Year: 1873

the control or their State governments, would
naturally feel but little apprehensive OF the eXer-
else OIL powers by the general government II they
believed that government would be restrained
within It's constitutional limits.


EDIToR-Do You really think that the south could
nave prolonged the war another year or TWO, IN
order TO save itself from the consequences which
have followed upon the surrender, could they nave
10reseen those cOnsequencesY


Mr.. DAvIs-They would have prolonged the war
by withdrawing more into the interior so as TO
compel the enemy to his lines OF communi,
cation; and 1t was the opinion OF soldier, now no
more, and on whose Judgment the greatest rciiance
was placed, that the mountains OF Virginia de-
fenslve war could have been continued Tor twenty
years.


EDrroR-You said in your speech that citizen OF
Massachusetts expressed his gratitude for the 90
fence and vindicatOn OF the rights OF the states by
the Southern people during the late war, and you
are credited with saying that "the cause was not
lost; principles are eternal" Please explain what
is meant by the 'cause" In this case, as appre-
hend IL has some connection with the ''principles
of constitutional liberty referred to by the citizen


Mr. DAvIs-The cause for which the war was
waged by the South was the rights which were as
pendence and which the constitution was framed
to secure. That cause has sometimes been mis-
it in single clause Would say It was COMMUNITY
independence" The sovereign States when they
entered into union reserved. or th0ugnt tney re-
served, all powers OF sovereignty, ana only dele-
gated functions to general agent. AS TAR back as
the time of XenOphon tyranny was deined 10 DC
The founders Of the American States declared
that all rightful governments rested on the
s ss ten Years and the
present prOstratiOn OF sovereign States. Is 1t
crime to look hopefully to the restora.
slavish abandonment OF the rights for the preser.
walton OF which the Union was formed to look
seay on w1 eys @as Gecam
against an idea because OF the man by whom 1t is
uttered, but woe to the land when its press shall
join IN such clamor and inname the prejudice by
miSrepresenting what was said


EDITOR-You will have noticed no doubt, that
many Of the press OF the Union, without any re-
gard to section or party, accuse you OF desire to
keep alive sectional animOsities with view at
some future day to reopen the civil war: In other
not lost" with determination on your part to en-
courage another war. This do not understand to
be your position but for the beneht OF the PUBIC


Mr.. DAvIs-Those who knew me best before the
beginning OF the late war know how earnestly
strove to avert It, The record OF the last com
mittee raised in the Senate to see whether 1t was
possible to harmonize the sections at that time


Qs6O-6I will show how steadily strove to find
then greatly excited, and clearly indicating pur-
pose In the Southern States to pass ordinances OF
criticised as being too far behind the sentiment of
the hour and the demand of the occasion. i re-
garaed IL as gSestSn one wsc mo%
be, would, nevertheless, lead to connict OF
arms, for which knew the people Of the South
many evidences on record OF my devotion to the
Union as our fathers made it that have no occa-
sion to say now how strong that feeling & was t 5nea
who, in view of the present condition of the
South, would advise Or desire it to attempt to en-.
the speeches for which have been well abused
the principal point was that when the evils IN
Heed me m % ug
as to make the case their own we might expect
them to cooperate with us for the restoration Of
remembered that the followers OF William
the Conqueror, who had robbed the SaXons
felt in the reign Of John, the royal power oppress
ing themselves, united with the Saxons 10 demand
OF him in Magma Charta the restoration OF the very
rights and privileges Of which they had robbed the
SaXons. And may we not hope a like result to iOl-
low similar cause, and as all things move more
hoped that it will not as then require centuries to
produce that result.


EDIToR-You are reported to have said in the
speech at White Sulphur 'that the men of this day
may yield the principles for which they cOntendeO,
but the children who succeed them will cherish
and perpetuate them.'' This Is by some construed
into a reflection upon those who have participated
in or have aided what we term Reconstruction"


Mr WILL no Gon9t, r0m ad your ON rmbc la
have perceived that the publication is mere
sketch of what was said. The remark to which
you call my attention was connected with COM
pliment to the women Of the South. whose patriot
ism and adherence to truth had been proof against
all the severe trials to which the war had subjected
them. And 80 hope was founded on the supposi-
ton that, though my own sex might give way to
the necessities or the hour the mothers OF the rlS-
ing generation would teach their children the
principles for which we had struggled,
and that thus they would be perpetlated
and in some happier hour, perhaps, be
more successfully maintained than they had been
by ourselves. have so often and so publicly said
that no people ever well bore themselves under
all the tests of danger and prvaion as the men OF
the Confederate army, and l so deeply honor and
admire them for their gallantry and conduct, that
am more than little surprised that any other
sentiment should be attributed to me.


In reference to his opinion OF the Virginia
conservative ticket / read a slip to Mr.. DAVIS
from the Bristol Ne,cs. which he said was correct
1t is as follows :-'Thc distinguished exPresident of
the late Conederacy passed through Bristol, on his
way to Memphis, on Wednesday last 1t was the
good fortune OF the writer OF this to meet him on
the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio cars at Abing-
don, and to have iorty minutes con.
versation with him. Mr.. Davis expressed
himself as greatly pleased with the political man.
agement which has saved Virginia from ruin and
shame, and expressed the opinion that the good
old Commonwealth has now Overridden her dam
ger and may be regarded as safe. From personal
knowledge OF an Of1lcal intercourse with General
Kemper he does not hesitate to ascribe to him the
rare and valuable gift OF decided administrative
ability. He spoke in the highest terms OF Colonel
Wthers and Mr.. Daniel, ana thinks the entire
ticket most admirable one. Their honesty and
integrity he considers above question, and says
that these qualities are not in these times very
general that we can afford to give their possessors
a very trining consideration"