The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-06-23
EARLY CONFEDERATEDAYS
HOW THE SECESSION GOVERNMENT
WAS FOUNDED.
Opening the Confederate Treasury
and Unfurling the Flag--lts Seal,
Its Money, Its Salt.


Its Money, It's Salt.
When Montgomery was selected as the
capital of the Confederate States it was
one of the richest cities in the South.
The first rule adopted by the Congress
was that votes should be cast by States.
The State was made the sovereign unit,
and Florida with her three delegates bal
anced the vote of Georgias eleven dele
gates.
When elected, Mr.. Davis was at his
home, Brierfeld, Miss, to use his own
language, repairing his fences" He
did not desire the Presidency In a
speech he said: 81 have no desire but to
be at the head of gallant Mississippians
once more, leading them to the chargeln
Mr.. Davis rode from Brierfield to Mont
gomery in a blaze OF bonfires by night
and the acclamations of multtudes by
day
The Confederate Treasury began bust
ness on the morning of February 20 in a
two-story building on the corner of
Commerce and Market streets When
young Mr.. Capers, chief clerk of the
Treasury, sought the Treasury building
that morning, he procured the keys of
DIR. Clanton. Examining the closed
doors ss he passed down the hallway
he found one labelled Confederate
Treasury" Unlocking the door he found
dusty and empty room. Not even a
chair showed that it had ever been occu-
pied. Cat tracks in the dust on the
floor were the only signs of life. AS the
Treasury was to be opened in an hour,
Mr.. Capers hurried to a furniture store,
just opened for the days business, and
soon he and young clerk in the store
were on their way back with neat table,
q desk, and six chairs. Arrived at the
Treasury they swept the room, busted
out the cobwebs, and by nine o'clock
had as nice Treasury room as one could
wish to see. Pens and inkstands were
secured and stationery provided. This
practical improvement of the Treasury
was interrupted by the entrance of an
elderly, soldierly man who, in the voice
of one accustomed to command, said:
"Where is the Confederate Treasury. :"
'This is it, " replied the young clerk.
The visitor cast a skeptical look about
the room. Mr.. Capers rallied sufficiently
to repeat the information. The visitor,
still lncredulous and unbending, said /:
81 am CAPITA Deas, late of the United
States army and desire to see the Secre-
tary on business of importance"
The chief clerk, absshed by the evil
dent skepticism of his visitor, replied
that the Secretary was engaged, but that
he might be able to attend to the busi-
ness. Then came the crusher:
81 have been instructed, sir, by the
President, whose letter of introduction 1
hand you, to provide blankets and
rations for 100 men, who have reported
for duty in the army Iwant the money,
sir, to carry out the order of the Presi-
dent"
The chief clerk of the Treasury re-
turned to Captain Deas the Presidents
letter and assured him that nothing
would give him more pleasure than to
comply with his wishes; "but,n said he,
drawing lean purse from his pocket and
counting out 81, 'T have been on a con-
siderable frolic for two weeks, and this,
Captain, is all the money at the disposal
of the Confederate Treasury at this
moment" Finally Clerk Capers agreed
to lock up the Treasury Department and
go with Captain Deas to look for the
Secretary. When found, that gentle
Central Bank Of Alabama for the neces-
sary amount, and Mr.. Capers and Captain
Deas went together, drew the money
and supplied the soldiers.
Commodore Semmes was one of the
first volunteers for Confederate service.
He was anxious to be afoat under the
Stars and Bars A form of commission
was furnished by Commander Semmes
which was carefully transcribed. 1t was
necessary to affix to this the seal of the
Confederate Government. There was no
seal, and no engTaver Commander
Semmes and Mr.. Capers procured a block
of lockwood, some type from the Adrer-
tiser Office, and with their pocket knives
began digging out seal. DR.. DeLeon
brought in young surgeon, who as
sisted, and the seal was soon ready at the
expense of several pocket knives. When
applied to the wafer it made very fine
impression. With this commission, the
first ever issued by the Confederate Gov
ernment, Commander Semmes boarded
his Sumter.
The making of Confederate bonds and
notes was a great trial with the young
Treasury. There were no engravers in
the South, and no bank note paper. The
first bonds were printed by the American
Bank Note Company, but seized by the
Federal authorities before they left New
York. The first Confederate money
issued was eight 800 bills made in Rich
mond. A German named Hoyer was
found there engaged in engraving card,
and posters. Some paper was smuggled
through for him, and upon old and infe
rior stones, previously used for placards
he engraved the first Confederate Treas
ury notes. They were pulled by hanC
from the old press, the process being
very slow. Uncouth and homely bill
they undoubtedly were Awkward,
issued and but poorly maintained, the
found no buyers in the outside world
and no credit save in the hearts of ou
people All the same, they were the
pledges of brave and honorable people
A hundred and fifty thousand men diet