The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-01-02
CONGRESS.
"reminiscences of the Present Agent Of the
Peabody Education Fund.

"reminiscences of the Present Agent Of the
Peabody Education Fund.
In coming on here Ito Washington,
after we had talked of almost every.
thing, DIR. Curry was asked some lead.
ing questions about the Confederate
Congress, and about why Jefferson Da-
Wis was made President of the Confed.
eracy. He replied Substantially
There was nothing to develop great
men in the Confederate Congress.
Nearly all the legislation had reference
to the war, and the debates were all in
secret session, except such as were Of
no consequence. AS to why we elected
Mr.. Davis President, there were sew.
eral reasons. He had distinguished
himself in the Mexican War, had been
trained d soldier at West Point, and had
been Secretary of War. We all felt that
it was necessary to elect a man of militia,
ry capacity and experience, acquainted
with the officers who would come to us.
Then Mr.. Davis had distinguished him,
self in the United States Senate as debat.
er. He and Hunter and Benjamin anG
Toombs were the foremost men from
the South in the Senate at that time
Mr.. Davis was not an extreme man.
He was a man of fine culture, and in all
debates, where scientific principals
were involved he could take part with
credit to himself. He was a man Of
stainless character, and his private life,
as we'll as his public life, was blameless.
The people who say that the choice OF
MI. Davis for the Presidency was a bad
one should remember that the field of
selection was q very restricted one.
Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennes-
see had not then joined the Confeder-
acy. Mr.. Stephens had been a strong
union man and had recently made very
strong union speeches. Georgia pre-
sented him, aud he was elected Vice.
President with the hope of %conciliating
the South and uniting the whole
people upon the great undertaking.
l don't think there was much antagon-
ism between Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Steph-
ems. Mr.. Davis took very few persons
into his confidence. In Washing
ton you will always find the
Vice President has very little
to do in aiding the president in
the discharge of his duties. Mr.. Ben.
jamin was probably the greatest man
we had, as a thinker and speaker, while
his capacity for work was simply won
derful. Howell Cobb was another great
man. AS President of the Provisional
Congress, Tin Montgomery he held
himself admirably. He had been speak.
er of the old Congress, and, added to
his large Legislative experience, he was
noted Tor his great ability and thorough
integrity. In 1850, when there was
great excitement in the south, looking
to secession, Cobb was a Union man,
and as such was elected Governor OF
Georgia. He was o Jackson Democrat
in contradistinction from a Calhoun
Democrat. He was secretary of the
Treasury under Buchanan, and re.
signed and went home to plead for Sc.
cession. He was one of the wises,
of statesmen, and many thought he
would have made a better president than
Davis. Howell Cobb wasin many things
very muchli like Senator Joseph E. Brown.
whom | regard as q very able man.
In the Provisional Congress Georges
had the strongest representation. II
had Stephens, Toombs. the two Cobbs,
Ben Hill, Frank Barlow Okilled at Man
asses), and Nishet. Ben Hill was The
ablest debater in the United States
Senate, and his loss was irreparable. ]
repeat there was nothing to develop
craftsmanship during the war and since
the war. This race question has alb.
sorbed all questions and over-shadows
everything else. No man. North OF
South, seem to grasp it in all its bear
ings. The negro problem more thar
any other in this country, or ever in
Europe, requires the highest order of
craftsmanship. Thus only can it be
settled Justly for both races. Our PEG.
pie do not see as they should that the
principles of Christianity must enter in
to craftsmanship. In our protest against
the union Of church and State we have
fallen into the error of separating
Christianity from these great principles.
The most remarkable exhibit OF the APP
p%liances of Christian principles is, OF
course, in Gladstone. He has the
courage to stand up in the House oil
Commons and say that n certain course
IF action is wrong, because it is in OPP
position to Christianity. Corr. Rich
mond Religious Herald.