The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-09
I the popular will be as fairly repre-

| reQreSSed
The extreme course the aiima ratio on the part OF
the south. These however, are barely glanced In
the South Carolina address These causes are the
sPersonal Liberty Acts ne they are called IN several
OF the Northern States. Other their Iegisin-
lures which openly and avowedy refuse obedience
or compliance VITA tnor constitutional obligation to
return fugitive slaves. Those lagranl vo-
OF constitutional obligations, and they const-
tute the only cause, In my opinion, which justify
secession. All other complaints are founded on
which feel yery sure could be- ayer,ea !, lie south
would pursue a Judicious anu wise course. whether
we ought 10 seeede IN consequences 81 tns iatn
simply question OF policy. IL Is one on
which able men and true may differ One thing IS
certain, the South would be justified IN don. A. For
nothing is better settled by all Law. recognized by
savage as we'll as by civilized people than that com
other But II we secedc should like TO SEQ 1t put on
tho RICH, ground, and wno ihink the ground would
fully Justify the act, yet do lot think would at
present be wise to resort that remedy For ieel
confident that II we should adopt tue right course
those States would recede and repeal their obnoxious
statutes. Hence l am fled and grIeved when ]
read such papers as The south Carolina manifesto. IL
| Is not GA the right line. / look upon ~ as a
fixed that the south will secedc have been Of
that opinion ever since was at Miiedgsvilie saw
that We were borne along upon currents mat there
was no hope OF resisting But am just as firm 10 my
! judgment that the policy Is wrong ms was then
| What course 1 shall take VIII depend upon circam
stances and what line Is presented by the majority.
should xe Tor ununmiiy TO prevail but II never can
be on suca a manifesto as SCUM Carolina put forth,
or Oh such resolution as passed tho Alabama Con-
yenton shall maintain my principles 10 the asI
let what may come
This letter was written the following February -
FEBRuARY Eve agreed last night at about mid
night to constitution for provisional government
Ior tho Confederate States That 10 the name. IL 10
! the constitution oil The United States, with such
changes to meet the exgences OF tho
| times. Two new features nave been mirod uced by
me:-oue, leaving out the clause that excluded Cabs
net Ministers from being members OF Congress; tho
other thai Con rcss should not nave power TO appro
pirate any money unless II be asked Tor by the Execu
i've some one Of the heads OF departments.
Wright and myself were on the commit tee from Geor
lin % a
membt RS on It, Menminger, oil South Carolina, who
moved the raising OF the committee, chairman
We have JUST elected the President and Wee Ptesi-
dent OF the Coniederacy. Mr. Davis, OF Mississippi,
was uuun lmousy chosen Pre- sdeut and | was nam.
mously chosen Nicc-PresideD knew that such
the understanding a. TO what would he tho result and
did not 90 10 the hall when the election lock place
The vote was cast by States. have II good deal 10
about tins ana other matters transacted here when
/ see you
or signify my acceptance and take the oath OF Office
publicly in the Congress hail Ut twelve O'Clock.
| almost shrink from tho res possibilities
shall assume. 10 making auy speech on tho occasto
have strong aversion; but such is tho request in
the letter asking my acceptance
FEBRUARY this, US you know, is my birthday;
and this day at tho hour oil one iuuuguraed Ut
iuent Of tue confederate states OF America The CO.
incidence, altogether accidental, made ii marked in-
precision upon my mind. The remarks made you
Will OF corrsc Sec They we're delivered as II extern
poraneous, though they had been wrltton aud CON-
mitted to memory. sAs you VIII sec, they were very
short. wrote them down this morning before going
to the Capitol There was, suspect. great dsap-
make speech, and large crowd asscm bled
to hear il. was satisfied that such course would
be iD1udcious indicate and improper. Since u Is all
over u great many have told that did exactly
right was governed entirely by my own judgment
anu sense OF propriety IN The matter
In u conversation had with Mr.. Johuson May -,
1867, Mr. Stephens said.-
hat know about Mr. Davis nomination for
President can be told in low works Toombs and l,
us we got upon the cars az orawioravile on our way
that tho South Carolina delegation had tnlked the
matter and looked 10 Georgia Tor the President.
| | remarked that either Mr.. Toombs, Mr. Coub, Gov
ernor jenkins or Governor johnson would SUIT worry
well. Ho answered that they were not looking 70
OF the others, but 10 Mr. roombs and myself toid
them, very frankly, tina. did not wish the ollicc;
that as l had not been IN the movement, did not
Montgomery, Mr. Kei,t tola me that was tho prefer
once OF the south Carolina deicgauon and asked u
would serve If elected. told him tnat would not
say In advance whether would or would not accept.
