Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/78

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Southern Historical Society Papers.

place on the keystone of "Cabin John Bridge," Washington, D. C. This is an era of peace—blessed peace!—and I would rather help. my brother cover up his fault than rejoice to have it stand against him and the whole American nation. Let us remember that without that name on the bridge, the history of its construction is incomplete. It profits us nothing that the blank space points to another's spite of hatred; we want the name there, so that without question the visitor may read the name of "Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War." Let us remember and cherish the words of Abraham Lincoln and put them in practice: he said, "With malice to none, with charity to all." Let this be our motto, now and forever.

Mrs. W. J. Behan,
President C. S. M. A.

REASONS WHY THE NAME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS
SHOULD BE REPLACED ON CABIN JOHN
BRIDGE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

[Mailed July 24, 1907, to Congressman Adolph Meyer from Louisiana.]

The history of the construction of this wonderful piece of engineering demands that the names of those taking part in it should be inscribed thereon and preserved for future generations.

As Secretary of War, from 1853-1857, under the administration of President Franklin Pierce, Jefferson Davis supervised the construction of this remarkable structure, which is to-day considered a masterly piece of engineering skill.

If the name, Jefferson Davis, is not replaced on this tablet, what guarantee have we that future historians may not eliminate his name from the history of the Battle of Buena Vista, where his bravery and strategy gained such a signal victory for the American forces?

If this act of injustice, this defamation of the fair name of an honorable servant of the people, was perpetuated without congressional action, by an official of the administration, why cannot restitution be made by the present Secretary of War?