The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-15
REERY S. FOOTE ON IRE REBELLIuN,


entitled "War of the Rebellion; or, Scylla and
Charybdis: consisting OF Observations upon the
Causes, Course, and Consequences of the late
Civil War in the United States" AS will be
gathered from the title, Mr.. Foote gives in this
volume his opinions on the war, and the causes
which led to it, He discusses the political his
tory of the country from the settlement of the
colonies, rapidly, and blames abol1tionists and
secessionists alike for the war. He is OF opinion
that sectional parties brought on the war; he
seems to forget that slavery caused the sectional
parties. He seems to imagine that it was only
the result of political squabbles.
His discussion of political questions has little
value or interest. 1t is an attempt to warm up
very stale meats. There are issues and questions
so dead that they can never be infused with life
again now that the struggle is over which killed
them. The nation has stepped step higher-it
does not care to turn back and carefully examine
the mud through which it has passed. But Mr..
Foote scatters through hs book "reminiscences of
public men, some of which are of interest. Here
% a sketch of
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
saw him first IN the city of Vicksburg more
than thirty years ago as Lieutenant Davis He
was then young man OF modest and pleasing
aspect and manners, bat gave slight indications
of any abilities likely TO lead to future distinction
He married. left the army, and settled himself
on plana alton of respectable dimensions i'll the
southern part OF the county OF Warren, some
twenty miles from the city OF Vicksburg where
he has constantly resided since, until he became
President of the Confederate States.
Mr. Davis and his official associates had no
correct conception OF the true character and
dimensions OF the war into which they hal 50
hastily plunged, as was afterwards frankly con-
tessed in many a lugubrious harangue, and IN
more than one solemn official document. They
believe
endure 1or q twelvemonth and were even weak
enough to calculate most confidently upon strong
Northern aid, which it is now well known there
never was the least probability OF their recev-
ing; albeit eXPresldent Pierce and several Others
whose letters to MIR. Davis have recently seen
the light, had phed this conhding parsonage
with secret promises OF support upon which he
built in part his hopes OF one day WELDING an
imperial sceptre. As to the interpostlon of
foreign powers in behalf of the now warning
States OF the South, though many de ;eltful
assurances we're received from abroad at differ
ent periods OF the contest no man of sound In.
tellect anywhere now supposes that either the |
French or English Government ever seriously |
thought Of embrolling itself in transatlantic |
civic teud. Mr.. Davis vetoed more oils during |
the short provisional regime than all the Presi.
dents of the United States put together, from |
Washington to Lincoln inclusive and no at |
tempt TO pass single bill over his head was |
ever made.
DAVIS CABINET.
There were only two of these functonaries |
whose OulClhl QuallllCatlOnS were even reSpeCta- |
ble-the AttorneyGeneral, Mr.. Watts, OF Ala
bama, and the Postmaster.General, Mr.. Reagan |
OF Texas. The Secretary OF War (Air. Benjamin) |
besides his inability to meet the military eMgen- |
cles which he had been encounterng as well as |
the more serious ones in prospect, was subject |
to otnel objections as the incumbent of high |
cabinet position OF the greatest and most vital |
character. His reputation Tor integrity had |
never been good, and OF late years it had
become deeply tarnished by his known partici-
pancy III schemes OF notorious corruption both
IN the State OF Louisiana and in Washington
city. The offensive moral odor arising from the
celebrated Houmas trand Zone of the most un-
blushing and proaigate legislative transactions
that had ever disgraced the annals of free
people, had affixed such stigma upon the repu-
tation both OF Mr. Benjamin and his friend and
patron, Mr.. John A. Sldell, as it was not posi-
BILE that any lapse of time could entirely elface.
CURIOUS SECRET HISTORY.
Just about the time that l was laborng most
assiduousiy To relieve the Department of War
OF Mr.. Benjamin, by calling forth, as far as 1t
might be IN my power 10 do so, cooperative
responses from the people, an occurrence took
place IN social life IN Richmond which mad
much effect, not only upon the fate OF Mr. Ben |
Iamin, but which, in the sequel, had much in
fuence also upon the course OF public events
l CHANGED to be invited to a dinnerparty
where some twenty OF the most prominent
members of the two Houses OF the Contede
rate Congress were congregated including
the Speaker OF the House OF Representatives |
Mr.. Orr, Of South Carolina, and others OF
|
also an invited guest. While the banquet was
proceeding, Mr.. BeniamiD's gross acts of
Official misconduct becoming the subject of
conversation, one Of the company turned TO |
General Johnston, and inquired whether he
thought it even posi- BILE that the Confederate
cause could succeed with Mr.. BENJAMIN as war
minister. To this inquiry, General Johnston
after little pause, emphaiically responded in
the negative. This high authority was imme-
dlately cited in both Houses of Congress
against Mr.. Benjamin, and was in the end fatal
10 his hopes of remaining in the Department OF
War.
Mr.. Davis after deferriug the sending in of
MS nominations for Cabinet appointments, un-
der the permanent Constitution, for nearly four
weeks, In order to have it in his power TO per- |
suade the Senate to confirm Mr.. Benjamin as
secretary OF War, in the event of his beng re.
nominated, ultimately relinquished this object
IN despar-that body, however accommodating
II was IN general to Executive fancies having
Seen found unwilling To participate in the terri
Ole responsibility OF sucn an act. Mr.. Benjamin |
was finally nominated for the Department OF |
state, and was confirmed, by a very small ma.
lorlty, Tor that place, where he had iC in mis- |
power, both abroad and at home to perpetrate |
5TtUTe 0dretdcfd acts of corruption and Drofiq0cy
than any single individual has ever been known
10 commit in the same space of time in any
part of Chrlstendom. / will here remark in |
passing, that this frank and manly declaration |
of General Johnston rendered both Mr. Davis
and MIR. Benjamin alike hostile to him. and he |
was fated to experience the effect OF their ma |
leVOlence on more than one subsequent occa- |
sion previous to his ultimate depriyat ton of |
military command.
Very great mischief notoriously resulted to
the Confederate cause from the long retention |
IN the office OF Commis ary-General of Colonel |
Northrup. This person is understood to be a |
fiup ~ onfh No linn aVa1 Ia.