Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-03

sizes which then threatened the dissolution
OF the Union. I at first asked TO DO cx-
cused from the committee, but at the
solicitation Of friends agreed TO serve,
avowing my willingness to make any
sacrifice to avert the impending struggle.
The committee consisted OF men belong
ing 70 the three political divisions OF the
senate. the State-ripnts men of the South.
the radicals Of the North, and the North
ern Democrats, with one member who
did not acknowledge himself as belong
ing to any one OF the three divi-
sons--Mr. Crittenden, an old-time Wing.
and the original mover of the COM
promise resolutions. When tho commit
tee met IL was agreed that unless some
measure which would receive the support
| of the majority of each of the three d.
visions could be devised it was useless to
make any report. and otter many days OF
anxious discussion and multiplicity OF
propositions, though the southern State
! rights men and the northern Democrats
and the Wings (Mr. Crittenden) could ire
quently agree, they could never get ma
jority OF the northern radicals TO unite
| with them in any substantive proposition
Finally the committee reported their fail
ure to find ANYTHING on which the three
| divisions could unite. Mr.. Douglas, who
\ was q member of the committee. deflanfly
| challenged the northern radicals TO tell
what they wanted. As they had refused
everything, he claimed that they ought 70
be willing TO tell what they proposed to do,
When officially informed that Mississippi
had passed tho ordinance OF secession
| took formal leave Of the Senate. an
nouncing for the last time the opinion
! had 80 often expressed as 10 State cove
reionty. and. as consequence OF II. the
rlrbt Of q State TO withdraw its delegated
movers. Before reached home had been
appointed by the convention OF Missis-
! sfppi commander-in-cbiefo OF lts army WIN
thc rank Of Encouragement, and ~ once
! proceeded with the task OF organization.
/ went TO my home, IN warren county, IA
! order TO prepare for what belieyed was
7 IN he a lono and severe struggle. Soon q
messenger came from the Provisional Con-
/ federate Congress at Montgomery. bring
I ing the unwelcome notice that i had been
I elected Provisional President OF the Con-
federate States. But, reluctant as L was
TO accept the honor, and carefully as
/ had tried to prevent the possibility oil III
/ in the circumstances OF the country coulu
not refuse it, and | was inaugurateu AT
! Montgomery. February Is, 1861, with Alex
ander H. Stephens, OF Georgia, as VICE
! President.
From this time to the fall of the Con,
! federate Government nv life was part OF
the history of the Confederacy and OF the
war between the States. II is Impossible,
therefore, to follow 1t in detail.
In the selection of Cabinet was re-
lieyed from a difficulty which surrounds
! that duty by the President of the United
! States. for there were no sections" and
no PARTY" distinctions. All aspirations,
! ambitions. and interests had been merged
! in n great desire for Confederate lndepend-
/ ence.
In my INAUGURAL address / asserted that
necessity, not choice, had led to the seces-
/ SION of the southern States; that as an
agricultural people, their poicy was pence
/ and free commerce with all the woTlC that
the constituent parts. not the system Oh
government. had been changed.
The removal of the troops from Fortress
! Moultre to Fort Sumter, the guns OF which
! threatened the harbor Of Charleston, ana
| the attempt to throw achievements INTO
/ that fort-thus doubly breaking the pledge
/ that matters should be kept an sicfii q'i0-
constituted the occasion as Wen as the JUS
tifcation OF the opening OF ire npon Fort
Sumter. Speedily following this event
came the call for large army by Mr.. Ldn-
coin and the secession OF other southern
States as the consequence of this unInls-
taxable purpose Of coercion.
VIRGINIA. which had led III the effort, by
| n paaco conference, TO avert national rum,
when she saw the Constitution dlsregarded
aud the purpose to compel Tree states
| h. military force TO submit to arbitrary
| power, passed an ordinance OF secession
| and ioined the Confederate States
Shortly after this, rs authorized by the
| Provisional Congress, removed the Con-
federate capital fsom Montgomery to Rich
mOnd. -,
Among the many indications Of goodwill
| shown when on my way TO ana after my ar
rival at Richmond was the purchase Of a
| ID. 4. -. 81 nd btsl ~
citizens. IL was offered as present, but.
! following q rule that had governed my &C
! ton in all such cases, | declined to accept
| II. continued TO live in Richmond until
| the Confederate forces were compelled 10
| withdraw from the defences OF the capital.
That event was not quite unexpected,
| but it occurred before the conditions were
! fulfilled under which General Lee con-
/ templated to retreat. After General Lee
was forced to surrender, and General John
ston consented to do SO. L started, with a
very few of the men who volunteered to ac-
! conpanyme. for the Mississippi. but,
| hearing on the road that marauders were
pursuing my family, whom / had not seen
! since they left Richmond, but knew to be
/ en- route to the Florida coast, changed
! nv direction. and after long and hard
! ride. found them encamped and threat
! ened by rObbing party. To give them
/ the needed protection / travelled with
them for several days until in the neigh
| borhood of Irvinville. Ga, when l sup
posed | could safely leave them. But hear
| ing about nightfall that party of maraud-
ers were to attack the camp that night, and
supposing them to be pillaginS deseTters
! from both armies. and that the Confede-
rates would listen to me, awaited their
coming. Law down in my travelling clothes,
and fell asleep. Latein the night my colored
coachman aroused me with the intelligence
| that the camp was attacked, and l stepped
out OF the tent where my wife and children
were sleeping, and saw at once that the as
sailants were troops dcploying around the
encampment. so informed my wife. who
urged me to escape. After some hesitation
] / consented. and a servant woman started
with me, carrying bucket as II gong
! to the spring for water. One OF the
surrounding troops ordered me TO halt
and demanded my surrender. | adj
vanced toward the trooper, throwing
off shawl which my wife had pnt
over NV shoulders. The trooper aimed his
carbine. when my wife, who witnessed the
act. rushed forward and threw her arms
around me, thus defeating my intention.
which was, if the trooper missed his aim, To
try TO unhorse him and escape with his
horse. Then,with every species OF petty
pillage and offensive exhibition, j was
taken from point TO point untu incar-
cerated in Fortress Monroe. There was
imnrisoned for two years before being al
lowed the privilege of the writ OF habeds
corpus
At length, when the writ was to be Is
sued. the condition was imposed by the
Federal Executive that there should be
bondsmen influential in the Republican"
party of the North, Mr.. Greeley being spe-
cially named. Entirely as q matter OF JUS
tice and legal right, not from motives OF
personal regard. MIR. Greeley, MIR. Gorritt
smith. and other eminent northern citizens
went on my bond.
In Nav, 1867, after being released from
Fortress Monroe, l went TO Canada, where
my older children were with their grand
mother; my wife, as soon as permitted,
having shared my imprisonment. and
brought our infant daughter with her.
From time TO time obeyed summonses to
90 before the Federal Court at Richmond,
until finally the case was heard by Chlef-
Justice Chase and District-Judge Under
wood. who were divided in opinion, which
sent the case TO the Supreme Court OF the
United States, and the proceedings were
auashed, leaving me without the oppor-
tunity to vindicate myself before the
highest Federal court.
After about a wears residence in Canada