The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-21
SUNDAY. APRIL 81. 1907.
There are two freedoms-the false,
where a man is free to do what he
likes; the true, where man Is free
to do what he ouoht.-kingsley.
Davis Centennial.

Elsewhere we publish a communi.
cation from Colonel w. o. SHELTON. OF
Richmond, in which he calls attention
to the fact that the centennial ami.
versary OF the birth OF President JEFF
ferson Davis will fall on June 3, 1908.
and suggests that it be properly OBJ
served and celebrated throughout the
South. 1t is timely and patriotic
be the subject OF a resolution by the
United Confederate Veterans at their
Forthcoming reunion in this city.
Few of our great men have been
so grossly misrepresentation so maliclously
maligned or so cruelty misunderstood
as Jefferson Davis, President of the
Southern Confederacy, not merely by
men of the North, but by some men
of the South. Had the Southern Con-
federacy triumphcd, the case would
have been different--in the South. at
least; but as it failed. Mr.. Davis had
to bear the brunt of the blame. and
he became the target for the darts of
every carping critic in both sections
Some of our own children have had
their minds poisoned against him. and
the time for his vindication has come.
Let the facts of history come OUT.
That is all that his friends and adj
mirers ask. They are not afraid OF
or 10
told.
When Jefferson Davis retired from
the United States Senate he made a
noble speech, in which he said: at Is
sio{N to Senators who have served
witA here that I lave for many
years advocated as an essential attrl
butte of State sovereignty the right OF
State to seccde from the Union
Therefore. if Il had not believed there
was justitiable cause; If had thought
that Mississippi was acting without
sufficient provocation or without an
existing necessity l should still. under
my theory of government, because Of
my allegiance to the State of which
am citizen. have been bound by her
action I. sLcwovcr, may be permitted to
say thah do think she has justihabla
cause, and approve OF her act"
The right of secession to him was !,
principle. and he went with his State
because his allegiance lay in that di
rection There can be no doubt of that
in law as q citizen of the United States
Mr.. Davis was a citizen of Mississippi
and a representative OF that sovereign
State in the Federal Congress. IIe hac
taken an oath to be true to his State
he bound himself by such an oatl
when he accepted office. and when Mis-
sissippi seeded from the Union he wa
bound by his oath, as well as by hi.
natural affection, to follow her for
tunes. How can he be denounced a
traitor for pursuing such course?
Having cast his lot with his State
he was afterwards called to the hea
of the Confcderacy. He threw hi.
whole heart and soul into the cause
and he served it with the devotion O
conscientious patriot. Others ma
have had doubts as to the right of sc
cession or the justification of it, NJ
Davis had none, He believed in til
principle, and he consccratch his lii
to ii. Nor was his view changed or
iota by the war. He was true to II
last to his conviction, and he died
the faith.
In his latter days he wrote and pull
lished great book in vndication
the right OF secession and Of the col
duct OF the seeding States and in tn
alone he performed service for viii,
the South should ever be grateful.
In the conclusion of his Rise a,
Fail of the Confederate Government,
he says that his first object was.
prove. by historical authority In
4 & each of the States. as sovereign parti
81 to the compact of union, had the :
served power to sccede from It whe
ever 1t should be found not to answ
the ends for which II was cstablisile
that his next purpose WAC to show.
the gallantry and devotion of
southern people, in their uneq
struggle, how thorough was their c,
vicuon OF the justice OF their eau
that by their humanity to the woun
captives they proved themselves
/ worthy descendants OF chivalr!c 81
and Mt to be free; and that In cy