger OF a historic past, was an elder
ly genilcman, feeble and fast nearing
his So n year. The bell had been de-
tanned at Beauvoir long enough for
TINS aged and distinguished man to
greet II. The crowd fen back as he
neared the car and watched h,m as he
uncovered IN the presence of this mute
symool OF Independence He himself
lad iillcd large angle in the public
eye. Sprung from Revolutionary an
ccslors, he had fought under the old
llag and left his blo"d upon the fields
OF Mexico. He had bccn a Senator of
The Unl'cd States from the State of
Mississippi and had occupied the Office
OF Secretary of War.
Ills position WAS now in retirement
ana MS HE was In the past He had
not so much as n vote in the village
election. The statutes of the United
States had expressly excluded him
from all hope of public amnesty. There
was ho"e TOO poor politically to do him
honor. lie had not assisted in inter
national functions for quarter of a
century, and yet the committee bear
ing the Liberty b Ii from Philadelphia
10 New Orleans summoned Jefferson
Davis from sick bed and carried him
into Its inspiring presence. 1t was a
historic scene, and one worthy of a
natlonal setting in the Hall of Fame.
lie spoke, and his voice was trcmulous.
ne announced his physical inlirmitv,
but declared that i'll as he was he could
not stay at home when that glorious
ola bell was at the station. He said:
81 thank you and your association
Tor sending me noiice and trust that
your anticipation OF the harmonizinu
tendency of this journey of the bell
acr0s the States of the Union, some
of which had not sp'ung into existence
when lis toues first flied the air, NAV
In every respect be realized. | think
mat The time has come when passion
should be subjected to reason and
when men who have fought IN supper,
OF Their hcncst convictions should dc
justice to each other. Yon SACRED
organ gave voice 10 the proudest de,
claration that handful of men ever
made, f'r they faced the greatest mill
Cary power OF the globe. That hand
iul OF men declared to all the worlt
thelr lnalienable tights and stakcd life
lioerty, and property in defense O
us declaration. Then il was viii
your clear notes you sent notice to al
VINO were willing TO live or die TO
iiDerty aud felt that The day was Il
liand when every patriot must do
patriots duty. Glorious old hell th
son I'll Rev, lulionaIy soldier bows il
reverence to yor, worn by time, bu
Increasing in sacred mrmoriesl
&" MIR. PresidenL," SAID J,fforso
DAVIS III conclusion, "accept m
thanks, which are hcartf, 1t and sir
ctrely gwen. .'-Savannah Press.