The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-03-30
oArn
Representative southern Interviews The
Reoolieotlons aud rennuoes ~ the Great


Burke, the Garibadi Of Louisiana who
tucked ii from the carpot-bag Bourbons,
ave u breakfast to-day, where | had some
alks, as witness: In my travels through
he gulf country met an interesting man,
4 bert Lamar, one of Che celebrated family
10 which the senator from Mississippi be-
longs, their home being Georgia, and Az
bert Lamar was n stout seCessionist ana fol-
lower Of his relative Howell COBB, ana he
came the secretary Of the secession conven,
lion Of Georgia. and, | think, alterward |
clerk or secretary of the Confederate con- |
grcss. lie is II spare man, grave, at times |
absent, aii,lble, but seldom or never smll' |
ing, and he would quickly be taken for the
" pical ardent tre-eater anywhere, as he
was twenty years ago.
| asked him if the organization OF the
Confederate civil government was such as
TO h We produced the best possible results
"NO, rather the worst results.
MR. DAVIS
was man out of health, a confirmed dys-
pcptic, and, of course he was moroSe, prelu-
diced and sour with all who crossed him'
Mr.. Stephens never was anything but an
Invalid. | rememb saying, in my disgust
at their selection, that the only thing which
prevented revolution at Montgomery was
the want OF paving-stones in the streets.
Howell Cobb should have been the presi-
dent of the Confederacy, and his experience
as speaker of congress at Washington lea
tie South Carolina delegation, headed by
Lawrence NJ. Keitt, TO choose him for presl-
dent of the convention at Opelika, where
they met Mr. Cobb, both deega-
tons being there, en- route to the opening
of the convention at Montgomery. Mr..
Cobb said to me at the time: This unlof-
tunate choice will prevent me being the
executive magistrate of the Confederacy.
So he presided over the convention, and
Davis was elected to be the president, chiefly
because he had been Union man.
"Why were Union men at Premium
because of the fierce resistance to secec-
sion in all parts of the Contederacy, but
especially in Georgia, Tennessee, North
Carolina and Virginia. The state of Georgia
was nearly kept in the Union by the pow
erful argument of Herschel V. Johnson, at
the Milledgeville convention, and we
only escaped defeat there by
getting an adjournment and max
ner time that he broke down in the after
noon session. know all about that, for
found the brandy for his toddy. He was a
powerful man when once fully aroused in
set speech, and that day he surprised him
self. 1t was one of the really historic
speeches OF our history, He was not
dissipated man, but could not hold any
liuuor to speak Of and it was said that
Douglas got him on the ticket for vice
president by the interposition of considera-
BILE wine Several of the large states were
so reluctant to leave the Union that after
they had been crowded into seeding they
sent their old Union conservative men TO
the provisional convention at Montgomery
For that reason two Union men, DAVIS ana
Stevens, were made two chief executives
over the two other expectants, Cobb and
Toombs. Mr.. Davis during the presidential
campaign of 1860 had made speech
at Portland, Maine, and another on
the way, warmly prasing the Upon.
This was remembered in his favor
as against the aggressive record
of Toombs for secession. But stephens
and Davis were not to agree in any event.
Stephens never had the least in
terest or confidence in the Confederate
cause. He began by Directing, and the
breach between HIM and DAVIS wldened
every day. Yet he continues to be, in many
respects, the most popular man in Geor-
"Suppose Toombs had been the Conied-
crate president, would he have been fail
ure?"
at would have been a six months war.
He would have been either mashed all TO
pieces in few months or would have IN
yaded the north after the first shock OF arms
at Bull Run. ] said TO Mr.. Toombs once
Sbarpsburg, where he held the heights OF
the Antietam against Burnside with such
gallantry that Lee complimented him IN
the military orders. Since that day Toombs
has shattered his splendid mind by dissipa-
ton and asperity TILL he survives melan-
choly wreck of once noble galaxy"
"ln what was
HOWELL COBB
uperior to Jefferson Davis?'
I'm health, temperament, ten VI, and
brain Mr. DAVIS was a master Ne. Ilis
only. and wore himself out superintendent
tribes, fretting with passing enemies ana
celebrating theoretical messages ana papers
He never had the large, solid brain 10 fc-
solve the wants OF a broad nation winch
had with reluctance passed out of a larger
ope-to take a critical view OF the leaders
who had led it out. Mr.. Davis made no
foreign friends by his bearing; at the end
of the war he possessed no influence IN the
north, while Cobb had made the friendship
i'm other DAYS of Andrew johnson and OF
many of our influential enemies. GoDo
was a broad-sighted man. he would nave
Instantly perceived the fiscal requirements
of the Confederacy, the need OF a foreign
credit. of interested friends i'm other lands,
a commissiariat and manufactures. lie saw
these things neglected and the young seale
drifting into narrow channeli anu ne
went oil into the army like private yolun-
tgHr. never raising II ldtliOhs Nblhf bAt iNHa,
ing The worst. He was the best beloved
pubilc man Georgia eyet had, not EXCEPT
INC William H. Crawford, who lacked the
refinement of mind and feeling OF Howell
Cobb. Crawford was strong but a coarse
man, =
/ asked Mr. Lamar what had become OF
the South Carolina leaders who worked up
secession, naming Plckens, hahihonu,
Chcsnut, and others. -,
There are but two Of them living, VIM.
Porcher Mills and Keitt. Chestnut was 2
man Of little ability; the same may be slld
orCioyerngy Pickens Wade Hampton was
4 good military officer, but Is leather
weieat in civil Questions; Hammond was
a man 6fuental power, with requirements,
will and foff.. but he tad no love OF the
multitude and father despisod them, ana
hence his fall was TO Loneliness and neg
is not Senator Butler, of South Carolina
something Of man ~ ID
VERY much OF a man. lie was a man
Of very violent passions, and OF such ih'euse
.erasueration when insulted that II he had I
Killed C0nkling in the senate when they
came into a collision there, u would not
have srr1,rised me at all. But his control
over himself lis amicable, and, indeed,
p0puiar relations with many OF The leading
republicans. and the extension OF his inhu-
cnce BIZ both discretion and candor, are
f-rafiiviug surprises. We are very weak az
:, -,erfv in leaders. AID Butler Is one 81 the |
men xbo has developed into a thinking, |
leading mind ,.,-.- -.
un olded p
s.No. 1 fail 10 see him with the aked eye. /
Mr.. Pendlet0n l. n sophomore. lie came
down here some time ago, and nulie carrled 4
away the young boys and students oy ~
and coudesceusiOn, but be /
49, nod rossess the faculties Of
,,e-fv lesder. Mr.. Bayard IL
4 e5od deal Affected by some Of our
r.e6pls. He il q gentleman, as fendleton |
: INT what can We do with either Of them 70 |