Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-18
AN NOmERr RECALLED.


Philadelphia Press.l y6 II
Mr.. Howell Cobb, Secretary of the
Treasury, who had for long time
been upon excellent terms with
Judge Black, called upon him at the
Attorney Generals Office one day af-
ter somewhat heated discussion in
the Cabinet about Sumter and the
Southern situation generally Black
had said, some very pointed things
about Mr.. Cobb's actions and utter.
ances and intimated thatthey, being in
direct conflict with the views of the
administration, were likely to bring
discredit upon it. This brought Cobb
to the Attorney Generals office. and
the conference between the two mem
bers Of Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet was
animated and at times warm. Cobb
wanted to reach some amioable under
standing which would leave him free
to urge his Southern views upon the
President and act in the interest Of
the South and secession and still re-
main in the Cabinet This effort
naturally led to a discussion of his
position upon all Of the points involved
and when he had fully stated his
views this is the answer he received
from Judge Black:
You and can have no understand
ing upon this subject, but there is
one man above us, and but one, who
can settle this dispute. | will state
my position upon the secession move
ment in writing, and can do it in
three lines. / will so state it, and
submit it to the President. If he
does not agree with me, | will resign
in FIVE minutes. If he does
agree with me, you should dc
the same, for there is certainly moi
room enough in the Cabinet for both
ofus while holding and expressing
such diverse views" Cobb got in a
rage, and said;
Judge Black, you cannot insult
me unless you intend to, but, sir, nc
other man could talk to me in this
way without fighting for his life."
Mr.. Black disavowed any personal
insult, but strongly maintained the
position he had taken that no officer OF
the government had a 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.
The account Of Mr.. Cobb's visit to
Judge Black recallsa visit Of Judge
Black to JEFF Davis about the same
time. The story goes that just after
Davis returned from Mississippi, sum
moned by telegram from two South
ern members of Mr. Buchanan's Cab.
met, Black met him upon Pennsylva-
MIA avenue, and asked:
"How are things at homer"
81 can hardly say" replied Davis,
81 am in the breeching holding back,
l 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, al
though Southerner.
The conversation there is
described by an eminent wit.
ness as intensely interesting
Judge Blacks argument" said
he, against secession was mastery
and he undertook in talk lasting
from early evening until late at night
to prove the fallacy of the doctrine OF
secession. lie seemed to feel" said
my informant, "that if he could induce
Davis to use his reatinfuence against
secession that none of the other States
would follow South Carolina" That
was the object Of his visit and argu-
ment.
IF you will do your part" said he
to Davis, South Carolina will be
left alone to strut about for time and
air her arrogance" Davis seemed to
feel the weight OF Judge Black plea,
and was evidently much impressed,
but said that it was no use. The
current was too strong to 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 seces.
sion and ruin when one effort might
have saved all" Both Davis and
Thompson replied:
1T is too late. /"
Thus ended Blacks effort to induce
jeff Davis to leave the path in which
he had made up his mind to travel