Page:Historic towns of the southern states (1900).djvu/454

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JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Americans, they proceeded to organize the Confederate Government. The excitement culminated with the arrival and inauguration of Mr. Davis. An enormous crowd escorted him from the depot to the Exchange Hotel, where he was welcomed by Mr. Yancey in an apt little speech containing the famous words "The man and the hour have met." The ceremony of inauguration took place February 18th in front of the capitol. The enthusiasm was unbounded. One who was present declared years afterwards: "I never before or since that hour so experienced the ecstasy of patriotism." At 10 o'clock in the morning Mr. Davis left the Exchange in a carriage drawn by six white