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VOL. 1-NO 17s. 0 as a m nkxmi TIIOMASVILLE,'GEORGIA. SUNDAY MORNING, DEOEMREI! ’SS!) $5.00 PER ANNUM JEFFERSOI DAVIS DEAD. THE GREAT CHIEFTAIN PASSES OVER THE RIVER, And Rests With Jackson Under the Shade of the Trees. ' The Hearts of a Great and Loving People Crushed by the Death of Their Great Leader — The Heto of Haid- Fought Fields in Mexico--The Peerless Statesman in Federal Councils The Defender of a Nation’s Honor. JEFFERSON DAVIS IS NO MORE. At 12:45 o’clock this morning a great heart ceased to beat—a stain less life was closed. Jefferson Davis, first and last presi dent of the southern confederacy, is dead. As we write these words a thousand miles away, the body ol the puissant chieftan, from which the breath has scarcely parted, |lit mute and motionless beneath the touch of reverential hands—while, 'in the regions of the blest, the great soul, weary of the fretting hindrances ol the flesh, greets Iriends and com rades gone before. And now has passed away the last ol the mighty leaders of the lost cause. Cobb, Stevens, the kingly Toombs and the steadfast Hill; Yancey, the impetuous gentleman; Lee, the paladin of battle, and Jackson, who ruled its tornt—gone—-all gone! Gone to the great tribunal, before whom all things are judged, and to Him, who search ed! all hearts and measureth to victor and beaten in infinite mercy and infi nite justice. Closed the drama in which they fought or plead as heroes --sheathed the sword, furled’the ban ner, sealed the record and their dear names and fame, hut a memory and heritage to the people. With him, who doeih all things well, they rest at last. Jefferson Davis will be mourned in millions of hearts this day. Govern ment will not render him the pomp and circumstance of a great death, but hts people w II give to him a tribute of love and tears, surpassing all that government can do, and honoring his memory as earthly parade could net do. He is our dead, and from Mary land to Texas, wherever in other states or ether lands his people may have wandered—wherever dauntless courage is or stainless honor made friends— wherever those who have suffered are and superb fortitude may touch the heart or dim the eye, there Jefferson Dayts—God bless Jjis name, as we write it—will be honored and mourned to-day. If, amid the winds of the new morning into which his soul lias entered, the grief of the world may come, he will be content to know that his people love him, and loving, mourn him. Greater honor than is his his people have given, and can give no more. THE DEATH SCENE. New Orleans, December 6.—2:30 ,. m.—Mr. Jefferson Davis died sud denly at 12:45 this morning. He had been steadily improving for the past few days, and his physicians announc ed that they were entirely satisfied with his condition. His appetite had improved somewhat and he was free from fever, and those who had access to the sick room were rejoiced over the favorable change.He rested quietly throughout the day, and in the after noon the bulletin was to the effect that his condition was favorable. Shortly before midnight he had a coughing fit, which seemed to ex haust hts little remaining strength, and at 12:45 he passed quietiy away—so quietly, in fact, that the watchers scarcely knew when dea^h came. jepTerson davis’s like. Jefferson Davis was born in Chris tian county, Ky., on the 3rd day of June, 1808. Georgia may claim kinship with the man, as well as share of his glory. His father, Sam uel Davis, was a Georgia planter. In the revolutionary war he was an officer in a cavalry regiment in which he served with much distinction Later he moved to Kentucky, and some years afterward to Mississippi The Georgia branch of the Davises is now extinct, but it lives in tradition as a high-spirited and honorable family. Passing his boyhood on the frontier, where the whites were frequently en gaged in conflict with savage foes, young Jefferson’s earliest thoughts were centered upon guns, sabres, and all the panoply of war. By the time he was sixteen lie had made the most of his academic and university advantages, and entered the military academy at West Point. For fellow students he had such comrades as Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnson, Leonidas Polk, John B MaGruder, and others well known to fame. In this circle his lofty charac ter, bright mind and thorough manli ness, commanded the highest regard of all. BLACK IIAWKS IDEAL SOLDIER, From boyhood Jefferson Davis had a strong soldierly bias, amounting almost to a passion. Drums and bu gles stirred the fever in his blood, and caused his pulse to leap into impetu ous action. When lie graduated at West Point, and plunged into the thick of the Indian warfare on the northwestern frontier, the old army officers instant ly recognized him as a born soldier. He