The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-02
THE FIRST PRESIDENT.
\ GLANCl: BACK TO THE DAYS OF
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
Scenes at the Inauguration of Prcsi-
dent Jefferson Davis---The First
Confederate Money, the First
Flag, the First Soldiers and
the First Cruiser.

No. sir, ! was not with Mr.. Davis
at Montgomery this week to hear
him pronounce what you are pleased
to call the funeral Grafton Of the Con-
federacy. | was there with him
twenty-five years ago and heard him
make speech more cheerful. 1t
was his inaugural as President-the
hapti>mal service you might call it
Of the Conicdcracy. l was one Of
the lnarshall'S aids on that occasion,
and represented South Carolina"
The speaker chatting with group
OF his friends in the parlor of the
J National Hotel, was Col. Henry D.
Capcrs, Of Georgia. lie has been
here for several months and his
erect figure and gallant bearing are
much remarked. lie was private
secretary Of the first Confederate sec.
retary Of the treasury, and his remi-
nisccnces Of the babyhood Of that
! short-lived government are an in
tercsting volume. The bitterest
| Northerner cannot begrudge the
I pathos in the spectacle Of Jefferson
Davis, q solitary old man, grey and
feeble, standing up to speak in the me-
mortal service Of the rebellion, upon
the steps Of the very Capitol where
lie first stood forth it's chief, in the
prime Of his manly strength and the
first flush Of its hopes, on the 18th Of
February. 1861. How many he must
miss of the high-hearted, hot-blooded
Southern chivalry who stood proudly
around him that day!
The 18th of February, 1861, was a
beautiful Southern day, says Col.
Capers. Tie sun beamed down On
the natal occasion like happy father,
and q soft southwest wind was lifting
the leaves Of the magnolia that twined
with the laurel in many large festoon
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 were 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 Vice-President-
elect, Stephens rode in the carriage
with Mr.. Davis, and Howell Cobb,
president Of the convention, admin
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 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. G. Memminger, of South Carolina,
wa appointed secretary Of the treasu
rv, and On the Goth Col. Capers, whom
he selected as his private secretary,
opened their Office in the Commercial
building. The accommodations were
limited, bat convenient. There was
q 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 Capers
took possession Of their Office, swept
out the cobwebs and dust himself,
GOT in q few articles of furniture,
tackled card on the door. hired an
Office boy and waited two whole days
before anybody came to do busl-
ness.
Then came q tall, soldierly-looking
man with an eager step and the un-
Unstable air Of business. lie wanted
to see the secretary at once upon an
important matter. lie handed the
young private secretary an official
note and hurricdly said:
i am Capt. Deas, sir, late of the
United States army. l have been
instructed by President Davis. whose
note I hand you, to provide rations
and blankets Tor lundIeu men WHO
have reported to him for tiuty in the
army. i want the money, sir, to
carry out the order ofthe President"
Col. Capers assured the Captain
that he was both willing and anxious
the men should be filled and covered,
but he added, shaking out a purse
that contained something less than
50:
Il have been on considerable Of
frolic for tic last two weeks in Mont
eomery. and my finances are at this
moment pretty low. This is all the
money I am able to vouch for as be-
ing in the treasury department OF the
Confederate States at this time"