The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-06-07

! The Charleston Courier says that the
following letter was written hy a gentle
! man who occupied the position Of private
secretary TO one Of the most influential
I members Of jeff. Davis Cabinet through.
on; the rebellion 1t comes. therefore,
nom one we'll qualified to set forth the
actual condition Of affairs in the rebel
capital during the latter days Of the rebel
! lion. 1t gives an Interior view of the
movements and sentiments of the rebel
Government, such as it has not been posi-
bic to obtain hitherto:
RICHMOND. Monday, May l6, 1885,
Owing to the mystery Of secret sessions
and the rcticerca observed by the Jour
mails. much OF the real history Of the great
struggle remains TO ne written. 1t is
know to the world that Mr.. Davis WELD.
cd TO the last the full powers of the South,
and that the Southern Congress granted
nearly all his requests for power, Unsuitable
as he seemed to be in this respect. But it
is not we'll known that he was unpopular
with the leading statesmen Of tn. South.
They thought lightly OF his capacity, and
; deemed him an incubus upon their cause
Some opposed him openly, but the major
i'v. while deploring his errors. did not
think it Fl period for opposition. Among
the i"rner class We're Or Toombs, Wig
! fall, Graham. Among the latter were
Mess-s. Camphcll. Cobb, Hunter and many
others. On the other hand. Mir Davis had
. a cordial hatred for Congress. and took no
pains to conceal it. One of his last pro.
ceedngs was to send in a special message,
which, when analyzod. WAS found to be
| nothing less than carefully prepared bill
OF indictment. and designed to throw upon
the Congress all the oiu,n in the event of
failure. This doctlm ment elected severe
reply from the Senate. at which body it
was supposed to he specially aimed.
! No person, rerf,aps, ever occupied a
prominent position Who availcd himself 50
| l,ue of the wisdom, or experience of others
as Mir. PAWS. lie was rudely into!erant
of any difference of opinion, and seemed
to rejoice in isolation from those who were
likely to express an independent Judgment.
His despotism over his Cabinet was s0-
preme. He admitted that he knew no.
thing of finance but upon all other sub
jrc's made no rretence OF modcsty.
When the Southern Congress met in
| November last, Mr.. Davis sent in a mes
sage, which was upon the whole, of
confident tone. lie seemed to take no
account of the waning resources and spirit
Of the South, or The diminished numbers
of her armies, and still less OF the con.
stancv, determination and power OF the
\ orth. Tie members of Congress were
not disposed 10 accept as gospel this cheer
ful manifesto, and accordingly Il resolution
| was offered ty Mr.. C%perton for q Joint
! committee to look into the condition Of
public affairs The necessary effect of this
! was to compel the Administration TO look
into its own land, and this motion MIR.
Davis regarded and resented as a hostile
proceeding. This investigation lasted
month or more, and the resolutions it pro-
vokcl produced marked effect upon the
temper and spirit Of the Southern Con-
! gress, which, some weeks after the in
formal conferences at Fortress Monroe,
| llpened into action. a movement was
! organized, of which Senators Hunter. of
Virginia. Graham, of North Carolina, and
! Orr. Of South Ca, olina, were the leading
spirits, to induce the President to negotiate
for peace, and secure the best terms posi-
BILE for the South. Judge Campbell, the
Assistant Secretary of War; laborrd ear
nestly and constantly to this end and 1t is
understood that Mallory, Of the Cabinet.
was anxious for the adoption of this policy
1t was perfectly obvious to the rejecting
men Of the Con!cderacy that to continue
the contest for independence was a hope
less pursut--lhal when the spring weather
permitted the immense masses of ,;rant
and Sherman to be precipitated upon
them, the Southern armies would be ut
terly insufficient to resist the shock. To
60 on was simply to cause a useless eil.u-
sion of blood, ou!y to be followed in the
end by ruin and suljugation. 1t was be-
lieved tl,at while the Sou,herners had two
large armies in the iell. possession of their
capital and an organized Government,
they could, with this show of strength,
secure liberal terms upon the basis of
restoration Of the Union. 1t was believed
that Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Seward would
| favor q policy of f1.nnril;ntinn La q unrl