Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-11

ToomBs AND FITzHUGH LEE.


In an interview at Atlanta, Ga, recently,
Gen. Robert Toombs expressed himself on
many points in his past career. 1.-The Gull
mination of my political career" said Gen.
Toombs, twas the secession agitation. The
statement that there existed among the
Southern Senators in 1859 and 1850 con-
spiracy to force secession is untrue. There
was no conspiracy, no understanding. The
eucroachments of Northern congressman
upon the reserved rights of the States, the
incendiary agitation OF disturbing questions
in that section, had alarmed the people OF
the Southern States. They elected men to
Congress TO represent their views. Ihese
men were representatives, and were only
guilty of the same conspiracy rs always
exist between constituent and representa-
tive.
"The question of secession came up from
people Just in the same shape as other ques-
lions come up, aud consequently Southern
Senators merely presented the views OF
| those whom they represented. They went
home and addressed their constituents upon
| that as they did upon other questions. All
| Of nv speeches were 80 made TO my constlt.
uents in Georgia, or in my place upon the
huor of the Senate. ! always gave my ut
terances to the press freely. l never sup
pressed a speech nor spoke in riddles My
| life has been an open page which al! men
might read"
WAS there ever q hope Of success for the
Confederacy, and if so why did it fail?
| "rhere was no doubt Of success" answer
ed the General. 1.-THE South could have
succeeded had it not been throttled by West
Point. The Presidency Of the Conlederacy
-,
South Carolina, with singular stupidity,
wrapped itself around Jefferson Davis, Mis-
sissppi was not so insane, but could not,
out OF courtesy, vote against her own citi-
zen. Hence, Davis became President, and
West Point was The school whence he drew
his ideas, He graduated from that institu-
ton, and could never be brought to realize
the fact that men in civil life knew any.
thing, He filled commands with West
Pointers, and he stuck to them throughout
every reverse The martinez discipline OF
that institution was the only reliance OF Mr.
Davis"
Under whom could the Confederacy have
succecded?"
"Alhert Sidney Johnston was the one
man who could have certainly succeeded,
hut death cut his career short. Joseph T..
Johnston came next. When Jefferson Davis,
inspired by domestic intrigues, removed
Johnston from the command of the Western
army he killed the confederacy. Davis was
thoroughly incompetent. His forte was re-
view writing. He would have been sue
cessful magazine man, but in the hustle Of
practical, every day life he was utterly lost.
NV personal feeling for Mr.. Davis is of the
kindest character, but that does not remove
the facts Of history"
General Fizhugh Lee having been shown
a paper containing the interview with Mr.
Toombs, in which that gentleman says that
Mr.. Davis ruined the Southern cause by
letting West Point men control the policy
of the corfederary, expressed surprise and
then Indignation.
"rhere was scarcely soldier Of renown
on either side who was not West Point
graduate" he exclaimed. "Toombs con-
lradicts himself by saying West Point ideas
of martial discipline throttled the South and
then going on TO state that Albert Sidney
Johnston or Joe Johnston could hHve
saved the coufederacy. Both these gen.
erals were West Point men. Among
the famous Southern soldiers educated
ut West Point were X. +. Lee, Stonewall
Jmckson, Joseph r. Johnston, Albert Sidney
Johnston, Beauresard, Mcpherson and Jeb
Stuart. Gordon, Of Georgia, and n. B. For
rest were almost the only Southern soldiers
who did not owe their military education TO
the school on the Hudson"
How about Toombs having been offered
the Confederate Presidency, AS he stales?'
II never heard anything of it, and do
not know who could have rendered Gen.
Toombs the Presidency. As l remember it,
Jefferson Davis and Toombs were the can
ddates in 1861, and Davis was elected. We
elected Jefferson Davis because he was able
and pure-two essential qualifications in
craftsmanship and private lfe-and we be-
leve that his military education would be
of great value to the President of a nation
just plugging into war of independence.
"What did you think Of the funeral of
Gen. Grant?
II was much pleased to be thus assured
that all unfriendly feeling had passed away
and that there is so much evidence Of good
feeling and of the reuniting of both sections
Of our great country. l think the great
fiiendliness evinced for Gen. Grant was be-
cause of his past language aud because Of
his conduct, more particularly ut the sur.
render at Appomattox Courthouse"