Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-07-07
Stephens on Davis.
Some New Faets-The 1Tisman-
agement of Dayis-Why the
War went On, sc.

WarWent On, &e.
Tne Augusta .Consttationa7iis
gives an epitome Of Alexander H
Stephens second volume on thC
"War Between the States, . which
possesses special interest. VIZ
quote
Jefferson Davis was looked up
on by all as an eminently conser
vative man. Toombs was to have
been President, but failed through
a singular pisapprehensiOn on the
part of representatives of other
States, who Lad understood that
he had refused to have his name
put forward. Ther> was some
misunderstanding likewise con-
cerning Howell Cobb being the
choice of Georgia. BY accidental
complications Mississippi had the
first choice, and chose Jefferson
/ Davis, which resulted in the Vice
Presidency of Mr.. Stephens.
The responsibility for the fail.
ure to advance after the battle Of
Manassas is referred to President
Davis. Mr.. Stephens affirms that
there never was anv personal
feud between him and Mr.. Davis.
though they differed widely on
many questions of public policy.
Mr.. Davis is alluded to through
out in the kindest manner, and
warmly defended against the as
pensions of his enemies at home
and abroad. Mr.. Stephens be-
lieved that diplomacy could hon
orably stop.the war in 1868 He
proposed a mission to Washing.
ton for that purpose when the
military status was most favorable
to both parties. Mr.. Davis did
not concur until too late, until, il
fact, the military status had rem
dered such course impossible.
Lees invasion of the north was
great blunder politically and in a
military sense, but chargeable, In
the main, to the Richmond Cabi-
net. Gettysburg and Vicksburg
turned the tide in favor Of the
North. But the vital blow struck
at Southern success was in the.
mistaken policy OF finance and
conseription, the latter especially.
The peoples spirits were broken
by it, and it was as unconstitution-
al as unnecessary. The people
were willing to fight for liberty,
but were not willing to be COM
PEELED to do so. If compulsion
had been necessary, the. war ought
to have been abandoned; for no
people are worthy of liberty or
capable of preserving it, who have
to be driven into battle. Even in
the early part of 1865 Mr.. Ste
phens had hopes, in case the pol
icy of the administration changed.
1t did not change, and so conscrip-
ton, impressment, the suspension
of hG6eaS corpus and prodjgal waste
of lives and property were the
cause of Southern dispair and de-
feat. Much light is thrown upon
The Hampton roads conference.
There seems to be little doubt
that a scheme was concocted to
terminate the war by a diversion
of the question TO another channel
and a joint movement of both ar
mics against the French in Mexi-
CO. To have been successful the
preliminaries to a military conven-
ton demanded the utmost secrecy
Mr.. Stephens proposed that Mr..
Davis should meet Mr.. Lincoln.
He refused and suggested three
Commissioners. Mr.. Stephens ad-
vised that three able men should
be appointed whose absence would
not be detected. or observed. Mr..
Davis. however, insisted upon ap-
pointing just the very trio whose
absence from Richmond would
have been remarked at once. In
consequence, the matter became
common public rumor, and the
whole business was thus defefteS
frYm the start. Nobody was more
disappointed at this result than
Mr.. Davis, who subsequently
seemed to lose his good judgment,
but never his ardent devotion to
liberty. Mr.. Stephens .descants
upon the future destiny of the
United States. He holds that the
South is powerless at this time to :.
shape or control events. The ju-
dietary department, though sadly
brow beaten, may still be a bal
wark of liberty. So far, however,
the cause lost at Appomatox was
not the Federal principle, butthc
maintenance OF that principle by
arms.