The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-21
United DAuShterr
 Of 1he COnfederAcy.

by Mrs. Electra semmes Colston on the above mentioned occasion. Jefferson Davis; Soldier, Statesman. During those eventful years that pre- ceded the fateful year of 1851, throughout the North q moral and political issue was raised that divided the country by a geo. graphical line. and under the pretext that African slavery was an unpardonable sin. and, that the Union could not exist half slave and half free, the sectional party of the North commenced those unlawful az gressions upon the constitutional rights of the South that destroyed all social and religious intercourses, marred with teal- ousy and hatred their political welfare, dissolved the fraternal union and at last deluged the whole land in blood.
 That sectional Republican Party of the North conspired to do this. and did do it, in order to extend their political power, and to establish a sectional empire that should be dominated for all time to come by the growing power of the majority the people of the North.
 And the people of the South saw that their political liberty was to be forever overthrown, and the secession of the Southern States took place.
 On the Hst of January, 1881, an impress sfve and momentous scene occurred in the Senate of the United States of America. On that day the resignations of several distinguished Senators were received in consequence of the secession of their re- spective States. The Senate chamber was pervaded by an air of hushed solemnity and the galleries were crowded by a great multitude of spectators, the intelligent of whom recognized in the scene taking place before their eyes, the cermony of tn first serious disintegration of the gov- ernmental authority at Washington.
 The Senators who withdrew on this day were MT. Jefferson Davis and his col league of Mississippi. Messrs Fitzpatrick and Clay of Alabama and Yuille and Mall lory of Florida. I, a school girl. was one of that vast audience in the galleries, for my father had sent me down. saying, lis- tening to such speeches from such men, at such history-making epoch, was a liberalizing education.
 MT. Davis although much prostrated by recent serious illness, made a spech of remarkable power and dignity. Trained as he had been in the Senate. that high est school of debate in America. he was distinguished for style of polished and graceful oratory, never flaming into rant, but speaking in even subdued tones that yet thrilled and vibrated with intensest feeling. carrying along with him willing or unwillingly the sympathies of his mixed audience, forcing even from his enemies the unwilling tribute of their tears. At the close he said that he felt no hostility to any there; that he went thence unencumbered by the remembrance of any injury received; but, if you of the North have resolved on hostile relations toward the seeded States, then we will invoke the God of our Fathers who deliv- cred them from the power of the lion, to protect us from the ravages sof the bear, and thus putting our trust in God and in our own firm hearts and strong arms. we will vindicate the right as best we may"
 MT. Jefferson Davis resigned from the Senate of the United States to encounter a responsibility and to accept a trust, the greatest of modern times, for public opinion in all of the seeded States had long designated him as the leader of their new destinies.
 convention of delegates from all of the then seeded States assembled in Con- gross at Montgomery on the 14th of Feb ruary 1881 for the purpose of organizing a provisional government. This body re- ported and adopted a constitution for the Confederate States of America on the Sth of February. On the 9th of February they proceeded to the election of presi- dent and vice. president. and unanimously agreed upon Mir. Jefferson Davis of Mis- s'ssippi for President and Mir. Alexander 1T. Stephens of Georgia for Vice-Presi- dent.
 Mir. Davis was at his home in Briar- field Miss. when the news of his cleo ton was announced to him. and he set out at once for Montgomery to take the oath of office At every important station along the route he was met by thousands of his enthusiastic fellow citizens. and during the trip he. made twenty-five mag nificent and magnetic speeches upon the burning questions of the hour. His recep- tion at Montgomery was a grand ova- tion. Eight miles from the capital he was met by a large body of distinguished citizens, and, amid the huzzas of thou sands and the booming of cannon and ringing of bells, he entered the city. On Monday, the 18th of February, as the hour of noon approached. an immense process sion was formed and to the sound of fife and drum and artillery it moved to the capitol building. There on the steps of the old capitol surrounded by the mem hers of the Confederate Congress. the President of that distinguished body, the Governor of Alabama. the heads of com mttees and hundreds of citizens from all over the South. MT Davis arose and de- livered his inaugural address
 Then turning he rlaced one hand upon the Bible and with the other uplifted he listened to the reading of the oath. At the conclusion, in reverent. vibrant tones he exclaimed. 50 help me God" and bowed his head in tears
 Hundreds of strong men in that vast concourse wept in unison as they beheld the solemn>scene.
 And well did MT Davis keep that oath: in trials and stress, in doubt and danger, in the bright hours of triumph and In the dark hours of failure and collapse, he did what he could!
 Jefferson Davis was a name associated with much that was brilliant and honor able in the old government. He had served the Government of the United States in field and in council. He had re- ceived military education at West Point, and from 1923 to 1s35 he had seen much service upon the frontier. He married a daughter of Zachery Taylor. and later re- tired to a plantation in Mississippi. He was elected to Congress in 1S45, but the country being then on the eve of war with Mexico. he resigned, returned home and at the head of regiment of voiun-