The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-26

9 sonally know. was not present when the
order for removal was determined on, but
received it immediately from member Of
$ the Cabinet, and do not doubt its truth that
| Mr.. Davis was the very last man who gave
his assent to that removal.
5 The full history of the Hampton Roads
commission and conference has never been
written. l viii! not give that history now.
Much has been said and published on the
| subject which is not true. l know why
, each member of that commission, ON our
, part; was selected. l received from Mr.. Da-
viss own lips a full account of the CONVEX
sation between himself and the cemmis-
, sioners, before their departure.
You have heard it said that the President
embarrassed the commissioners, by giving
them positive instructions to make the
recognition OF our independence an ultima
tuna condition precedent to any negOtia-
tions. This is not true. Mr.. Davis gave
the commissioners no written instructions
and no ultimatum. He gave them, in con-
versaton, his view, but leaving much to
their discretion. They could best Judge
how to conduct the conference when they
met. His own opinion was, that it would
be most proper and wise, so to conduct it,
If they could, as to receire, rather than make,
propositions. While he did not feel author
lied to yield our independence in advance,
and should not do SO, and while he did not
desire them to deceive Mr. Lincoln, or be
responsible for any false impression Lincoln
might have, get, he was willing fer them to
secure an armistice, although they might be
satisfied that Mr.. Lin, Oln, agreeing to it,
did 50 under the belief that reunion must.
as a result, follow. l may add that Mr..
Davis bad no hope of success, or of securing
an armistice, after he learned that Mr..
Seward was to accompany Mr.. Lincoln. " MIR.
Lincoln" he SAID, sis an honest, well-mean-
.n.r I,,,N \ -
Ous."
could detain you all night correcting
| false Impressions which have been iniu
| triously made against this great aud good
man. know Jefferson Davis as l know
few men. have been near him in his pub
lie duties; have seen him by his private
fireside; have witnessed his humble Chris
tian devotions; and challenge the judg-
ment of history when l say no people were
ever led through the fiery struggle for liberty
by truer, nObler patriot; while the carnage
of war and the trials of public life meve: re-
vealed purer and more beautiful Chris ian
character.
Those who, during the struggle, prosti-
tuted public Office for private gain or used
position to promote favorites, or forgot pub
lie duty to avenge private griefs, or were
derelict and faithless in any form to our
cause, ale they who condemn and abuse Mr..
b"Nio' nuu NCii tuCy Iuty, VI Ill SUCH,
he was the contrast, the rebuke and the
enemy. Those who were willing to sacri-
nee self for the cause, who were willing to
bear trials for It's success, who were wiling
to reap sorrow and poverty that victory
might be won will ever cherish the name Of
Jefferson Davis, for, to al such he was
glorious peer and worthy leader.
l would be ashamed of my own unwOr-
thness it did not venerate Lee. l would
scorn my own nation if did not love Davis.
would question my own integrity and pa
triOtism if did not admire and honor both
There are some who affect to praise Lee and
condemn Davis. But of all such Lee him
self would be ashamed. No two leaders
ever leaned, each on the other in such beau
tiful trust and absolute confidence. Hand
in hand, and heart in heart, they moved in
the front of the dire struggle of their people
for Independence noble pair of brothers.
d, if fidelity to the right, endurance of
trials, aud sacrifice of self for Others can
win title to IA place with the good in the
great hereafter, then Davis aud Lee will
meet where wars are not waged and SANDER
ers are not heard; and, DIS heart to heart
and wing to wing they fly through the
courts Of Heaven, admiring angels will saw,
what a noble pair of brothers."
The Cause of Our Failure.
The saddest chapter in Confederate his
tory which the future historian will be
called to write, will be that one in which he
shall undertake to define the real cause Of
our failure. For the truth must be told
Five millions of people, in such country
as we possess, were not conquered because
our resources were Inferior, or our enemies
were so powerful. All physical disadvan-
tages are insufficient to account for our fail
nre. The truth is, we failed because too
many OF our own people were not deter
mined to win. MalcOntents at home and in
high places took more men from Lees army
than did Grants guns. The same agencies
created discussions among our people, and
we failed t. win independence because our
sacrifices ceased, our purposes faltered, and
'ur strength was divided. Kind Judge, let
ibis sad chapter be short!
But above all things we have least to
Tread in history on the merits of the issues
which divided the cOntending parties. The
southern States and people must stand be.
ore the bar of history responsible for seces-
ZION. The Northern States and people must
stand before the same bar responsible for
coercion and reconstruction. Weighed upon
by authority, and by effects and
Consequences, which of the two parties il
he more inimcai to the Union, to constitu-
lonal government, and to liberty!
When the States formed the Union. seye-
al of them, especially New York and Vir-
:lnla, expressly reserved the right to with
lraw as a condition of ratification. This
reservation, by u well-established rule of
construction, enured to all the parties to the
Jn;on' But no State recognized coercion to
preserve the Union as a right or power in
he Federal Government, either express or
esnltng. So, in the very stipulations
which made the Union, secession finds
Justification and coercion none
From 1857 to 1860 the ablest statesmen in
america. both in the North and in the
'outh. conceded the right of secession to
he States. Some insisted it was consti-
ntlonai right, inherent in the sovereignty
II the States, and conditioned in the terms
4 the compact. Offers denied it was con-
right, but said it was only
right; to be exercised for
rlme, and that infdelity to the terms or