The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-22

sorTHERNEEs orINIoN-DARK PICTURES
OF CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT.
Ex-senator Foote of Mississippi. in some
"reminiscences" contributed to the WASH
ington Chronicle, thus speaks of jefferson
Davis:
Having no respect for Mr.. Davs's ca.
pacity having not the least confidence in
his sincerity and manliness knowing him
TO be vain, selfish, overbearing, ambitious,
intriguing, and slave to his prejudices
and partialities not having had the least
personal intercourse with him at that time
for years knowing well that he had cher
ished an undying hatred for me since had
beaten him for the Office of governor of
Mississippi in 1851, and had aided at that
time in thwarting the scheme which he
and others had set on foot to withdraw the
southern States from the federal Union, it
may seem little surprising to some that
should have consented to occupy for mo-
ment a seat in the confederate congress.
But it was mainly because entertained
such an unfavorable opinion of Mr.. Davis.
and because painfully distrusted his aims
and purposes, that l was willing to come
near to him in an official capacity; that
thus might have it in my power to keep
watch over all his movements, and aid as
far as might be possible in disappearing his
projects of personal ambition. certainly
intended to give a faithful and true sup
port to the confederate cause after | had
become enlisted in it, as indisputably did;
hut did not intend to let Mr.. Davis become
an emperor if could prevent it, nor allow
his seryitors in congress toorganize military
despotism in Richmond upon the false pre-
text that they were extreme devotees to
state rights and to southern independence.
In point of fact was never at the presi-
dental mansion once during my four
years stay in Richmond and not a day
passed while occupied seat in the con
federate congress that was not more or less
signalized by my vehement opposition to
Mr. Davis and to most of the members of
the Infamous cabinet, whom | well knew
to be absolute slaves to his will--mercen-
AIRY to unscrupulousness, corrupt and con-
temptible. Almost every day I felt that
my life was in danger, but every day | was
more and more jealous in my opposition to
Mr.. Davis and his favOrltc measures of
policy, and to the corrupt and prohigate
schemes of his special friends and supper
tiers. 1t is eminently painful to me to
speak OF those things, but the time has
come when the truth must be told. do
not believe that more hearless and grind
ing despotism has been anywhere known
since the days of Dionysilis of Syracus. e
than the one they set on foot.
few months before this evil appariton
of government built upon the basis of ex-
IRENE state rights and secession broke nm.
bill of resolutions was introduced and
passed unanimously in the confederate SEN
ate, providing for the payment of 500 in
gold to Jefferson Davis as part of his presi-
dental salary of $4,000. This was evil
IDENTIFY intended as preliminary step to-
ward paying the whole $4,000 in gold
thereafter. The bill had been under con-
sideration in the body where it originated
for several days, and had been much dis
cussed in the Richmond newspapers, so that
Mr.. Davis was bound to know that it was
before Congress. BY existing law his sala-
ry was payable alone in confederate paper,
and such was the distinct understanding
when his second election occurred. His
remarkable physiogomy stood visibly i'm
p essed upon every confederate note, so
that the payment of his salary in anything
but confederate paper was fatally to dis
credit the only currency we had. Mr..
Davis had dwelling house supplied to
him, and furniture, fuel and provision Tor
six horses at the governments expense
The members of congress were content to
receive rs the recOmpense of their legisla-
tive labors confederate money, though il
was now worth only ten cents on the dollar.
The confederate soldiers would have been
glad to get their own wretched pay in the
paper currency; but could not even get
that. The poor fellows were, most ofthem,
in rags and barefoot. When this legisla-
tive monstrum h0rrendum reached the
house, l rose in my place and and said that
l would move test vote wished to know
how many men thase were slavish and cor
rupt enough to vote for 20 infamous meas
ure, and ! moved 10 PIT 1t on the table,
calling1for the yeas and nays, To the hon.