Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-18

pause m the movement Reconstruction Is regarded
almost in the light cooperation. You know how
the latter has been received by the Southern people
believe the Confederate States of America will never
go into reconstruction Of the Government after the
expiration Of its provisional FORM II is the aim of
the eonedeIates to form Rpubc consisting OF all the
States south OF the Potomac. II aims at the entire nj
IT, after this has been achieved reconstruction
desired the project they say, may be considered but on
such terms the South and Southern institutions may
dictate. is thought here that the border and other
backward States will ultimately join the Confederaey-
When these come they expect Pennsylvania and New
York 10 ecme knocking at the door but admission will
be accorded only when they consent bind themselves
to the maintenance of the slavery institution in their
limits.
TAKING THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
The morning after the adoption of the form of gov
ernment, very dense OF people packed the Con-
gress Chamber. Tue eries and available space on the
do-r crowded ~iih ladies' and gentlemen fer it bad
been given out haG the delegates then and there to
swear teaty 10 the new Government The day was de-
lciousy balmy one and the ladies' uraed out in larger
numbers than have ever seen them.
After the preliminary business of opening the session
had been transacted the President Mr.. Cobb, rose and
announced that it in order to administer the oath
pedgng support the Constitution for the Provis ona
Government of the Confederate States"
Hon. K. w. Walker. of The Chief Justices OF the
Supreme Court Of AlJbsml ascended 20 the Speakers
deck, holding il hs hand snail glt-edsed morocco
bound copy Of the Scriptures The President remained
standing "a; the desk.
Judge Walker said: "YOu do solemnly swear that you
will support the Constitution for the Provisional Govern.
Of the Confederate States of America, help you
God 3"
Mr. Cobb answered. al DO" and reverentially kissed
| the book which he retained in his hand.
The delegates from Alabama Florida, Georgia Louisi-
ana isis ipp aud South Carolina thea summoned
each reprsse IN tura 70 the Presiient, aud duly
! sworn The members OF ihe delegation held on to The
/ book in the same manner that jules commonly
l IA fha hy
in the same N0.ds that Le LimsClf had sworn While
each delegation was lat the book all the rest remained
standing in their places. The most profound silence
vailed during tie ceremony, which in itself Of a
most Interesting character.
PsRSONNEL or tiCE. .rRgSIpESr STTFHENS.
lmsgre On, relnimitsd form Of rtmah able eccentric
john Rudolph hsbed in a sSoiow-ail coat OF black
badly piuts, BLACK vest hosing silk ueckerchet OF
til soubre hue, h,shy pendant watch chain, heavy
seals golden rimmed lyeg glsscS and beaver cooked
the side of the head ard you have faint iles ot
Stephens of Georgia. b you look at the face lorg
time, however, Yea have no conception OF the man. To
picture the Counteuance With pen and ink is difficult. In
diEsfy aspect Of repOSe ia very common, vet
IN its commences it il unusual At first glance the
impression it makes Is but Ct pity for the "sufeet TO
| whom it beo ~. The occasion when il mrs. my
chance this remarkable would have declared
he aFlorijaH. Mosquitoes, asue and fever, swamp
and mliious t,halaOas o. the los lands OF the South
\ e.. ufsei 20 me iastil.2GeOus!y.
" Wha; iu 'he name OF wonder do they send such a
man here ior.' Where Gid he come from. aud "WtO
j. he, prays' IN si.o1s tha. l promptly asked -
" That's stephens ol Geo Eia' was the answer that
tOuisbed need hot say that my curiosity fully
aroused aud that / examined the face fully Miuuely
then, Should ay, il IL excessively pale aud almost
corpse Ike. The lips thin, determined, of nearly All
asnen hue Heavy uCs indGut every part of it. Around
the ewes the wrinkles with the regularity that
,poLes branch ont from the hl5 OF a wheel The fore
head high wide and tg-ye the larger part OF it i:
hidden by harsh, graysh hair allowed TO stragge about
| loosely.
The whole corntsralce is sicall and emphaticay ef
fen iaate In youth IL might have been p-epossessug
though not de iiedly goodl1okag Now mgh readily
be taken CD AIy wrLai,d lace The eve d.,
ocly r,esmirg feature N repCsa, it spaS fas
cuat-s ami mmands-iu excitement it flashes. WheI
coaversng in ordssry the voice, too, is boy
i,h-vominsh-but is nevertheless melojious ana wei
moiu4;ed. As conversation merges into debate, Gut
debae grows illO effort orltory, excitement seem;
70 cbatge the entire His gestures become grace
.ul and the voice gains strength but not hsrsbness. Il
has the clear ring OF silver and dstirc; that it
| be heard by every man in the largest assembly.
| EsASoNs Tog sECREr SESSIONS.
Many expr,ss wouder that the Congress here Assem-
bid p1r-is;ruy holds its secret sessions. The motv,
! isuuderstool. d.. .evc that who Knows the
Opinions bu. i; Is a matter Of pclcy whether the Scuh
era States IN the Con.ederscy should be acqulia,,
With everything that is said Of them that 1t is necessary
should be said Il Jbem aud their posii in the crisis
Be,idsS 10 Cp.n ssOus numbers likely 10 alb
unnecessarily for buuCOnbe aud newspaper uOtOrety-
The vse Old geetl who follow up the secret session
policy Of tbs aud by closing the doors eectu
ally cut of the game lcus, q