The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-15
Hon. VIM. III. Parker.

In a recent letter TO me. Hon. VIM. H. Par.
ker, of Abbeville, among other things, writes
as follows:
all that there was any cabinet meeting at
Washington, Ga, but only certain appoint
ments by Jefferson Davis, not signing him
self as pr esidept for the sole purpose OF en-
apling pay ment 70 the troops OF certain funds
and IL Is exactly what was Understood at the
time. -. AS 10 The Confederate seal, 1t is
very certain that IL Ia not In the possession,
OF the United States government, or II would
have been forthcoming long since. Alter a. :
think there IL no doubt about the last real
cabinet meeting being at Abbeville."
Everybody knows that the great seal was
not used III cabinetmeetings, and, therefore,
il could not have had any hing TO do with a
cabinet meeting at either Abbeviile or Wash
lngton. twas mentioned TO show what be-
came of II, and as proof that the last meeting
was at Abbeville. II was In Abbeville III
that time and on the advice OF MIR. Thomas G
Perrin and after the cabinet meeting, and
after the Cnnftderacy had been dissolved at
that meeting In opposition 10 the wishes OF
MIR. Davis, the great seal was destroyed, as
there was no longer any Southern Con nfeder
acy and 10 keep IL from falling In To the hands
OF the enemy. Had the Copfederacy not been
dissolved. Mr.. Perrin never would have ad.
vised and the president and his cabinet never
would have consented TO It's destruction. II
Ia now somewhere In the Savannah river
That IL why the seal is referred TO, and 1t il
very very slropg proof OF the fact that the
Confederacy expired at Abbeville; and that
when Mr.. Davis left there he was simply a
private citizen and no longer president, and
he recognized that fact and did not sign him
self as president.
make the following statement without
the least fear that 1t can be disproved. Not
one fact stated by Mrs. Green and Mr.. Callan
show that q cabinet meeting was held at
Washington. The only thing In connection
with that matter that they can rely on Is
what Mrs Davis said "she believed" and the
contradictory statements OF Mr.. Clark.
They show that MIR. Davis was In Washing.
ton on the date named they show further
ridge were there; that Mr.. Davis issued Ger
tain orders without signing himself as presi-
dent; that Mallory resigned there; thai
Clark paid out certain moneys, and that
there were about $50 soldiers with Mr.. Davis
but not the slightest attempt is made to show
| that cabinet meeting was held, or that
there was even consultation In the Heard
house. except as already explained as TO
Mrs. Davis and Mr.. Clark, am not disputing
| those things.
II was natural that Mallory, Reagan and
| Breckinrldge should have accompanied MIR.
Davis 10 Washington, as that was on the road
| to their homes. AS II was not convenient for
them 10 90 farther with MIR. Davis, they left
| him there as they would have done at Abbe-
Vile under like circumstances and as BeDja
min did.
Becruse Mallory resigned at Washington is
| no evidence that crbinet meeting wss held
there. Mallory never SO stated. II he had
done so. Mr.. G liam would have quoted him
| n We believe the statements and argum+ u IL
| of my good friends and neg ghbors, Mrs.
| GreeD and Mr.. Callan, we will have 10 cou.
| clude that the war still going on,
even after Mr.. Davis left Wash luglon, Ga,
| and until he was captured. Under those cir.
cumstances, a cabinet meeting cou!d have
| been held on the road somewhere by appoint.
| ing pew cabi net officers Our friends argue
themselves entirely out OF court. They have
exceedingly little, ifaDy, standing at ali, &C
cording to their own facts as they give
| them.
The fact that Breckenridge signed or coun
tersigued certain orders Is no evidence that 8
cab net meeting was held or that the wal
was still going On, or that 1t ended In Wash.
ingtOn.
II is not a myth that the majority OF the
soldiers accompanying Mr.. Davis left him al
Abbevllle. The men ramped around the
home Of my father and | saw them abandon
| their guns, ammunition and the like and
strike out for home. / gathered up many
guns, cartridges, pots, pans and the like, al
dld many other boys and men alter they
left.
II was well known at the time that there
was wide difference of opin ion between Mr.
| DAVIS and bis cabinet Us TO the continuance
! OF the war. AT Abbeville he tried TO force
| his cabinet 10 come TO his way OF thinking
but he tailed totally after very hot debate
| II was during that cabinet meeting aud while
the matter named WAS under discussion, tina
the officer in command Uf the troops at Alb
| beville, informed Mr.. