The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-24
A TALE WITH TOOMBs.
Why In His Opinion. the Confederacy Fall
ed-A Sharp Arraignment of Jefferson
Davis for General Inenicicncy.
Philadelphia Time, Atlanta Letter.

o"-EA SHARP Arrafgnment of JofTerGo
Davis FOR General Ineficicncy.
Philadelphia Time, atlanta Letter.
The recent speech made By Gen. "Bob'
Toombs in the case of the State agains
Treasurer "Jack" Jones disclosed al
alarming condition of physical weakness
on the part Of the old man eloquent, ant
gave. too plain evidence that his rae,
has been nearly run. Three or foul
times he tottered to his chair and sa
down to rest. His mind is still power
tul, and his frame is massive and erect
but it is quite clear that he is not equal
to sustained effort. The people Of
Georgia never loved any man better than
they love Gen. Toombs, and the signs Of
his breaking down have awakened n ten.
der interest in him and all that to him
pertains He is tho most remarkable
man in many respects that the South
ever produced, aud il is doubtful if the
records of a ordler life than his can be
found in the history of our Republic.
In long talk with your correspon.
dent he talked freely of the events that
| led up to secession, the organization of
| the secession government, the causes of
the failure of the Confederacy, of his
flight after the collapse, of his opinion of
reconstruction, and threw much light on
these interesting topics.
II have always believed in the soycr-
eighty of the State" he said, "but have
been very much misunderstood on the
subject of secession. have never be.
lieved the Constitution Of the United
States was good one, and as an original
question would never have voted for il
but was not the blatant secessionist
that have been represented, that is, up
10 the time that 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. NV
first vote was cast for Andrew jackson.
but fe!! cut with him about the nuilifi.
cation troubles. In 1850 l supported
the Clay compromises very strongly. It
has never been my custor' to consult nv
constituents on public lnatters. When,
therefore, they became angcred at my ad.
horcnce to the compromise that promised
TO save the Union, 1 only stuck to it
the closer. My position was made All
issue in Georgia, and convention of the
people was called. came homo to de-
fend it. l 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 did. Mr..
Cobb ran for Governor, Stephens for
Congress, and fought for my record.
We whipped the firc-eaters out and car
ried the State handsomely. l stood by
those views OF compromise in the Union
lf 70 Qftf a tnttt NJ r.sl
the Crittenden compromise. 1 supper
ted Breckinridge in that campaign of
1860. Mr.. Stephens supported Douglas
aud Ben Hill supported Bell. We led
the three elements in Georgia at that
time.
after I.incoln's election I saw that
trouble was brewing, but was still un-
willing to commit myself to secession,
and then, too, was not certain that
Georgia could be carried on that issue.
Stephens and Hill were both for Union.
l telegraphed Breckenridge, asking him
10 appoint representative committee
that would offer some compromise to
meet the pressing exigency. He ap.
pointed on This committee, among 9TH
ers, Crittcnden, 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
impossible to do anything. For suppor-
ting this compromise was denounced in
Georgia by Ben Hill rs having betrayed
my section and my people. l didn't
mind this at all, as Ben is always de-
nouncing somebody or something. at
length l saw that the COMP romiae meas
ures must fail. With persistent obsti-
macy that have never yet seen surpassed,
Seward and his hackers refused every
overture. 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 ! still felt doubtful about
carrying the State The people were de-
srmined against submission to the un-
just entertainments 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 80
desperate step; and let me say right
here that never doubted the gravity
of the situation. The statement that I
said that 1 would drink all the blood
that was spilled is one of stcreotyped
lies they have circulated about me when
/ left the Senate. knew it meant war,
and said in my farewell speech that
the next time looked upon Washington
] thought j. wonld &c st the head Of
Southern troops"
"What about the meeting at Montgom.
ery?"
''The secret history of that meeting
has never been given. The majority Of
the delegates were opposed to the elec.
ton of MIR. Davis. His own State, Mis-
sissippi, was opposed to him, and if the
than by States 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. ODv OF these Ander.
son, was an old schvol-fellow OF Davis
and Owens was q 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 wi!l &c.
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
Dir. Davis was elected. was not on