The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-22

reSehtatlFe CnaInD Der OF the National Assem- |
bly,. There his debut was made ON the Ore |
gon question. In the language of Mr.. Ste |
phens, "his frst speech placed him in the
front rank Of the drbators, orators and states |
men of that body"
Educated in, and a firm deciplc of, the JEFF |
fersonian school of politics, Mr.. To"mbs was
then in sympathy with the Southern Wings. |
In March, 1859, he quilted the Hall of Repre-
sentativest tor n chair in the Senate chamber
OF the United States, which he continued to
occupy until the passage of the Ordinance of
secession by the State of Georgia, when he
Withdrew from the National Assembly and
cast his lot with the Southern people in their
struggle for Il separate political existence.
The public utteranccs Of Mr.. Toombs as Il
Representing and Senator from Georgia have
passed into history and may not be here re-
pcated. Among them will be specially re-
mclnbercd his speech defining his position on
the organization of the House in la49-on the
power of the House to adopt rules before its
organization, and on the Plurality Resolution
upon the admission of California, in which he
arrnigncd the North for rcpeuated breaches Of
faith, and demanded equality for the South in
the Tsrritories-nnd in justification of the
right OF secession. His lecture delivered in
Boston on the oath of January, 1856, will not
be forgotten. He was the Mirabcau of the
period, and on all occasions exhibited wonder
full physical and intellectual proves.
The rigbta of his section, rs he c. mprehend-
ed them, were paramount in his esteem. To
WV sktiu maintenance WIS lis Su-
prcme devotion accorded, his best effort di-
rected. Bold even to temcrity in his asscr-
tlons, In tone and manner emphatic even to
the verge of menace, icnnoclastic perhaps in
his efforts, he was, nevertheless, always true
tn the principles Of exalted craftsmanship,
and ioval i'll the last degree to the best inter
csts of the South rs he forecast them.
Mighty was his influence in precipitating the
Confederate revolution. Most potent were his
efforts in persuading Georgia tn scccde from
tho lJui,IN. II was his l,norf that In ,rnul,}
live and die an nnco~mpromising opponent of
the unconstitutional acts and assumed author
ity Of the General Government. When in
termed OF the passage, by Georgia, of her Orr
bers of the House Immediately severed their
connection with the Congress of the United
States. Upon his return home Mr.. Thumbs
took his scat in the Secession Convention of
his State, where he acted a conspicuous part.
He was selected as a delegate to- the Confeder-
ate Congress, which assembled at Mnntyon,-
cry, Alabama, on the 4th of February, 1861,
participated in the deliberations Of that au-
gust body. and as Chrirman Of the committee
from Georgia, was largely Instrumental in
States. Upon rhe inauguration of the Hon.
Jefferson Davis rs President. and Of the Hon.
Alexander IL. Stevens rs Vice. President of
the Southrrn Confcdcracy, the portfolio of
St"te WAS rendered to, and, after some hcsita-
ti"n Oh his part, accepted by Mr.. Toombs.
He was content t" discharge til. duties of
this office only during the formative pcriod of
the Government. His restless spirit aud ac-
tive intellect could not long brook the tcdium
of bureau affairs, or rest satisfied with the
small engage rents then incident to that posi-
tinn. In the following July he resigned the
portfolio of Il department., the records of
which he tncctiously remarked The carried in
his hmt,' and accepted service in the field
with the rank of Brigadici -Gh,nrraI. His
brigade was c"inp"Scd of the I'd, 18th, 18th
and 20th regiments Georgia infantry, und the
lst regiment of Geo; gia regulars. To hi, i'm
pcri"nS spirit. unused to subsection and unuc-
c'stoincd to brook the Suggestions and COM
mands uf others, the cxauiinns of 4 military
liie were most irksoinc. and the orders cimana.
ting from th.'se superior in rank often very
distastctul. On more than one occasion he
did not hesitate to c%riticisc severely. aud iIat
publicly, in defiance Of the we!l-kmowm army
regulations. L" such M extent did this
show Of INSTRUMENTATION obtain, that he was
placed under suspension from command nf
his brigade pending the determination of the
charges which had been preferred.
He was restored, however, tn command,
and participated in the famous battle of the
Second Manassas and Sharpsburr, In the
latter engagement he was wounded.
On the 18th day of March, 1884 he resigned
his commlSsi"n, and returned to Georgia.
His brigade then formed part of Longstrcct's
corps: Army of Northorn Virginia. Gen.
Tnombs Was not in sympathy with Mr.. Davis
ADMINISTRATION I" puDltC auulrS, nor ut lie
acquiesce in some of the most important
legislative cnactncnts OF the Confederate
Congress. His heart was Thoroughly enlisted
in the cause, and he stood prepared to render
every assistance in his power, provided men
and measures commended themselves 10 his
approval. The attitude he assumed was
dangerous and not conducive to general
harmony. lie reserved the right publicly to
d%enounce what he condemned aud to deri,ie
freely what his Judgment did not sane, ion.
such condnct in one of his acknowledged
ability and widespread influence would have
been more tolerablc in a period of profound
peace but when u newborn nation, strur-
CLING under difficulties The most oyerwl.ln-
ing and against adds, without p~a.a'l,l in The
history of morlerm wars, WINS engaged in a
death gr.pple for life, and all were intent
upon rendering Their best Services in the COM
niOn cause, 1t appeared to say the leus;, Oues-
tIonabl" and obstructive of unity. 1t was
characteristic of Gen. looms to measure men
ana laws by ny his own standard IF character.
excellence and proprie v. Ii the order or ena T.
ment. no matter how august the source I ON
which IL originated, or how potent the au hur-
ity, from which it promulgated, did no, coin
CID: with his views of right or necessity, he
hesitatcd not to criticise, to condemn. Or In
disobey.. He was largely a law unto himself.
ana, III some instances, dill vinlrncc tn the
expectation which, under circumstances then
existent, might w.i have been entertained
with respect to the conduct Of ono of his
Fp"cf" u SiitS. AT the outset OF the
Confederate Rcvo, uiinn he committed the
crave error of Understanding the courage,
u. determination, and thu material powers
OF the North. His hatred of that section v. a
80 intense that his judgment was warped. So
intent was he upon precipitating a war be-
tween the States that he retained from cnnnt-
ing the cost. 30 eager was he for tie succcls
OF the Southern arms that he did not hesitate
to denouncc numerically the leaders upon
whom, by any possibility, the blame of defeat
or blame c ,uld be castillo was an ayowed
enemy of West Point, aud ridiculed tho ;dea