was appointed a staff officer, and made such a brilliant record that, in a short time he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and adjutant of a new cavalry regiment. By this time the famous Indian chief, Black Flank, handed several tribes together, and made the frontier too hot for the whites. Black Hawk combined the sagacity of King Philip with the military genius of Teeumseh. Time and again ho led his plumed warriors to victory, scattering the regular troops before him or baffling them by his waily strategy. The cool judgment, quick decision and unflinchingcottrage of Lieutenant Davis made him a central figure. Finally Black Hawk was captured and held for some time as a hostage. The proud captive chafed under the confinement. He felt a contempt for the whites and bated them. He was sullen and reserved, and would neither hear nor answer the captains and men among the pale faces. Only one mau lmd any influence with him. The red chieftain knew a soldier when he saw one, and Davis attracted his attention. The young officer had eyes like an eagle’s. He walked with the springy step of an Indian brave on the warpath. To this frank, bold, magnetic man the prisoner felt irre sistibly drawn. Davis was not long in finding out ltis power over his sav age foemnn, and lie used it in the interests of peace. “Black Hawk,” said the young soldier, when they were about to part, “You know me. You have called mo the pale face with the straight tongue and red man’s heart. I like you because you are brave and true to your people. Hear my words and take them home. Can you couut the stars or the leaves of the forest, or the sanus of the had lands? You know that you cannot. Yet ’ these countless hosts do not outnumber the pale faces. Since you were strong enough to bend a bow, you have fought us. You have seen your braves cut down like grass. You have been driven back year by year. Can you hope at this late day to over come the bayonet with ihe tomahawk? Will the shouts of your warriors drown our big guns? Black Hawk is a man with a head. lie secs these things. When he goes home to his people, will he not tell them that it is better to divide this broad land with the white man, and dwell in peace with them, than to be driven into the sea?” These plain words sunk deep into Black Hawk’s heart. He seized Davis’s band and gave it a cordial grip. Then he turned and marched away without a word. When he was released, and again sur rounded by his savage legions, he told them what he had heard, and counseled them never again to raise their hands against the men in blue with the big guns. THE FAMCfl’S V MOVEMENT. When Colonel Davis returned from the Mexican war, at the head of the gallant Mississippi Rifles, the whole nation hailed him as “the hero of Buena Vista.” At Monterey, Colonel Davis and his men fought with heroic valor. Braving a furious storm of copper- grape, the Mississippians made a des perate charge on the enemy’s fortifi cations. The men literally threw themselves upon the guns of the Mex icans, after climbing the breastworks. It was wild work. The assault was like an avalanche. The Mexicans fled and took shelter in a strong build ing, from which they poured a heavy fire of musketry. This post was sopn captured, and the next fight was a hot engagement in the streets of Mon terey. The heavy fire front the housetops was deadly and terrorizing. Davis and his soldiers penetrated street after street, dislodging the foe from building alter building, until within a square of the grand plaza. The capitulation of Monterey follow ed, and the entire country rang with the.praises of Colonel Davis and his Mississippi Rifles. The Buena Yista exploit -classed the name of Davis among the most renowned military men of modern times. HERE AfJAINKT TERRIBLE ODDS he saved the army and virtually won the battle. The Americans were about to lose the day, when General Taylor, with Colonel Davis and others rode up. Several retreating regi ments were rallied. Davis, with his own regiment and a handful of Indi an n volunteers, advanced at double quick, firing all the time. The Mexi cans were put to flight, but in a few moments a brigade of lancers, tw thousand strong, camn on at a gallop with sounding bugles and fluttering peuous. Colonel Davis threw his men into the form of a V, both flanks resting on ravines, the Mexicans ad vancing on the intervening ridge, thus exposing the enemy to a cross fire. When within range the rifles blazed away. The whole head of the Mexican column fell. Never was a more deadly fire witnessed on any battle field. The Mexicans were completely shattered. They fell ns fast as the drops 1 of summer rain, and those who escaped fled precipitately from the field.