The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-05-26
BIRTH OF THE CONFEDERACI.
a GLANCE BACK TO THE DAiS OF
TWENTY Y-FIVt. YEARS AGO.


and the First Cruiser.
(VdS6. Letter u tie .Ntn York N0rid)
ssNo, sir, | was not with Mr.. Davis
at Montgomery this week to hear him
pronounce what YOU are pleased to call
the funeral oraticn of the Contederacy.
I was there with him twenty years
AGO and heard him make 4 speech
much more cheerful. 1t was his nlau-
nural as PrcSilent--the baptismal SER
Vice YOU might call it-of the Confed-
eracy. was one Of the marshal $
aids on that occasion, and represented
South Carolina.
The speaker, chatting with a group
of his friends in the parlor of the
National Hotel, was Col. Henry D.
Capers, of Georgia. lie has been here
for several months and his erect figure
and gallant bearing are much re-
marked. He was private secretary OF
the first Confederate secretary ot the
treasury, and his "reminiscences OF thu
babvhood of that short-llved Govern
ment are an interesting volume. The
bitterest Northerncr caunot begrudge
the pathos in the spectacle of Jefferson
Davis, solitary old man, grey and
feeble, standing up to speak in the
memorial service Of the rebellion,
upon the steps of the very Capitol
where he first stood forth its chief, in
the prime Of his manly strength and
the first flush Of its hopes, on the 18th
February, 1861. How many he must
miss Of the higll-hearted, hot-blooded
Southern chivalrv who stood proudly
around him that day.
The 18th of February, 1861, was 4
beautiful Southern day, says Col.
CaperS. The sun beamcd down on
the natal occasion like happy father,
and a soft southwest wind was lifting
the leaves of the magnolia that twined
with the laurel in many large teStoon
about the Corinthian columns of the
capitol. An immense concourse Of
people gathered to the inauguration,
but so solemn were the ceremonies
and so earnest We're the people, that
Col. Capers, sitting on horseback in
the outskirts of the throng, heard dis
tinctly every word Of the eloquent
opening prayer Of DR.. Manly. The
venerable divine and Vlce-PreSldent-
elect Stephens rode in the carriage
with Mr.. Davis, and Howell Cobb,
president Of the convention, admins
tered the oath OF office. Mr. DAVIS
spoke his inaugural quietly, but dis
tinctly, and upon taking the oath
raised his eyes towards heaven and
repeated the concluding words, $50
help me God," in a tone so strong and
clear that they could be heard by
every one present. There was a re-
ception that night and brilliant ball.
c.: e. MemmluSer, OF Soulh CaroDna,
was appointed secretary OF the treaSu-
ry, and on the 2Oth Col. CaperS, whom
he selected as his private secretary,
opened their office III the Commercial
building. The accommodations were
limited, but convenient. There was a
banking office on the ground floor.
The State, treasury, war, navy and
law departments OF the new govern
ment settled down in the twelve rooms
on the second story, none OF them very
large. Young Caper> took possession
Of their office, swept out the cobwebS
and dust himself, got in few articles
of furniture, tackled a card on the
door, hired an office boy and waited
two whole days before anybody came
to do business.
Then came tail, Soldierly-looking
,,,or ,rith an eaunr -f,.D and the nltiniS-