The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-24
4 TALL WITH TOOMBS.
Why, in His Opinion, the Confederacy Fall
od-A Sharp Arraignment OF Jefferson
Davis for General Inefficiency.
Philadelphia Time, atlanta Letter.

The recent speech made by Gen. "Bob
Toombs in the case of the State agains
Treasurer "Jack" Jones disclosed q
alarming condition of physical weakness
on the part of the old man eloquent, an
gave too plain evidence that his rae
has been nearly run. Three or fou
times he tottered to his chair and so
down to rest. His mind is still power
full, and his frame is massive and erect
but it is quite clear that he is not equa
to sustained effort. The people o
Georgia never loved any man better thar
they love Gen. Toombs, and the signs o
his breaking down have awakened q ten
der interest in him and all that to hin
pertains. He is the most remarkable
man in many respects that the Soutl
ever produced, and it is doubtful if thu
records of a lordlier life than his can bt
found in the history of our Republic.
In a long talk with your correspon
dent he talked freely of the events that
led up to secession, the organization o.
the secession government, the causes o.
the failure of the Confederacy, of his
fight after the collapse, of his opinion o.
reconstruction, and threw much light on
these intel esting topics.
"I have always believed in the sover.
eighty of the State" he said, "but I have
been very much misunderstood on the
subject of secession. / have never be.
lieved the Constitution of the United
States was a good one, and as an original
question I would never have voted for il
but was not the blatant secessionist
that have been represented, that is, up
to the time that l thought there was no
place or security for my people in the
Union. Then determined to lead them
out of compact that was protected by
nothing but good faith, and was shown
to have no good faith back of it. My
first vote was cast for Andrew Jackson,
but I fell out with him about the nullif-
cation troubles. In 1850 I supported
the Clay compromises very strongly. 1t
has never been my custom to consult my
constituents on public matters. When,
therefore, they became angered tiny ad-
herence to the compromise that promised
to save the Union, I only stuck to it
the closer. My position was made an
issue in Georgia, and convention of the
people was called. I came home to de-
fend it. 1 united with Howell Cobb,
who was conspicuous just then for having
refused to sign the Southern Address,
and with Alexander Stephens, who
stood upon the same ground I did. Mr..
Cobb ran for Governor, Stephens for
Congress, and l fought for my record.
We whipped the fre-eaters out and car
ried the State handsomely. 1 stood by
those views OF compromise in the Union
substantially until after the failure of
the Crittenden compromise. I supper
ted Breckihridg ge in that campaign Of
1860. Mr.. Stephens supported Douglas
and Ben Hill supported Bell. We led
the three elements in Georgia at that
time.
"After Lincoln's election I saw that
trouble was brewing, but I was still un-
willing to commit myself to secession,
and then, too, I was not certain that
Georgia could be carried on that issue.
Stephens and Hill were both for Union.
1 telcgraphed Breckinridge, asking him
to appoint representative committee
that would offer some compromise to
meet the pressing exigency. He ap-
pointed on this committee, among 9th.
ers, Crittcnuen, to represent Bell and
Everett, or rather the men who had sup
ported them; jeff. Davis and myself for
his friend: Seward for Lincoln, and Dou-
glas himself. The Crittenden compro-
mise was offered. l supported it hearth
ly and sincerely, although the sullen OBJ
stinacy of Seward had made it almost
to do anything. For suppor-
ting this compromise I was denounced in
Georgia by Ben Hill as having betrayed
my section and my people. didn't
mind this at all, as Ben is always de-
nouncing somebody or something. At
length l saw that the compromise meas
ures must fail. With persistent obsti-
macy that have never yet seen surpassed,
Seward and his hackers refused every
overture. 1 then telegraphed to Atlanta:
All is at an end. North determined.
Seward will not bulge an inch. Am in
favor of secession When the fight was
fairly opened 7 still felt doubtful about
carrying the State. The people were de-
termined against submission to the un-
lust encroachments of the North, but
there were many who favored the ap-
pointment of peace commission, 9th
ers who wanted to wait for cooperation,
and still others who feared to take so
desperate a step; and let me say right
here that I never doubted the gravity
of the situation. The statement that l
said that / would drink all the blood
that was spilled is one of stereotyped
lies they have circulated about me when
l left the Senate. l knew it meant war,
and 1 said in my farewell speech that
the next time I looked upon Washington
l thought it would be at the head of
Southern troops"
"What about the meeting at Montgom-
ery?" .. ,,,..-,. oe .,,o. -,.o.;,u
has never been given. The majority of
the delegates were opposed to the cleo
ton of Mr.. Davis. His own State, Mis-
SlSSlppl, WAS VPpoSeo W niti, "no - wv
vote had been cast by delegates rather
than by Sta:es he would never have
been. elected Carolina was for Davis
all the time. He suited the extreme
views of that State, and Mr.. Rhett held
the delegates we'll in hand. Florida had
only three votes. One of these, Ander.
son, was an old school-fellow of Davis,
and Owens was Carolinian and under
the influence of Rhett. They out-voted
the third delegate and gave Davis the
State. With these two States, each
counting as much as Georgia, he secured
the Alabama delegation by one vote
by means of what trickery 1 will not
discuss. Georgia, Mississippi and Louis
lana would have preferred either Mr..
Cobb or myself; but neither of us were
candidates, and neither would consent to
have struggle: so they agreed with the
three States that had spoken. Texas,
informally represented, acquiesced, and
Mr.. Davis was elected. l was not on
good terms with Mr.. Davis. He appoin-