Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-06-22
CHOICE OF CONFEDERATE
STATES PRESIDENT.

We find the following in the Memphis
Appeal:
WOOD Core, Miss, June II, 1870 -
Editors Appeal: The weekly Louisville
Courier Journal of the 10Th inst. con-
tains an extract from the second volume
of Mr.. Stephens History of the War,
which calls for some comment. The pas
sage alluded to is in these words: ''Toombs
was to have been chosen President, but
failed through singular misapprehension
on the part of representatives of other
States, who had understood that he re-
fused to have his name put forward.
There was some misunderstanding, like
wise, concerning Howell Cobb being the
choice of Georgia. By accidental COM
plicdtions Mississippi had the first choice,
and chose jefferson Davis, leaving Geor-
gia the second, which resulted in the Vice
Presidency of Mr.. Stephens"
There is great error in this statement,
unintentional no doubt, and induced to
some extent by the medesty of Mr..
Stephens, which makes him unwilling to
give that prominence to himself, which
really belongs to him. ....
4 Was dh llldb ll1llC d VI blB
Provisional Congress from Mississippi
Believing that Mr.. Davis was the choice
of the South for the position of Presi-
dent, before repairing to Montgomery, 1
addressed him letter to ascertain if he
would accept it. He replied that it was
not the place he desired; that, if he could
have his choice, he would greatly prefer
to be in active service as commander-in in
chief of the army. but that he would
give himself 10 the cause in any capacity
whatever. That was the only letter, of
which have any knowledge, that he
wrote on the subject, and that was shown
to only very few persons, and only
when was asked if Mr.. Davis would ac
cept the Presidency.
intend no injustice or disrespect to
any of the gentlemen named, but / am
sure Mr.. Stephens was himself the first
choice of Georgia. There was no cleo
pioneering, no management on the part of
any one, each voter was left to determine
for himself in whose hands the destinies
of the infant Confederacy should be
placed. by law as fixed as gravitation
itself, and as little disturbed by outside
1h4uShANH, VI
upon Mr.. Davis.
After few days of anxious and intense
labor the provisional constitution was
framed and it become necessary to give It
vitality by putting some one at the head
of the new government. Then Mr.. Craw-
ford, of Georgia, approached me and said
that 1t had been the wish of that State to
make Mr.. Stephens President, but he
Crawford had become satisfied that it
was the wish of all the other States
that Mr.. Davis should be assigned to
that position. He then asked me if Mr..
Stephens would be acceptable to the
Mississippi delegation as Vice President.
l replied that believed he would be their
choice. Without any effort on the part
of the friends of either, the election was
made without the slightest dissent. OF
the accidental complications referred
to, have not the least knowledge, and
always thought that the election of Mr..
Davis arose from the spontaneous convic .
ton of his peculiar fitness. have con-
suited no one on the subject, a1d have
appended my name, only to avoid resting
an important fact upon anonymous au-
thority. Very respectfully, yours,
ALEX. NJ. CLAYTON.