Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-07-11

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party opposed 10 Mr.. Davis, had not been sc.
corded the position due to their talents by
public opinion in either section. Pemberton
made splendid defense of Vicksburg, and
might have been relieved if the officer COM
manding the army, sent torelieve him Gene
raj Johnston) had not failed to obey the posi-
tive orders to attack General Grant, which
Mr.. Seddon, then Secretary of War, had sent.
Ifthe same officer, who was upheld in command
by the anti.administraiion party, had vigorously
attacked Sherman, at Atlanta, when directed,
the fortunes of the war would have been
changed, and Sherman hurled, back to Nash.
vile, over sterile and wasted country
his retreat little less disastrous than Napo-
Icons from Moscow. he did not do so, and
was Acknowledgement Hood, true and
spirited soldier, taking his place-but the
opportunity was then gone; and to delay,
more than to any other cause, the Southern
people will attribute their overthrow, when
ever history comes to be truly written.
Bragg's victory over Rosecrans at Chicka-
mauga, Mr.. Davis regarded as one Of the most
brilliant achievements of the war, consider
ing the disparity of the forces. The subse-
quent concentration Of Grant and Hooker
with Rosecrsns, and the victory of their COM
bined forces at Lookout Mountain, was the
result of audacity or desperation which no
military prudence could have foreseen. So
confident was Bragg in the impregnability of
his position, that Immediately after Chicka-
mauga he detached Longstreet with 10000
men-about third Of his entire force-to
make demonstration against Knoxville, thus
indirectly threatening Grants commupica-
tions with Nashville. Bragg's position was
finally carried by the Overwhelming num-
bers of the enemy. The opponents of his ad-
ministration censured Bragg for detaching
Longstreet, but the subsequent events which
made that movement unfortunate were of
character which no prudence could have fore
seen, no military calculation taken into view
as probable.
All such reflections were idle, however,
concluded Mr.. Davis, and he must not be-
again betrayed into their indulgence. Sue
cess is virtue and defeate crime. This is the
philosophy of life-at least the only one the
great masses of mankind feel ready to accept.
Woe to the conquered is no less q popular
cry in the nineteenth century than when the
barbarians first yelled it as they swarmed
with dripping swords to the sack o. Rome.
CONCERNING HIS GOVERNMENT, ETC.
OF his own administration, Davis, in this
volumne, speaks freely. He regrets Mr.. Mem,
minger's delay in buying up cotton at the
outset of the war, when planters offered it
freely at ten cents per pound. This would
have given the South a thousand millions in
gold in Europe as treasury basis to carry
on the currency at par, and so sustain the
war. Benjamin he praised highly thought
Toombs "impracticable and restless" Ste
phens apathetic the Rhetts " faction of ne
gatives;" Lee one of the greatest, if not the
greatest, of living soldiers; and Stonewall
Jackson a Christian hero Of the highest type.
On the fight with the Merrimac, Mr.. Davis
remarks that it was "by injuries from the
shot of the Congress, and not by the :Moni.
tor, that the Merrimac was compelled to re.
retire." With Mr.. Davis opinion of Andrew
johnson, and a few striking words on recon.
struction, we conclude our citations from this
most attractive volume.
As Mr.. Davis was speaking of the Senate,
asked him his opinion of President Johnson
to which for some moments he made 10 re,
ply, apparently hesitating whether to speak
on the subject or not. At length he said,
that of President johnson he knew no more
than the papers told every one; but thate Of
Mr.. johnson, when in the Senate, he would
as freely speak as of any other member.
There were, of course, differences between
them, more especially Just previous to the re-
trement of the Southern Representatives from
Congress. The position of Mr.. johnson with
his associates of the South had never been
pleasant, not from any fault or supercilous.
ness on their side, but solely due to the in.
tense, almost morbidly sensitive pride of Mr.
johnson. Sitting with associates, many of
whom he knew pretended TO aristocracy, Mr..
Johnson seemed to set up before his own
mind, and keep. ever present. with him his
Democratic or plebeian origin as a bar to
warm social relations. This pride-for it
was the pride OF having no pride-his asso-
ciaates long struggled to overcome, but with
out success. They respected Mr.. Johnson's
abilities, integrity and greatly original force
of character but nothing could make him be,
or seem to feel at home in their society. Some
casual word dropped in debate, though utter
ed without thought Of bis existence, would
seem to wound him to the quick, and again
he would shrinl. back into the selfimposed |
isolation OF his earlier and humber life, as if
to gain strength from touching his mother
earth. In word, while other members Of
the Senate were Democrats in theory, or as
their political faith, Mr.. johnson was Dem
ocrat Of pride, conYiqtionl aud self:aasertion
"a man If the peGpa, who not only desired |
no higher grade Of classification, but could
not be forced into its acceptance or retention |
when friendly efforts were made to that end. |
He was an immense worker and student, but !
always in the praetiealities of life; little 4 /
the graces Of literature. His habits were |
marked by temperance, industry, courage and |
unswerving perseverance, also, by invetef-
ate preiudices or preconceptions on certain
points, and these no arguments could shake. |
His faith iu the judgment of the people was |
unlimited, and to their decisions, be- was al
WAYS ready to submit. One of the people by
birth, he remained SO by conviction, contln'
ually recurring to his origin though ne was
by no means the only Senator OF the South
in like circumstances. Mr.. Davis mentioned
Aaron V. Brown, of Mississippi, who had
been Postmaster General under President |
Buchanan, and several others, who were OF
like Democratic education with Mr.. Iohnson
but Who seemed TO forget and in regard to
whom it vas forgotten BY their associates,
that they had ever held less social rank than
that to which their talents and industry has
raised them. Of Mr.. Johnson's character,
Justice was an eminent feature, though not
Iupcoupled-as true justice rarely fails to be
with kindnsss a4d generosity, He was
emipeaItly faithful to his yorH, and possessed
a courage which took the form ofapgry realss'
tanceif urged to do, or not do anything which
might clash with his convictions of duty. He
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