The New York herald., 1872-12-09
II HE s0UT.E.
Talk with an Ex-United States JUS
tice, John A. Campbell.
His Opinion Of the Prospects and
Past OF His Section.

FaSt OF HIS Section.
LOUISVILLE, Dec. 8, 1872.
Among the pure, elevated and eminent minds OF
the south few are attached to such o deliberate
matured and gracious countenance and presence
as that Of John A. Campbell, OF Mobile. .,
Mr.. CAMPBELL.
He was appointed by President Pierce t. an Aseo
clate Justceship of the Supreme Court OF the
United States, and the Senate confirmed him unan-
imousiy, at the age OF fOrty-six. He was o native
OF Georgia. and had been educated at Its State
University and admitted to the bar at the same
time with Robert To0mbs. About 1880 he removed
to Montgomery Ala, and took place In the Legis-
lature as among the most logical and legal minds
In the State, and his manner, method and COOL
quiet reasoning invested all that he did with an
atmosphere OF fact and reason. Politically, he was
sort OF whig-democrat, not tied up In the
awkward pantaioons Of State rights and some
times proposing whig measures to his democratic
associates as when for example In 1887 he advocated
borrowing Ave millions on STATE bonds to relieve
honest debtors; the scheme failed, and then
Campbell came promptly forward and told the
whole truth In regard to the failure without en-
deavOring TO extenuate his former positiveness
the other way. He was on the Supreme Bench at
Washington for eight years, and his judgment was
against secession; but the entire pressure Of the
time was such as to force judicial mind out OF Its
circuit, and, after seeking to make some adjust.
ment between the Confederate Commissioners and
Mr.. Seward, he found that the latter was more
plausible in promise than literal in funlment,
ana AZ late day he went with heavy heart over
to the Southern side and was called by Randolph,
the Secretary Of War, to be his associate
In all matters Affecting civil cases. There
he stood until Richmond surrendered when he
remained behind to take his part in the disaster
and to seek, at the sacrifice OF himself to secure
more lenient treatment for the quiet class OF his
Southern countrymen. After some respite he was
thrown into Fort Pulaski. and was pardoned out
by President Johnson at the intercessiOn Of the
widow Of stephen A. Douglas.
10 look upon, Judge Campbell is a man OF Scotch
physiogn0my, toned down alter two or three gen.
eratons OF American civilizat'0 on. He has fine
head, partly bald and encircled with SOFT white
hair He is quiet ana deliberate In speech, with
musical voice, and the manner OF one either suffer
ing some mental pain or possessing some digniaed
eneminacy and his knowledge and reading are
OF degree to infatuate those with whom he con-
verses, while over mis- interesting parts lies the
halo Of natural gentleman OF selfrespect, modesty
and purity.
think, that violate no rule of modern c0ur-
tesy when express some Of the opinions OF this
large-bratned person upon the affairs OF his own
southern communities The disasters which have
overcome the South are as broad as the deluge
and the personal "reminiscences of single survivor
can do him no injury with his more magnanimous
associates, but may direct the new generation to
avoid former passions and seek In the line OF
truer civilization that class OF development which
is patterned upon the golden rule OF doing unto the
meaHest no worse than he should do to us.
THE GREAT MISTAKE.
asked. Mr.. Campbell in what he thought the
North mistook the South most at the present time.
He answered as fOllows:-
POLITICALLY the North mistakes the South In sup
posing that men Of former position, wealth and
innuepce possess any considerable control. they
tear thaS JeaersOn Davis or Mr.. Stephens, or some
other nrhn might revive himself In public councils
and give tone and purpose to new secession sen.
tinent. This is not based upon q knowledge OF
our condition. There are no longer controlling
personal influences in the South. Nothing was SO
much swept away as the governing men OF the
slave period. deep, indiscriminate reaction took
place at the close OF the war against everybody
who had given such counsels to the masses as had
brought general ruin upon them. To-day your eye
may wander over the South and find no command.
ing presence anywhere there. Hence the apparent
apathy in the white population, for certain class
OF their former leaders has retired and knows no
longer what counsel to give, while secondary
animated by the interests OF livelihood, and know
ing little Of business in any form, chooses politics
as the best IL can do"
THE REDRESS.
81 Make" said Judge Campbell mo charge
against any class OF men; for when great fatality
like an army utterly broken up, each man for him
SELF ] simply state that at present you make q
mistake in the North to look TO old leaders to find
out any true positions In the South. II is cond-
tion of general shipwreck, and craftsmanship does
not operate upon 1t, for there is no organization
way to reconstruct the South would be to find the
honest elements and real aspirations existing
within 1t, and labor to develop and encourage
these.n
CAMPBELL ON DAVIS. Hs
In the course OF the conversation said to Judge
Campbell that as the. President OF the Southern
Confederacy, Mr.. Davis, was stil living, should
like TO know whether In him there could be found
any usefulness IN the present emergency esaid
1T is out Of the question to consider Mr.. Davis
as living man. AS to his past career 1t was a
failure In the light OF judgment. He was placed at
rhe head OF the Southern revolution by that fatal
instinct which leads people to select for their rulers
men Of impulsive and intrepid demeanor. Admin
stration does net lie in such things but IN the ca.
pacity to meet without fatigue the daily recur.
rences OF small matters each OF which must be at.
tended to, while the attention should never tire,
but all parts OF the vastness OF government go on.
Such was the war In which the South embarked.
It did not require for its President hero, but q
disciplined mind and q patient man. Mr.. Davis Is
supposed IN the North, as have heard, to have
been man OF strong and sagacious decision. He
was not so. I have seldom seen q man OF
the same rank who would chatter and be tickle
for so long period over the most trining matter.
wnen he retired from his once q the defeat there
were probably more papers pigeonhOled In his
once ON which no action had been taken (snd
many OF them involving important questions)
than 10 any other department or the South. If he
could be made angry 80 that be would decide
points OF administration on the ground Of resent.
ment or spirit he was quick enough but that is
not the order Of mind for q chief mag1strate.n
CAMPBELL ON erEPHENs.
I was curious to know what justice Of the gu.
preme Bench In former days might also think OF
the Vice President Of the Southern Confederacy,
andin the course OF the conversation the following
ideas were expressed
'Mr. stephens course ct the present tlme,r said
Judge Campbell, 'makes me as nearly Indignant 20
can well be at . time when my political life and
influence In general questions are over. He Is
dialectician, and seeks to keep up the strict con-
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