The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-20

angry with his arbitrary use O
power.
no COMPROMISE SHORT or sEPARA
TI0S.
Mr.. Cameron responded TO the call,
but hardly had the breakfast begun
before the old differences arose and
there was more talk than breakfast.
Mr.. Davis freely stated his object to
see if Mr. Cameron would not con
sent to assist in 4 peaceful separa-
ton of the States. 1T was apparent
at the threshold ofthe meeting, said
General Cameron, "shat the South
ern Senators had then decided to
Withdraw, and | knew ii was Mr..
Davis intention to force separa-
tion-peaceably if possible, and for
cibly if he must. Mr. Davis at that
interview assumed 20 speak author
itatively for the Southern people, as
though already the executive head
Of the Confederate Government. He
used the pronoun II with great free
dom when referring to what would
be done in case there was a war be-
tween the States. lie did not make
at this meeting a single proposition
for compromise upon any other
basis than that of an absolute sepa-
ration between the North and South.
To his mind there was 10 ground of
compromise short of this. and while
the North and its Representatives in
the Senate thought that there would
be no armed conflict, and while
many Of the people thought that
the question at issue would be set
tied by compromise, Mr.. Davis left
the Senate with no other object or
aim than to destroy the Union.
JEFF DAVIS AND THE NEGRO.
During this conversation. rs he
always was, Mr. Davis was exceed
ingly sensitive upon the slavery
question. He delt with the negro,
in discussion, as in act, as though
he were an animal who tagged after
his master from instinct rather than
from being drawn to him through
gratitude and intelligent affection.
l remember distinctly saying to Mr..
Davis during that talk that should
the South force q war upon this
country the act would not only lead
to the abolition of slavery. but the
Federal Government would make
soldiers of their negroes and turn
the slaves they owned as chattels as
a military force against them. Mr.
Davis was furious at this statement.
and declared that it demonstrated
how little q Northern man knew
of the relations between slave and
master in the South. I.c declared
that it could never be done that
the slaves were loyal to their mas
ters and distrusted the North. Dur
ing this interview | aske, Mr. Davis
to state why he demandcd disso-
luton of the Union. He angrily
stated that it was on account of the
attitude Of the North toward the
South upon the slavery question
and the dishonest practices it en-
couraged in stealing negroes from
their masters or screening thcM
when they ran away. Every line Of
he took was predicated
upon that idea. Just as we were
about parting, Mr.. Davis got very
much excited and said Cameron,
il the South secedes and the North
shall attempt to coeree her into re-
in the Union and there is Q
war L will draw line through this
country at the Potomac-no, not at
the Potomac, he said, but at the
Susquehanna and take your house
for my headquarters In this ex-
preston, as well as in every other
he made, he proceeded upon the as
sumption that he was already the
executive as well as the military
head OF the most colossal rebellion
of modern times. Mr.. Davis and
colleagues left the Senate soon after
ward and | have never seen him
since, although We were both in
Memphis at the same time since the
war. Mr.. Davis neverkept his prom
ise to draw line through the coun-
try either ct the Potomac or the
Susquehanna, but his forces came
very near carrying out the threat of
taking my house for their headquar-
ters. They were just before the bat
tie of Gettysburg within three miles
of my house and ranging along the
banks Of the Susquehanna not half
a dozen miles from my farm '-F
A. B.-Press