—Constitution. As secretary of war, as a senator in the Congress of the United States, his name is familiar to the people. The ceutral figuie of the greatest revolu tion of modern times. His name is indissolubly linked with the struggle. Although going down in history as the leader of “A Lost Cause,” no stain is on his fair name. The south will hold his memory in reverence as long 'as her sunshine lasts, or her flowers bloom; and they will, we doubt not, erect a monument to his memory, a shaft of spotless white marble, emblematic of the purity of the man, which shall tell futile gene rations of the man who staked and lost all for his country. The Poet’s Tribute. When the news was flashed into the Constitution's office, at 2 o'clock on Friday morning, Montgomery Folsom turned to the desk and wrote the fol lowing lines impromptu : “Davis is dead!” the message read; The night was waning fast: On lightning wlngB the sentence sped? A storm of pont-up tears unshod. Carao gushing forth at last. “Davis is (load I" the message read; We thought of days gone by. And him whore dauntless courage fed The altar IIres when hope had lied, And darkness veiled the sky “Davis Is dead I" tho message road; God keep his noblo namo! Tho deeds of those who fought and bled For Dixie, nro otornal wed With hlg undying fame. “Davis is dead I" tho message read; Last of a prlncoly train. Thpugh lowly lies his crownless head, Ills memory lives, and in his stead No othor king shall rolgn. IT IS A WEAK MESSAGE. Tha Critics Find Little to Commend In it. The fires in the recent past, leads the New York Tribune to discuss those that are to come.” It is an interesting topic. Here is one thought: The time may come when water will be regarded as the least efficient im plement at the command of fire de partments, and when universal prac tice will conform to the idea that the way to extinguish flame Is to suffocate and not drown it.” In other words, it is a question of vapors, chemically produced and instantaneously applied. New York, Dec. 4.—Commencing on the President’s message the Herald says : “Perident Harrison’s message is a plain business document, well itten and making recommendations strictly in tho lino of the Republican platform.” The Times says: “We see no evi dence that President Harrison was influenced by conscious self-distrust in preparing his first annual message. It appears to be the work of a secret and contented mind. It is natural enough that a mind capable of com posing so dull it message should be incapable of rightly appreciating its own work. As a mere reference ndex to public; business the message may have some value in Congress and in newspaper offices, but if it records the events of the times it throws no • light upon them, and while it refers the acknowledged evils it suggests no' proper remedies. No other motive than fear could have restrained the president from making a clear and specific recommendation of the tariff revision.” The Tribune says: “Pres ident Harrison’s first message is a plain, candid and entirely unpreten tious review of public affairs. Its most striking characteristic is an absence of pretense, exageration or rhetorical flourishes, and there is no attempt to enlarge upon especinl top ics for the sake of catching temporary popular applause or partisan advan tage. It has the tone throughout of conscious strength and sincerity, and of a profound conviction that the people will unwaveringly sustain the national policies to which they gave approval by their votes one year ago The Sun says: “For originality, grasp of public questions and sense of perspective in the statement of nation al affairs, General Harrison’s message compares unfavorably with the first message sent to Congress by Mr. Hayes twelve years ago; tho ablest man that ever occupied the White House, and who had more to offer to Congress in way of information and suggestion, and who offered it with more vigorous individuality of thought and expression titan the pres ent Chief Executive of the United .States can exhibit or command. The message is a disclosure, and what it discloses is, a President with out ideas and an administration with out policy.” The World says: “The leading characteristics of tho President’s mes sage are its unhesitating advocacy of centralization and paternalism in gov ernment, and its bland unconscious assumption that the Republican par ty is the republic. In these respects the message is in close conformity with the attitude aud tendency of the party which made Mr. Harrison Pres ident.'’ Latest Designs! LARGEST STOCK! , Lowest Friees! -FOR- FOOTWEAR —AT— Near Post-Office. ELEGANT STOCK OF FANCY .'.SLIPPERS FOR Ladies AND The editor of a German paper is on trial at Potsdam, charged with “majestatsbcleidigung.” No punishment is too severe for an editor who commit sucli an offense. Bismarc ought to take this mau in hand. GENTS. ■Mill BUS«. AT City Shoe Store, Near Post Office.