The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-04


Paul's Church and being augmented
at all points along tho route, the great
crowd surged against the platform at
the Davis Monument to hear the
speeches and witness the ceremony
incident to the transfer from the build
ing committc and the Daughters OF
the Confederacy to the city of Rich.
niond.
After prayer by the Rev. Robert w.
Forsyth, Judge George l.. Christian,
in the absence of Mr.. Joseph Bryan,
chairman OF the building committee.
delivered the address. He said IN
part:
"One year ago to-day, amid the
plaudits and admiration of the great.
est multitude that ever assembled in
Richmond Except on the occasion of
the unveiiing of the monument to ou:-
great military. leader, General Robert
r. Lee). this monument to our great
civic leader was unveiled.
The task which had been assigned
to the building committee had nor
then been entirely completed and
hence the necessity of postponing the
formal act of turning over this monu-
nient to the association had to be de-
ierred until now. The task of the
building committee has now been
completed in all its ce,ails. and 1t is
my privilege, as the representative Of
that committee to turn over this
monument to the custody OF those
who have been mainly instrumental in
Its erection.
Wanted Davis Buried Here.
When President Davis died in New
Orleans on December 6, 1889, the
& ,hor I, ofr ~ no
Of this city met and adopted resoln-
lions. expressing their earnest desire
that his last resting place should be
here
Naturally, other representative cities
Ct the South especially those Of Ills
native State, felt and expressed the
same desire; and these cities were
SO clamorous and earnest In putting
forth their claims to this honor that
it took the widow OF Mr.. Davis sew
oral years to determine at what place
IL was most appropriate his ren'ains
should be inferred and a monument
erected TO his memory.
Without awaiting that decision,
howevers representative citizens OF
RichmofN and-Nirginia went to work
earnestly and ardently to erect a
monument to their great chieftain. On
the 18th OF February, ls90-a little
more than two months after the death
of Mr.. Davis-a charter was obtained
from the General Assembly OF Virginia
Incorporating the Jefferson Davis Mon
Nment Association, with Hon. j. Taylor
Ellyson as It's president
With characteristic energy. earnest
ness and patriotism the president, Will,
the cooperation OF the other incorpo-
fators of that association, went to
work to raise the money for the cree
ton Of such monument no matter
where it might be located,
Faithful Work of Women,
About this time the Unk..l Dough.
tiers OF the Confederacy met in Rich
mond, and knowing how these women
could raise money for this purpose
When the men could not DO SO, it was
wisely determined TO commit that task
70 tha'r hanas; and by an act of the
General Assembly of Virginia, approve"d
February 10, 1900. the funds and as.
sets OF the Jefferson Davis Monument
Association were turned over to tht
Il United Daughters of the Confedera CIV
These noble and devoted women
i having assumed this great and patri.
otto task. set to work TO accomplish
IT with the same zeal. devotion an6
Ydelity which had characterized ever,
another act in their unwnvering devo,
ton to the Confederate cause and It's
representative men, They at once no,
only took over the charter of the Jef
ferson Davis Monument Association,
but all of the old corporators and ON.
GERS Of that association having re.
aligned. these women filled the vacan.
+ cies thus created with members OF
2 their own organization, and the presi
dent, whose enforced absence we 81
much regret has filed the office from
the beginning with a zeal. devotion
4. constancy and courtesy which / hay,
no words to express.
within about seven years from TIL,
time the task was undertaken by thes
ladies the monument was unveiled, auc
this, too, understanding the fact tha
q during that time numerous designs ha,
4 heen adopted and afterwards discard
X ed. and the location or locations which
been at one time chosen wer
subsequently, abandoned.
~ MY trends, In my opinion the vcr,
highest encomium that has ever bee,
= paid Ia MI. Davis by any one was tina
paid TO him by General Lee himself
General Lee was asked after the war hi
opinion OF President Davis and his ad
I ministration OF the affairs OF the Con
federacy, and he replied:
.'iNew could have done better, an
i none that know OF could have don
NJ Well,'
should Silence carplnE Critics,
ut seams to me that this Ianguag
y of General Ice, not only the one ;wt
had the best opportunities, but the ont
NJ