Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/129



My Dear Mrs. Behan,—I have no need to assure you of my great pleasure in having been permitted to have association with you so many years in the successful efforts to maintain the truth, the dignity and the honor of our Confederate movement. That movement by a great, intelligent, patriotic, Christian people is uplifted loftily above all the political, personal, ambitious, commercial, selfish movements in all history.

The fame of the President and the great leaders is recognized by every fair patriot in all the world, I am ready to say, in quoting the notable petition of a great old man, "Now let thy servant depart in peace." But, alas, not quite yet. I want to live a few years more to enjoy with our whole country the harvest and bright results of the controversy we have had with those of our countrymen who were so hard to convince.

As a present duty which we owe to the country we must follow at once in the best spirit the suggestions which the restored name of Jefferson Davis on the "Cabin John Bridge" make to the world. That apparently small event marks far more than even a grand Southern-built monument. I do not mean that we should exult in a triumph over foes in this restoration of the words "Jefferson Davis" upon "Cabin John Bridge;" but that we should appreciate the act in the right spirit and with suitable expressions. I desire that the quiet work of the Southern women in this matter should be told by whoever is selected to speak of it before U. C. V. convention at an appropriate half-hour.

Further, we must put our countrymen in possession of the personal, patriotic, historical character of Jefferson Davis—I emphasize the importance of this information as being greater than even the building of monuments to his memory. We must build the monuments but we must not leave them alone to speak for him and us. We must place him in fame for his splendid personal attributes—his extraordinary patriotic career—his wonderful patience in suffering through a long life, etc. We must place him alongside our revolutionary heroes—our Washington, Jefferson, John Adams—alongside our Presidents, our statesmen