Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-19
AN INCIDENT RECALLED.
Judge Blacks Last Talks With
Howell Cobb and JEFF Da-

Judge Blacks Last Talks WIZ
Howell Cobb and JEFF Da
Wis. .'
Philadelphia Press.
Mr.. Howell Cobb, Secretary of the
Treasury, who hsd for long time beer
upon excellent terms with Judge Black
called upsn him at the Attorney Gen
erals Office one day after a somewhat
heated discussion in the Cabinet about
Sumter and the Southern situation gen
orally. Black had said some very point
ed things about Mr.. Cobb's actions and
utterances, and intimated that they, be
ing in direct conflict with the views o.
the Administration, were likely to bring
discredit upon it. This brought Cobt
to the Attorney Generals office, and
the conference between the two mem
bers OF Mr.. Buehanan's Cabinet was
very animated and at times warm
Cobb wanted TO reach some amicahle
understanding which would leave him
free to nrgs his Southern views upon
the President and act in the interest Of
the South and secession and still remain
in the Cabinet. This effort naturally
led to discussion of his position upon
all the points Involved, and when be
had fully stated his views this is the an
swer he received from Judge Black:
"You and / can have 70 understand
ing upon this subject, but there IS one
man above W., and but one, who can
settle this dispute. will state my po
sition upon the secession movement in
writing, and can do it in three lines.
will 80 state il, and submit it to the
President. III he does not agree with
me | will resign in five minutes. Ii he
does agree with me, you should do the
same, for there is certainly not room
enough in the Cabinet for both OF us
while holding and expressing such d.
verse views" Cobb got in great rage,
and said:
"Judge Black, you cannot insult me
unless YOU intend to, but, sir, no other
man could talk to me IN this way with
out fighting for his life"
Mr.. Black disavowed any personal in
suit, but strongly maintained the posi-
ton he had taken, that no officer OF the
Government had right to plot and
talk against it while holding an office
under it, and Cobb left him in high
dudgeon and very soon after resigned.
Tue account Of Mr.. Coob's visit to
Judge Black recalls a visit OF Judge
Black to JEFF Davis about the same time
The story goes that just after Davis re-
turned from Mississippi, summoned by
a telegram from two Southern members
OF Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet, Black met
him upon Pennsylvania avenue, and
asked:
CHOW are things at home?"
al can hardly say" replied Davis, 81
am in the breeding holding back. |
am behind my people. | fear the worst
unless there is great caution"
The same evening Judge Black went
to Mr.. Davis house with Mr.. Thompson,
Secretary of the Interior, who was a
prominent Union man, although a
Southerner.
The conversation there is described by
an eminent witness as intensely inter.
estiug. Judge Blacks argument" said
he, against secession was mastery,
and he undertook, in talk lasting from
early evening until late at night,t to prove
the fallacy OF the doctrine OF secession.
He seemed to feel, said my informant,
that if he could induce Davis to use his
great influence against secession that
none OF the other States would follow
South Carolina. That was the object OF
his visit and argument.
"If you will do your part" said he to
Davis, "South Carolina will be lett alone
TO strut about for time and air her
arrogance" Davis seemed to feel the
weight OF Judge Blacks plea, and was
evidently much impressed, but said that
it was no use. The current was too
strong and could not be stayed. Black
replied:
"Stand out upon the bank and make
the effort. 1t is better to be drowned
in the overflow than swept on with the
madness OF the stream and finally
drowned in the gulf of secession and
ruin when one effort might have saved
ALL" Both Davis and thompson re-
piled:
cit is too late.'t
Thus ended Blacks effort to induce
jeff Davis 10 leave the path in which he
had made up his mind to travel.