Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-09-19


repeal their obnoxious statutes. Hence
am mortified and grievcd when i read suoh
papers us the South Carolina manifesto. 1t
is not on tho right line. / look
upon it as fixed fact that tho South will
secode, and have boon of that opinion ever
since l was at Millcdgevillo I saw that we
were borne along upon currents that thero
was no bopo of resisting. But I am just
as firm in my judgment that tho policy is
wrong as was then. What course l shall
take will depend on circumstances and what
line is presented by tho majority. should
like for unanimity to prevail, but it never
can be on suoh manifesto as South Caro-
lima put forth, or on such resolution as
passed tho Alabama Convention. L shall
maintain my principles to tho last, let what
may come.
DAVIS AND STEPHENS NOMINATED.
This letter was written tho following
February:
FEBRUARY 8 -Wo ngrocd last night at
about midnight to constitution for pro-
visional government for tho Confederate
States. That is tho name It is tho Con
sti.ution of The United States with such
changes as arc necessary to meet tho oxi-
have boen introduced by me: Que, leaving
out tho clnuse that excluded Cabinet Minis.
tors from being members of Congress; the
other, that Congress should not have power
to appropriate any money unless it bo asked
for by tho Executive or somo one of the
heads of departments. Wright and myself
we're on tho committee from Georgia to re-
port the Constitution. Each State had
two mombers on it, NIemnliDgcr, of South
Carolina, who moved tho raising of the
committee, was chairman.
We have just elected the President and
Vice Precedent of tho Confedcracy. Mr..
Davis, of Mississippi, was unanimously
chosen President, and was unanimously
chosen Vico President. I knew that suoh
wns tho understanding as to what would be
tho result, and did not 60 to tho hall whcn
the olootion took place Tho vote was cast
by States. have good deal to say about
this and other matters transacted horo when
/ 500 you.
FEBRUARY 10.-To morrow / am to be
inauguratod, or signify my acceptance to
take the oath Of ofIico publicly in the Con
gress hall at twelve O'clock. * I
almost shrink from tho responsibilities shall
assume. To making my spoeoh on the
occasion have q strong aversion; but suoh
is the request in the letter asking my ao-
oeptanoo.
FEBRUARY 11.-This, as you know, is
my birthday; and this day at tho hour of
one l was inuuguratcd (if such be the
proper tern, for the procceding) Vice Presi
dent Of tho Confederate States of America.
Tho coincidence, altogether accidental,
made marked impression upon my mind.
The remarks made you will of course sec.
They were delivered as if extemporaneous,
though they had been writtou and COM
mittcd to mcmory. AS you will see, they
were very short. wrote then. down this
morning before going to the Capitol. Thoro
was, suspect, great disappointment at their
breyity. [ had been urged to mako a
speech, and very largo crowd was assem-
bled to hear it. [ was satisfied that such
course would be injudioious, indclicate and
improper. Since it is all over q great many
have told me that I did exactly right. I
was governed entirely by my own judgment
and sense Of propricty in tho matter.
In conversation had with Mr.. johnson
May "a, 1862, Mr.. Stephens said:
What I know about Mr.. Davis' nomina
ton for President can be told in few words.
Toombs and I, as wo got upon the cars at
Crawfordville, on our way to Montgomery,
met Mr.. Chestnut. The latter said that tho
South Carolina delegation had talked the
matter oyor and looked to Georgia for the
President. l remarked that either Mr..
Toombs, Mr.. Cobb, Governor Jonkins or
I,Io o1
Ho answered that they woro not looking to
any Of tho others, but to Mr.. Toombs and
myself I told them, very frankly, that |
did not wish tho office; that as [ had not
boen in tho movement, did not think it
policy to put me in for it. Aftor getting to
Montgomery, Mr.. Keitt told mo that I was
tho preference of the South Carolina dole
CATION, and asked if would servo if oleotod.
/ told him that would not say in sdyanco
whether I would or would not accept.
Even If unanimously chosen, would first
consider whether or not could organize
Cabinet with such concert of ideas and
ability as to justify hopes of success on
auch limo Of policy as I should pursue.
Tho night after tho adoption of tho per-
manent Constitution tho motion was mado
to 90 into tho election of chief officers. 1t
was thon suggested that the olootion should
take place the uoxt day at II M, and in
tho meantime tho delegations should consult
separately. The Georgia delegation mot at
ten O'Clock on tho morning of tho day of
tho election. proposed that wo put in the
name of Mr. Toombs for the Presidency,
and asked him if ho would have it. Ho
suid he would aocopt it if 1t was cordially