Life and Reminscences of Jefferson Davis (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890. Excerpt: ... ADDRESS. BY GOVERNOR J. B. GORDON. State Of Georgia, Executive Department. Atlanta, Ga., January 22, 1890. R. H. "woodward & Co., Baltimore, Md. Gentlemen: --Your letter received. The preparation of an article for your "Reminiscences of Jefferson Davis" would require more time than it is possible for me now to devote to it. It would, indeed, be a labor of love, if I were able to accomplish it, but my time is so completely preoccupied that I cannot attempt it.' Very truly yours, J. B. Gordon. WITHOUT any time for preparation, or one moment's consecutive thought, you must allow me to speak as the spirit of the occasion may prompt. - To me, as to you, this is one of the saddest, and yet one of the sweetest and proudest occasions of all my life. Saddest, because it is the occasion upon which we have carried to his last resting-place the great chieftain whom we loved, followed and honored. Sweetest, because we have laid him to rest after "life's fitful fever," with all the honors we could bestow, embalmed in the esteem and bound In response to our invitation to Governor Gordon to prepare something specially for the book, he sends us the above letter, and encloses the speech which he delivered in New Orleans on December 6, 1889.--Pubs. less affections of a great and grateful people. Proudest to me, because it was my good fortune to participate in giving to that grand man, dead as he was, the tribute of my respect and love; and now the privilege of taking you all to my heart and saying, as he would have said with the last lisp of his tongue, God bless you, my fellow sufferers. It was my great privilege to know Mr. Davis well, although, as stated on another occasion, I saw him but twice in that eventful period from 1861 to the autumn of 1865. I saw him on t...