The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-06-30
How JEFF. Davis ca1sie to be Elected Presi'
dent OF the Confederate States.


From advance sheets of Mr.. Stephens "War
between tie States,'' we make the following
interesting historical extract:
Major Heister-Pray tell US, Mr.. Stephens,
if you have no objection, how this came about
how Mr. Davis came President and you Vice
President under these circumstances
Mr. Stephens have no objection to giving
you my opinion on the subject, as to how Mr..
Davis came to be chosen under the circum-
stances. 1t is, however, only an opinion. I
was somewhat surprized myself at both results
as they occurred, but as 1 took only very
small part in the elections any way cannot
speak of my own knowledge as TO but few facts
connected with either The conclusion 1 came
to from all the facts learned from others be-
fore and afterwards, was that the selection OF
Mr.. Davis grew out of misapprehension on
the part of the delegates of one or perhaps two
or three of the States in their consultations OF
the night before as to the man that the Georgia
delegation had determined to present. A ma
iority of the States, as understood, and after
wards learned, were looking to Georgia for the
President.
Major Heister-Who was the man Georgia
had determined to preseut?
Mr.. Stephens-Georgia at that time had not
acted in the matter. Her delegation did not
hold their consultation until next morning.
Mr.. Toombs was the man whom they then
unanimously agreed to present; at least there
was perfect unanimity On the subject with all
the delegates in attendance. Two, Mr.. Hill and
Mr.. Wright, were absent. I now speak of my
own knowledge. was at this meeting of the
Georgia delegation, and therein was acted the
only part took in the matter. That was by
making the motion for Mr.. Toombs nomination
to the convention, supposing that it would be
unanimously acceptable to that body; /; but in
this meeting, it was stated after my motion was
made, that two or three States in their consul
tations, which had been held the night before,
had determined to present the name OF Mr..
Davis The fact only, without any reason for
it was stated. 1t was stated also, only as soEpe-
thing which had been heard, but not positively
known. On this announcement, committee
of our delegation of which Mr.. Crawford was
chairman, or perhaps he alone, II am not GER
tain whether any or how many more were uni
ted with him. was appointed, to ascertain if
what had been heard in relation to the actions
of the other States referred to, was true and
if it was, it was understood, at the instance OF
Mr.. Toombs, that his name was not to be pre-
sented by Georgia, and that our delegation
would vote for Mr.. Davis, and no contest on the
subject
In this meeting of our delegation after the
announcement alluded to had been made, and
the course in reference to it had been resolved
upon, Mr. Kenan moved, that in case what had
been stated as rumor should be found true, and
the name of Mr. Toombs should not be pre-
serted for the first Office, then mine should be
for the second - This motion vas cordially
seconded by Mr.. Nisbet, and was unanimously
agreed to, after distinct understanding ar
rived at, by what | said in reference 10 it,
which was, that in no event was my name to
be presented unless it was first asceriaincd pos
itivcly that Mr.. Davis name was to go before
the Convention, and not that of Mr.. Toombs,
and further that my name would be unanimous
" acceptable to the States and their respective
delegations. These points the committee Of
our delegation was instructed speedily to IL
ouirc into and report.