The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-25
THE SOUTHERN CABINET.
THE coNREDERATE RULERS

sssss, sesSsn, and other OF Mr.. Davis'sAbls
The following letter from a washington
correspondent Of the New York Tunes
Win be reid with interest, although its
tone WIN not meet with general approval
within ten DAYS past two OF the Original
Cabinet of Jefferson Davis, appointed al
the formation OF the Confederate Govern
ment at Montgomery, In February, 1861,
have claimed public attention; the one bv
reasop az sudden death IN foreign land,
and the other because OF his serious illness
ri The Federal capital. While the SEN
ssble and sturdy Texan, Representa-
i've Reagan, who served as Postmaster
General OF the Ccufederacy throughout
n brief and stormy life, was summoning
couvalcscent energies TO get to the Capitol
10 vote for tarin-reiorm on Tuesday, Judah
p. benjamin. confronted death In London.
He. too, had served In the Confederate
Cabinet during the whole Of the war, com.
mencing as Attorney.General. for q briei
seeson acting as Secretary Of War, and at
the close Of the war filing the position OF
Secretary OF State. One other member OF
Mr.. Dayis's Cabinet, long since dead, Mr..
Mallory, OF Florida, Secretary OF the Navy,
srv ID continuously through what he called
she ieur years night OF the Confederacy.
The original Confederate Cabinet was
lenceS with regard to the usual considera-
t,u1s Of geography and personal fitness.
m assumed by the South that Jefferson
DAyis was peculiarly qualified by natural
stfIs Aad experience In civil and military
administration for the wise direction OF the
Affairs OF the new government, and that he
wusjd not err in the selection OF his con-
stit0tional advisers. He had illustra-
t.d American soldiershp in seri-
one crisis to our arms at BueDa Vista,
and. A War Secretary under President
pierce. had shown striking military in
stinct and precision. His eight years SER
vices IN the Federal Senate, and a previous
hrief service in the lower House, made
him familiar with the leading men OF the
Soutb. The names he first sent to the
Provisional Congress OF the Confederacy-
then having only the cotton States in its
membership, none OF the border States
Joining until after Mr.. Lincoln's call
for troops consequent upon the firing on
Fort Sumter-were Robert Toombs, Of
0eorRia. Secretary OF State; G. q. Men,
minger. Of South Carolina, Secretary
Of the Treasury; l.. p. Walker, OF
Alabama, Secretary OF War; S. X. Mallory,
Of Florida, Secretary OF the Navy; John
II. Reagan, OF Texas, Postmaster-G eneral /;
snd Judah p. Benjamin, OF Louisiana, At
torpey.General. Toombs. Mallory. and
BENJAMIN had retired from the Federal
Senate, as had Mr.. Davis himself, as their
respective States seeded, and Mr.. Reagan
went Immediately from the House Of Re-
presentskives nc Washington to the Seces-
~ Taxau Sanrqtarina
Nsmminger and Walker had local promi-
hence In South Carolina and Alabama, but
were without Federal distinction
Mr.. Toombs's tenure OF the portfolio OF
State was brief. The Confederate Govern
ment was transferred from Montgomery to
Richmond in May, 1861, and in the exult-
ant language Of that day this event was
held to be q very brave and wise defiance
of northern endeavor to cOerce the seeded
States. "a splendid counting Of the issue
with the arrogant foe" was the phrase OF
q Richmond newspaper. The burly figure
Of Mr.. Toombs was familiar siglt, as
With insouciant air and carelessly arranged
apparel, be daily walked from his office
to his quarters, and laughingly told how he
carried the Confederate State Department in
his coat pocket. The Coniederacy then was
lOO yOQuk W udNC hutn NVAiNoPOhOthSO
with foreign Powers. In the summer OF 1861
Toombs resigned from the State Depart
ment and went to the field In command Of
q Georgia brigade, which became famous
in the annals Of Lees army. 1t was firm
belief Of the late Alexander II. Stephens,
between whom and ToombS a touching
friendship lasted for more than forty years,
that ToOmbs was born soldier. Mr.
Stephens once told the writer that had
Toombs commanded the Army OF Northern
Virginia he would have achieved southern
independence In the second year Of the
war. Toombs Is still alive, enjoying 9
green old age, at his home in Washington,
wilkes county, Ga, respected for his abil-
titles and virtues, which are not obscured
By bis eccentricities and Bobadil-like utter
ances a. to public matters. r. NJ. Z. Hun
tar, Of Virginia, who had seen long Federal
service a. member OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives and senator, and had long been
prominent as q presidential candidate be-
fore secession, was Toombs's successor In
the direction Of the Confederate Depart
ment OF State. He is still alive. Mr..
walker retired from the War Department
after Q few months service. When
Sumter was fired on he was credited
with having made boastful speech, in
which be promised the exultant citi-
Gems OF Montgomery that the Con
iederste flag should soon float from
the Capitol at Washington" Mr.. Walk
sr's friends always denied that he made
any such declaration, but it was tele-
graphed to the northern press, and stim-
ulated the war feeling OF the North. That
Mr.. Walker never used the language
quoted appears to be established by the dis
claimer OF the southern Government OF any
other than purely defensive measures. To
extort recognition Of its independence, not
70 invade northern soil, was the constantly
avowed purpose at the initiation OF hostili-
ties. Even the assault on Sumter was de-
clared TO be defensive measure. as the
fort was In southern waters and within the
Jurisdiction Of State belonging to the
Coniederacy. tfn
Those days Of 1851 were full OF passion
and iervor In talk and deed as preparation
went on for the battles OF the approaching
summer. Beauregard and Sumter were
names talismanic OF southern vaor and
confidence. The Creole General was DEEM
q q miracle Of warlike proves, and men
wanted no better pledge OF the military
administration OF the Confederacy than
was given In the thrilling story OF "Jeff
Davis and bis Mississippi Rifles at Buena
Vista." Popular temper was jauntily ex-
pressed by the message OF the telegraph
operator at Montgomery following the sur
render Of Fort Sumter:
sDavfs's answer was rough aud curt
Sumter 10 ours and nobody hurt;
With Paixhan, mortar. and petard
We tender old Abe our Beanregard."
When Walker retired from the War
Department he was succeeded temporarily
by Mr.. Benjamin, transferred from the
Attorney-GenerapsD Department. Mr.. Ben
iamin was succeeded by George w. Ran
dolph, Of Virginia, descendant OF Jefrer-
SON. His administration was able, but his
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