The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-25

Forcing the mules to wade in, when about
half way across trace came loose. The
trace must be readjusted. The driver had
to take the cold water nearly waist deep
Across the stream a part of the road
was found not overfowed, and progress
was made to the lowlands bordering the
Tallapoosa- Now it was water and moth
ing but water The road entirely disap-
peared
Calculating on this exigeiicy. Colonel
Dawson had placed a boat on the wagon
The mules We're unhitched and tied and
the boat launched. The three men got
aboard and across the fields a bee line
was struck for mo. A. Night came on
and tieing the boat the party went into
camp in am abandoned cabin that sat
in the midst of the overflow. Some drift
wood was secured and a small fire built
in the chimney. The cracker box was cut
open. the ham sliced and the stopper
drawn from the whisky bottle.
The next morning with break OF day
the voyage was resumed.
Seated ON the roof OF log cabin on the
north side of the public road that divides
the plantation, with Is feet OF water sur
rounding It, were seen several negro CON
victs and their White guard. AS the
boat turned toward the flooded cabin one
of the convicts caught sight of it, and
recognizing Colonel Dawson in the dis
tance. shouted at the top of his voice. in
great glee, Il knowed he would come l
knowed iti''
Dawson was wont to declare all the re-
mander of his life that exclamation or
| that humble negro outlaw were the sweet
/ est words that ever fell on his ear They
abided with him testimony to high duty
well done forever.
The Ladies' Movement association was
now ready to lay the cornerstone on Cap
itol hill Mayor Reese conceived the pro-
ject of sending for President Davis then
living in uninterrupted retirement at
"Beauvoir.'' 1t was bold thought. Mr.
Davis was not citizen He was the
| impersonation of the boodiest insurrec-
tion." the most vile rebellion" in the
annals of time, Not until now had he
been expected to appear on public oc-
casions.
The Ladies' Movement association Of
Montgomery, with utmost zeal and pa
triotic self-consecration. had to become
ready to lay the corner stone of the splen-
did shaft that now stands near the capt.
toll Mayor Reese, one of the most dis
tinguished of the young cavalry COM
manders of the Confederacy, conceived the
bold thought of bringing President Davis
/ from his unbroken retirement at Beau
voir' to be the orator of the event.
| 1t was indeed a bold thing to do at that
| time, to bring Mr.. Davis into the formal
celebration of the enterprise of erecting a
great pillar of fame to Confederate SOL
diers and sailors. Mr.. Davis was not
an enfranchised citizen. AS the official
head of the bloodiest of ''insurrections.'
the vilest of "rebellions." he was poll
ica1 ol-cast What must he in the mind
of people who would make a martyr
of himl Even now the enfranchisement
of the freedom had been put to scorn in
| Alabama. The laws of Congress requiring
miscegenation, requiring mixed schools,
mixed churches, hotels. theatres, railroad
cars were in contempt, as innoxious as
| If never enacted The whole country
waited to see what Alabama would do
with Jefferson Davis, brought back to
the capitol of the Confederacy, and for
such a startling purpose.
| 1t was Il great deed that was done. No
other people than southern would have
| discharged the duty of the day as was
| done here. The meaning of it was not
hidden. Notice of the intent went abroad
over the land
/ A committee of distinguished citizens on
a special railroad train went from Mont
gomery to "Beauvoir' and escorted Mr..
/ Dayis to the town. Miss Winnie accom-
panied her father as guest of honor.
| A mighty host of people came. The oc-
casion was most remarkable and most
/ interesting IHen anu Important dS IL ltdt-
ure of American history forever.
The official head of the Confederacy
was received in-the second generation with
the same spontaneous outburst of en-
thusiasm that greeted him when he ap-
peared to complete the dsganization of the
Confederate government February 1S. 1861,
and take its guidance upon himself.
Mr.. Davis and Miss Winnie were car
ried to the Exchange hotel. In the fore
noon of the next day she stood in the par
lor where for many hours hundreds
passed her in evidence of their welcome
and their veneration. He sat in another
room. where he received the homage of
great nultitudes.
The state troops were mustered under
Col. Thomas G. Jones as escort. A long
procession like that which escorted the
same citizen to the same spot, in the
other days, formed at the hotel The
President spoke from the same spot on
which he stood to take the oath of of
| fee.
The text books of the schools the rec
| crds of the state, by epithets of implied
derogation-"civ war; rebellion war
of secession seek to prejudice history
But whoever may have been an eye wit
ness to the department of the second gen.
! Grafton toward Mr.. Davis ON that April
! day, 1885, if honest with himself, knows
| that a nation rose and fell under him, not
a rebellion.
JOHN WITHERSPOON DUBOSE.