The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-25
NOTABLE INTERVIEWS.
THREE OF THEM. WITH THE HON.
ALEXANDER STEPHENS.


His Estimate OF Abraham Lincoln
The Hampton Roads Conference.
&. ]. Massey in Atlanta Daily News
on the 10th OF February. 1851, there as
sembled in Montgomery, Ala, con
vention Of delegates chosen from all OF
the Southern states. which had just Sc
ceded from the Union. In il were the
best men of the land. They at once or
gained the Southern Confederacy, adopt
ed a constitution and elected officers.
Hon. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, was
elected president, and Hon. Alexander n.
Stephens of Georgia. vice president. The
wisdom Of this selection was recognized
by all The military experience of Jeffer-
son Davis, coupled with the eminent
craftsmanship Of Mr.. Stephens, inspired
the greatest confidence throughout the
whole land. These gentlemen soon gath
cred around them a cabinet of able and
sagacious men, and the young nation
was soon fully equipped with all the
paraphernaIia essential 10 success.
About this time. Mr.. Stephens passed
through Atlanta, en- route TO his home IN
Charlottesville. A party of his friends
and admirers called upon him. Among
them l remember DR.. J. +. Alexander
Col. B. c. Yancy and L. G. Glenn. Messrs.
Gaulding and Gaskell of the Inteliigencer
and others. He received us most cor
daily at the Atlanta hotel, which stood
on the present site OF the Kimball. MIR.
stephens was very sanguine, ana spoke
very freely about the chances OF the sue
cess of the Confederacy. He detailed TO
us several plans and schemes, that were
being discussed at headquarters.
l remember two that impressed his
company more than any others. To make
Montgomery the permanent capital and,
in view of Mr.. Davis being military man
OF much experience, he would command
in person the campaign. which al con-
coded would be in the border states, prin-
cipaliy Virginia OF course, this then
would leave Mr.. Stephens in charge OF
state affairs in Montgomery.
Mr. Stephens also advocated taking
charge Of all the cotton in the country.
IT mattsred not to whom it belonged
shipping it at once to Liverpool and
other European ports and pacing it to
tie credit OF the government. This
would give a basis that would enable the
government to start and fully equip
navy, and procure at once all munii ions
Of war, and other necessary supplies.
Besides, it would give the new go
ment credit on a par basis with most
of the older leading nations of the
world. The estimated amount of cotton
on hand at this time within the Confed-
eracy was thought to be about four nil
lion bales. For this cotton the Confed-
cracy would issue gold interest-bearing
bonds to the parties from whom it would
be aken, at a fair aud liberal valuation.
Within a few days Mr.. Stephens re-
turned to Montgomery. All Of his plans
were ignored by the dominant party. and
bitterly opposed by Mr.. Davis. The seat
Of government was soon removed to
Richmond, Va, and 70 cotton was i'm
pressed.
In his views Mr.. Stephens was backed
by very large and respectable minori-
~. ably seconded by Hon. Robert
Toombs, Mr.. Davis Secretary of State.
and other great men throughout the
country. So fierce was the contention
that during warm discussion in cabi-
net meeting Mr.. Toombs resigned che
post Of Secretary of State, at the time
accredited with having used some very
strong eXpletives. saying: IF the pres
ident wants a clerk to play the fool he
viii not find it in me. DID il / will
wear the collar of any man; that Mr.
Davis would inauguratc defeat by the
red tape folly Of West Point delay" Mr.
Toomhs was never known TO enter the
building again. Here Mr.. Stephens lost
his influence with the dominant party.
and in consequence thereof his useful
ness to his country was very much lin
tied.
met Mr.. Stephens next at his home
in Charlottesville during the month of
June, 1853, under very different circum-
stances. He had invited me to call upon
MIN to adjust a financial transaction be-
tween client and myself This was
soon settled on a basis that his client
should pay me the sum of $500 two years
after the treaty of peace shall have been
declared between the United States and
the Confederate States government In the
discussion of the matter, the question of
currency was introduced.
l asked Mr.. Stephens if it would be in
confederate notes, because at that time
Confederate money had so deprecated
that it was worth only twenty to one
that is, it took twenty Confederate dol
lars to buy one of gold. Hence, l did
not want TO take about $50 in gold for
a good $500 note.
Mr.. Stephens replied, NO" and / asked
him il it would be in gold and he said,
No, but will be in currency as good as
gold; of this I'll speak to you later"
Soon after this Mr.. stephens called me
aside and said, You will be paid in
SreenbackS How soY' said /. Mr.
Stephens said. ''As painful as may be the
facts, within two years from this time.
we will be back in the Union. and be liv-
Ing under the supremacy of the United
States, and greenbacks will of course.
be the currency
dared modestly to utter a dissent.
To this Mr.. Stephens replied: "Sus-
tanning the relations that / do to the
Southern Confederacy, very rarely speak
OF the subject. / do 1t now because in
q business way / deemed 1t necessary to
say what I did about greenbacks, and
DO not wish you to speak of it. / wish
you to keep In confidence what am going
TO say. Our cause is hopeless, our re-
sources are almost exhausted, supplies
are running low, our army is being deci-
mated and our treasury bankrupted. AS
you said just now, twenty to one.
with the United States having a credit
the best in the world and having the
whole world to draw from in money ana
men, what hope is there for us? There
is no possible doubt that within less than
two years we viii be obliged TO give up.
and then, of courseN the United States
win have supremacy once more over this
whole land"
/ reminded him that ] was present al
The Atlanta hotel interview and init
mated that II his policy Of taking the
cotton had been adopted that matters
might have been very different Mr..
stephens very graciously received the
compliment with evident signs OF a sad