Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/72

 an act of tardy justice to the memory of the leader of the Confederacy and a confession that the government committed a wrong in removing it, then the North has abundant cause to interpose objections. A revival of the incident at this late day does not serve any good purpose.

["Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association" should read "Confederated Southern Memorial Association."—Editor's note.]

In answer to the article in the Democrat Chronicle, of Rochester, dated July 8, 1907, I wish to say: That in offering the resolution to have the name of Jefferson Davis restored to "Cabin John Bridge," the members of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association had no intention nor desire to open up old animosities; on the contrary, we hope, by our act, to cover up old animosities; to heal the breach made by the act of one man, whose outrageous blunder is now charged to the American nation. We are too great as a people to permit such an act of injustice to stand against a man who served his country as a gallant soldier and as an able official. This wonderful and important piece of engineering skill was engineered and constructed during the time that Mr. Davis served as Secretary of War (and no more efficient officer has ever filled the office); for this reason we ask that in the name of justice and for the truth of history that the name be restored. We do not ask that the name be restored to do honor to the memory of Jefferson Davis, the leader of the Confederacy, but to do honor to the memory of Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War 1853 to 1857, and in making this request we have the endorsement and support of all right-minded, fair and honest people of the North. There may be a few who wish to keep up some agitation. To all such I will say, so far as the South is concerned the war is a thing of the past. The surrender at Appomattox was the final decree, and the men of the South at once began to rebuild their fortunes and to re-unite the country. The men of the South joined hands with the men of the North in defense of this our re-united country, and to-day we stand together, under the same