Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-06-13

resolution of censure of Mr.. Mallory
by the Confederate Congress- Mr..
Benjamin Jared no better. He was
assailed with cumulative venom
that knew neither limit nor fatigue.
He was charged with all the mill
tary failures, and was, moreover,
credited with an undue influence
over the President, used for selfish
purposes. That his enemies did
not despise Mr.. Benjamin's diplo-
matte abilities was attested by the
amazing Protean skill with which
they credited him. In his dealings
with his chief, according to his
censors, Benjamin could be Richie.
lieu, Mazarin, Wolsey, or Jeffreys
at his own sweet will. Messrs.
Benjamin and Mallory had, in the
poverty of resources of the South,
as compared with those of the
North, a worse problem to deal
with than that of Themistocles, "to
make a small State great One."
Looking back at that four years
struggle few will fail to see the
difficulties struggled with by the
Confederate Ministers of War and
Navy. Mr.. Randolph held the War
portfolio during the period of
McClellan's repulse in the Seven
Days battles and of Pope's disas-
ters in Piedmont, Va. Mr.. Seddon
an able man of the highest public
virtue, was condemned for the
overwhelming defeats of the Con-
federate armies in the Summer and
Autumn of 1868. The deluge came
too soon after Breckinridge's ac-
cession to the War Office for po-
pular judgment to be framed as to
his administration.
North Carolina was fortunate in
her contribution of two able and
pure men to the Confederate Cabi-
net. Ex-Governor and ex-senator
Thomas Bragg succeeded Mr.. Ben
jamin as Attorney-General and
George Davis succeeded Thomas
II. Watts, of Alabama, in the same
Office. Bragg has been dead for
ten years or more, while Governor
Watts practices law in Montgome-
ry and Mr.. Davis in Wilmington,
in their respective States. Mr..
Memminger was Secretary of the
Treasury nearly the whole existence
of the Confederacy. He was the
least popular member of the Cabi-
net, being cold and forbidding in
manner. His administration of
Confederate finances was judged
failure. Mr.. Trenholm, his success
sor, also a South Carolinian, posi-
bly, escaped the angry censure that
befell Memminger by reason of the
collapse of the Confederacy that
came within a brief time after his
acceptance of the management Of
the Treasury. Mr.. Trenholm is
dead and Mr.. Memminger practi-
ces law in South Carolina. The
position they held was a trying
one. a government without the
basis of financial credit, with ar
mics depleted until they are mere
skirmiSh lines, cannot beg or bor-
row with much success.
The Confederate Cabinet was a
fair expression of the executive
ability available in the South; not
so brilliant or able as its soldier
ship as illustrated by Lee, Jackson,
and Gordon, but equal to such
achievements as were possible in
the face of countless difficulties and
obstacles. A Cabinet presenting
such names as Toombs, Hunter,
Breckinridge, Benjamin, and Sed-
don is no beggar for appreciation
from the student of American po.
litical history made during the de-
cade preceding secession. Not only
was it the best material the South
had, but it would have been rare
material anywhere. Toombs, Hun
ter, Breckenridge, and Benjamin
were all colossal figures in the
Federal Senate. Toombs-a Marc
Antony or Mirabeau-was always
at his best in agitation. He, with
the aid of Gov. Joe Brown, lashed
Georgia, after stubborn resistance,
into secession, with Herschel V.
Johnson, Alexander II. Stephens,
and Benjamin II. Hill-a rare tri-
umviration of genius and eloquence |
lin opposition. Toombs is hardly |
viewed by Georgians as the biggest
Georgian of that day. That dis
tin ction was claimed for Howell
Cobb, who was Buchanan's Secre-
tary of the Treasury by thousands
of GeOrgians. To Toombs and to
Georgia Mr.. Davis gave the post of
honor in his Cabinet, Cobb being
already the President of the Pro-
visional Congress. Subsequently
Virginia was honored similarly,
when Hunter became Toombs sue.
II Il