The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-07
SCRAPS OF UNWR|TTEN HISTORY,
THE LAST CABINET OFFICER OF
THE CONFEDERAOY

AIN CoNFIGDGlSACf
Narrates Some Interesting Incidents
Never Before Published.
Hon. John II. Reagan, tho only sur
vlving member OF the Confederate
cabinet, recently made an address Of
unusual interest, in which he gave
points of history not generally known
and heretofore unpublished. His
remarks and illustrations concerning
tho life and character of Jefferson
Davis are Of especial value, as he
brings into prominence some notable
incidents in his career as leador Of the
Confederacy, from which We quote the
following:
No man known to history more
richly deserves u monument to his
memory than the president of the late
Corfederacy. The wisdom and cour-
age with which he conducted the
affairs Of the Confederacy the extra
ordinary fortitude and constancy with
which he endured long and cruel
imprisonment after the fall of the Con-
federacy,; the ability and fidelity
which he displayed afterwards in
writing the history Of 1.-The Rise and
Fall OF the Confeleracy are generally
known. But there are some things in
which a portion at least of the public
have all the time misunderstood Mr..
Davis. And there are some other
things, which illustrate his character,
which have not been made known to
the general public, and to which
n II 10
matter about which [ shall speak from
my constant association with him dur
ing the war, and from personal knOwl-
edge.
Many persons have been made to
believe that he was self-willed and
arbitrary in his action. Nothing
could be farther from the real truth
But it may be said with truth that he
had two characters; or rather that his
conduct in private life and in social
circles was different from his action in
the discharge Of public dutios. In
private life and in tho family and So
cial circles he was of the most genial
and pleasant mon [ over knew AS
gentle and as tender as woman, he
possessed an enlarged knowledge of the
physical sciences which always made
him instructive. And his state pa
pers were characterized by an erudi-
tlon rarely, if ever, surpassed by Eng
disappearing scholars. In his official
capacity he was guided by Strong
sense OF duty. and had but little toler-
alton for that class Of men who wero
given to much talk and had no real
Information to communicate. It is
likely that such is the class who as
sumed that he was harsh and self
willed. You will understand that in
his position his whole time was nee
essarily occupied with great duties
and cares, and that he could not afford
to spend his time in Improbable talk
In relation to suggestions which have
been made that he was self-willed and
did not consult others on public meas
ures, | know this to be Incorrect.
When question of Importance came
up for consideration, his habit was to
exhaust all available sources of infor-
nation, whether from persons or docu-
ments, and when this had been dono
and decision reached, that was an
end OF tho question with him. And it is
probable that persons who, under such
circumstances, still insisted on further
discussion, without realizing the pres
sure on his time, thought him self
willed, You will understand that one
in his position, who had constantly to
be deciding the course to be pursued
on great questions, must have acted
as he did In order to get through with
the public business.
said there were some things illus
trativc Of the character of Mr.. Davis
not generally known to tho public.
When General Grant was moving his
army down the Mississippi below
Vicksburg, Mr. Davis was notified hat
his BriarGeld plantation and large
property would fall into Federal hands,
and was advised to send and have the
movable property carried out of dan
ger. TO this suggestion he replied
that the president of tho C0nfederacy
could not afford to employ men to take
care OF his private property. And
when the Federal army was moving on
Jackson, Miss, he was aCviscd that
his hill home in Kinds County and his
valuable library and other property
there would fall into Federal hands,
and that ho ought to have it removed
to u place Of safety, he made the sam Q
reply, that the president of the Con-
federacy could not afford to use mon
for tho security Of his private property.
And all movable property at both
places, including his negroes, were
lost to him. [ make these statements
because ! was present at each Of these
conversations, and | have not seen
them in print.
I may also rcfor to another incident
illustrative Of both his character and
his conservatism. Colonel Dahlgrcen
made raid on Richmond, the then
capital OF the Confedcracy, tho object
iof which was to liberate some %, 2,O0C
prisoners, to kill the president and the
members OF his cabinet and to burn
the city. Richmond and our people
were saved from these calamities by
the mcrest accident. We had no troops
In or near the city at that time for Its
defense. But regiment OF clerkt