Even II unanimously chosen. would hrst consider
whether or not could organize Cabinet with such
concert Of ideas and ability TO Justify hopes oil
cess on such line OF policy as should pursue.
The night after the adoption OF the permanent con
stitution the motion made to the election
OF chief officers. !, then suggested that tho
ton shoud take place the next day at twelve NJ and
in the meantime the delegations should consult scpa-
ratcly Tho Georgia delegation met at ten O'Clock on
the morning oil The day oitho election. proposed
that We put the name OF Mr. Toombs for tho rres
depcy, aud asked him II no would have. II. He said
he would accept il II 1t cordially offered HIM. Mr.
r. Cobb and f. 7. Barlow said tho delegations Of
Florida, Alabama, south CagolIna ard LOUISIANA had
roombs seemed very ncreduIoas OF tins, and his man
: ner Indicated some surprise. l aid not understand
ierated, and upon It tho dcog alton forcbors nom
nate Mr. ToomDs, but determined 10 appoint a COM
initsee to ascertain II the report was true. Mr..
kcnar then proposed that II ~ should DO correct
should tc put forward Tor Wee President Judge
Ns0et said, II second that heartily" Mr. Toombs
iha. lad i not been in INC movement aud doabed
the policy OF my assuming any office. But st there
, mony; that II were 10 have any, decidedly pre-.
ierred the Vice Presidency 10 any Office in the govern
ment but would not accept IL unless II should be ten
dcrcd unanimously by the States and by every
delegate. Mr Crawford was then appointed com.
mittee Of to ascertain and report TO US, first,
whether the report as TO tho action oil those States
was true; and, second, II my nomination would be
and announced that both the conditions were fulfilled.
l aiterward learned that the action Of the states
then, the nign. before that Mr. Cobb would be pre-
scncd by The Georgia delegation and that Mr. Davis
Was not their choice ioombs was tho choice OF the
Florida the Lousan, aud the South Carolina coicga-
tons.
, .'Did not Mississippi desire Mr. Davlss'
, "rhoy did not. They wished him TO be Com
mander.in-Cbef OF tho Army. Tha. was what no
wished also Ito did not desire to DO President
CHARACTER SKETCHES.
Speaking OF some OF tho prominent OF the time
he said:-
n, body is more misunderstood than Seward. lie 70
frequently spoken OF us Lender OF public opinion; bul
II is great staket leads him. Ito Is always quick
to It's arm, and when lie does he instantly follows
aud TO lead, like boys al military procession,
who seem to load tho march by following In 'front.' Of
the music.
| OF President Johnson he said
Johnson prefers TO DO things Indirectly lie looks one
way and rows another IL is difhcult to understand
him iuiy; but l THINK he really desires to see the
South restored 10 ali rights AS Tor stanton no Is
monster OF evil IL Is strange tho Influence he has
TO keep himself In the Cabinet In the case OF hra
surratt his conduct was sickening 10 humanity
Beng asked IL he still retained his high opinion OF
General Grant he answered.
do He Is an uusophisicated, honest and,
thnk, as yet unambious man. There Ia great deal
OF development tor Grant yet. lie ~ young aud will
yet have more important destiny than he has mad
thus iar. 1 do not doubt that he Is a parrot Tho
radicals pretend to claim him. bat they know that no
rs not WITH them. lie says little about politics, but
what he does say Is to tho point For instance, one
day when called 70 SEQ him he was speaking about
the radiaai policy, and said 'Tho truo policy should
be to make friends OF enemies Tho policy OF the