The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-10
@ @. NfEniNF1EGwR.
The Life and Times Of the Secretary of

A. Nj, Of South Carolina, in his book, THE
Life and Times OF c. q. Memmingern
Bsvond the limits OF his own state Mr..
NemminGer's fame rests upon the fact that
he was the first Secretary OF the Treasury
OF the confederscy and upon his achieve.
r1ents in that capacity. In South Carolina
however. and in Charleston especially, he
will forever live in the hearts OF the people
for his works Of charity and beCevolenCe,
which were, indeed, basis for more lasting
fame than could have been won in the ex-
ecutive department Of an unsuccessful gov>
eminent. Not that there were fnlIacies in
his code of political ethics or weaknesses
i'm his financial schemes But the
effort of his life as public
servant was environed by circumstances
shat made success impossible: therefore.
whatever may have been in his fiscal
schemes in tehalf of the Confederecy that
with success would have placed him In the
front rank of fnanoers Of the world, was
lost, in effect, with the downfall of that
Government. So it happens that by "Out-
sidersn who ere unfamiliar with the facts,
M Memminger is regarded, in a measure,
and in common with the cOnfederacy, as a
gigantic failure. To corroct this erroneous
estimate Of the man; TO show why the
confederate financial scheme failed; to ex-
plain what the financial policy of the gov
eminent was, ana how the congress, against
the advice OF the secretary, weakened
that policy, are az much the pur-
poses OF the book as to record the life history
Of remarkable man.
The author OF the work was chief clerk
20 MIR. Memminger during his incumbeuoy
Of the Office of secretary of the treasury of
the confederacy. Occupying that post OF
confidence, he was IN a position to learn
all Of the details Of the secretary's financial
policy, as we'll as to become we'll acquainted
with the characteristics Of the man. From
his personal knowledge, and from docu-
mentery data and the recollections of Mr.
MemminRer's contemporaries, he has COM
piled his book. And an Interesting work it
IS, for the student either of history Of
finance or of rhetoric.
Mr.. Memminger was German by birth,
which event occurred in 1913. His father,
an officer Of the Prussian jaegers, was killed
in battle. With her infant babe the Wild
owed mother emigrated to America with
her father, settling at Charleston. Shortly
after their arrival at Charleston Mrs. Mem
minge- died, leaving her boy, at the age OF
years, an orphan. HIS grandfather being
q poor man, the child was received into the
Charleston orphan house, then and to-day
one Of the noblest charities on American
soil The life story of this orphan house
boy, who subsequently became q cabinet
minister, must eCsssarily have been ro-
mantle one. Few men, with such begin
ming, over attain to SO lofty an eminence
After a residence of seven years in the
orphan house young Memminger was taken
into the family of that excellent Christian
gentleman and patriot, Thomas Bennett,
who afterward became governor of the
state. Mr. Bennett reared the child with
the same tender care that he gave to his
own soDs, and afforded him similar educa-
tional advantages to theirs.
Mr. Memminger studied law, after COM
pletiug his college course, and at once took
a prominent position ut the bar Aud very
shortly after admission to che bar he took
leading part In politics, In politics. from
first to last, he waa always cool, "level-
beaded" and conservative. He was anti
notification, and a union man as long as
his sense of right permitted him to remain
one. So also were e number of the great
men Of the state, his contemporaries, end
who, like him, afterWard became famous.
As showing the conservatism and broad.
mindednes5 Of the man, details OF that re-
markable incident in the South Caroline
legislature in 1852, when MIR. Nemminger
voted, sinSly and alone, to allow Samuel
Hoar, the agent of the state of Massa-
chusetts, to make test case OF the slavery
question in the federal courts. The vote Of
the assembly on the question was III 30 /,
and Hoer was ordered expelled from the
state.
In connection with and as showing Mr..
MemmiDger's conservation and loyalty,
and the conservatism Of many Of his friends
and contemporaries a remarkable address
by the Rev. William CHpers is printed by
the nuthOr. In this address the reverend
gentleman warned his readers of the injus-
tioe and danger Of secession. patriotism
demands OF us not to run nRdly on to our
countrys ruin, and secession by our state
alone IpIsf ruinnra What though
no hostile army may invade our soil, the
United States must and will oppose US
Charleston will be shut out from the rest Of
the world. Her commerce perish, her mer-
chants leave her III despair, while from her
very suburbs our rice and cotton shall be
carried to Savannah and Augusta for a
market. Even now the rivalry
condemned; but let our state secede from
the union, and Charleston must become
desolatiOn. Nor will the blight fcll on
Charleston only, but on ali of the state,
while our taxes Increase seventold and
the heat of the present agitation cooling
Oil, our very leaders, if they should
prove too proud TO be found knocking at the
door Of the union shall join tie many thou
SANDS of our poverty stricken people Ia the
flight from their ruined homes TO more ia
Vored parts. Can patriotism demand this
sacrifice: Can patriotism demand the sac
Flice of the state No; never!
Let US then, fellow citizens, review our
ground. If u convention we must have, let
1t not he convention OF boys and half
made men, but OF the wise and soaer.
minded. There is no battle to be fought
Tor glory by secession, but L fearful struggle
with poverty, high taxes and hard times,
without hope of Improvement, and great
ana sore humiliation. Aud may God grant
US deliverance."
This remarkable address was made Feb.
o, Iool. In the light of subsequent events,
IL was not only an address but prophe5y.
ar, Memminger wes member OF the
Nouth Carolina secession con veution of 1852,
which wisely djour cd without ection,
mus ending the secession movement which
mad its beginning in 1850 and which is men-
oraole only as the advance storm cloud OF
the revolution which burst upon the country
zen years later. He was delegate also TO
the secession convention which assembled at
Columbia in December, 1850, the COus9-
quences OF which are TOO well known 80 be
repeated. In anticipation of the acts OF tho
convention, Mr.. Memminger prepared a
series OF suggestions for the declaration
OF causes and ordinance of secession These
suggestions were followed closely by the
convention in the address to the nations and
people adopted.
The scope Of this article is TOO limited to
uea! with the events OF the period in
chronological order, rs Mr.. Capers does IN
us book, hence many Of them must be
united. The morning following the in
auGurat!on Of Mr. Davis n president Of the