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


ever. that they were greatly exhausted
and wcarled OF the war. and If their rulers
had sought an honorable pacifica.ion, they
would have sustained them.
One Of the men whose hatred to Davis
was most intense and bitter was Wigfall,
of Texas. lie declared that success nth
Jefferson Davis at tho helm was impossible
that his iucapacity and obstin acy would
ruin any cause in the world, and he fa-
vored counter revolution to depose him.
He proposed publicly to coerce Davis and
Stephens to resign, and it is probable that
the Presidents jealousy Of Hunter. who
would thus have succeeded. excited by this
project, had no small share in defeating
the scheme of the latter to open negotia-
tions for peace.
Ii Mr.. Davis were TO succeed IN making
his way to Europe. he would then pass
INTO history as an incompetent who had
brought ruin vn the cause he aepired to
lead Hardly any of the public men of
the South have any liking for him, and
every one would then have his story to
tell of blunders and Encouragement. AS
1t Is, however, Mr.. Davis is hunted fugi
tive, fleeing for life. with price set on his
head The Southerners all feel that the
North desires TO punish him because he was
their chosen leader aud representative, and
as sucl, they desire his escape. At this
moment. Mr.. Davis rallies around him the
synua,hes OF every Southern man or
woman, and nowhere more than IN this
city, where thousands have been begcared
by the inccndiary proceedings which at
tendcd his departure. The Scutherners
say that there is no more reason why Mr..
Davis should be punished than themselves
for rebellion. They put him in his posi-
tion, and kept him, and approved his op-
position to the national authority
Again, while all Sou,herners look with
horror and uetes;nton upon the crime by
which Mr. Lincoln lost his life they all
had aught to do with it, Even those
among them most bitter upon Mr.. Davis
affirm that lie would never for one mo.
mcnt have countcnancel 50 Infamous q
resort as assassination. 1t is not believed
that Mr.. Davis cherished any personal
hostility for the late President or for tse
members of his Cabinet. His batreds
We're for the leaders of tn. South, those
whom he feared might outstrip him in
popularity, nr who venturet to question
his infallibiity. lie hated Joe Johnston
and Beauregarl. lie was Jealous of Hun
ter and Lee; but those in the South who
most appreciated and suffered bv his re-
sentiments would be among the first to
acquit him OF an ir.!putaiion OF Il thirst for
blood. Like Mr. Lincoln, it was almost
impossible to obtain his consent to an exc
cuilon, and thus tie discipline of the
So';thevn armies was lost, never afterward
TO be regainei
AT one time throughout the South, there
was c!aInor for retaliation for alleged
outrnges by the Union armies. MIR. Davis
Gen. Lee, MIR. Hunter and others steadily
resisted this demand, and no light share Of
blame tell IN consequence upon the Con-
feuerate Government. Even Gen. Lee, the
lido! OF the South during this war. did not
escape censure. 1t is we'll known in Rich
mond that Dah}gren's command would
have been executed a year ago but for the
lntcrpositlon OF Mr.. Davis and Gen Lee
1t Is well that these facts should he
known III forming an estimate of one
whose character all are now discussing
The same Southern gentlemen who rcpu-
diate as absurd the idea that Mr. Davis
could have stopped TO so infaln Gus crime
as that of procuring the assassination of
Mr.. Iincoln and Mr. Sc ward. will tell you
that he was obstinate, narrow, self. wilIed,
domineerinS aud seltisl,-a man whose
faults of temper and intellect would have
ruined 4 lar stronger cause than that of
the South. AS they peak from this point
OF view, their testimony is entitled to the
more weight. 1t is u verdict OF acquittal
from hostile jury.
The amount of specie taken hence by
the Confederate Government has been
greatly over-rated. 1t did not much ex
cecd half a mill ion of dollars; but large
proportlon-say half-was in silver. and
hence the bnik would give the idea of
great value. The Richmond banks took
away their specie and this amount may
have reached several millions of dollars.
1t is an error to suppose that Mr.. Davis
took away tLis or any amount of specie
viii IN. i4l..a &c l:.... L;.a.