The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1906-03-24

people wanted to know. And yet
again, on the 23rd of February, after
Mr.. Davis had been inaugurated Pres
ident at Montgomery, it said
1--WE have repeatedly said, and we
once more insist, that the great prin-
ciple embodied by Jefferson in the
Declaration of American Independ-
ence-that governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the
governed-is sound and just, and that
| if the slave States, the cotton States,
or the Gulf States, only chose to form
an independent nation, they have
clear moral right to do So
Now this was precisely the creed
| of Jefferson Davis and the Southern
people. The controlling truth was
that two incompatible and hostile
civilizations were in ceaseless con-
hict There was equilibrium between
these rival powers and sections when
their race began, and each i'll turn
threatened secession as the equillb-
| rum trembled to the one side or the
other. This was the cause OF North
ern hostility to the Louisiana, Texas
| and Memican annexation; and this
the cause of Southern contention tor
| territorial rights in Kansas and Ne
braska. But after all that could be
said upon this question, only single
statement answers it.
| When the United States Govern
ment had Jefferson Davis in its power
Ia prisoner in chains at FORTRESS
| Monroe and the Northern people
were clamoring for his trial and con
viction for treason, they kept him III
| that prison for two years; and alter
consulting their ablest lawyers and
las If i understood, at the advice OF
their Chief Justice Chase, did not
dare to go into trial because they
knew that he had committed no trea-
son and done no wrong, and they
we're not willing to give him the op-
lportunitv, for which he begged, OF
vindicating himself and his people al
the bar OF history They confessed
Judgment by refusing to try him, anC
it is too late now to attempt to brand
him and his people with the tou
stigma of treason. Mr.. Davis release
and the nolle prosequi OF the Law
cleared us of that charge, our adver
saries being themselves the judges.
The British Government denounced
the sieners OF the Declaration as reb
els, and stigmatized George Wash
ington as traitor. The Unite'
States denounced the founders OF tn
Confederate States as rebels; stig
matted Davis as a. traitor, and raise
an immense army 70 put down re
bellion. Only those who are blinde
By passion and perverted by preju
dice can fail TO see the analogou
: causes that called into existence tn
two governments: the success OF tn
first Is the admiration Of the worlc
+ the defeat Of the second IS stigma
tied as rebellion The patriots VIII
gave UP their lives Tor the lndepend
ence OF the colonies are lauded a
martyrs, but the heroes who die
for the independence OF the States ar
: called rebels But we know nothln
can sully their glory, no vituperatlon
can stain their patriotism
Miss Sallie James, the briilian
honorary life president OF the Ala
bama Daughters, Z. D. G, said ;
: beautifully. at is from these heroe
: the Daughters OF the Confederacy ar
proud to trace their descent; iron
the unbroken chain OF their illustri
Gus deeds forms luminous page Il
the annals CT our country. We woui'
not. we must not, forget their sac
rifices. They are poor who have los
nothing; they are poorer TAR who
) losing. have forgotten, they mos
4 poor of all who lose and wish the.
might forget
Il Continued on last page.)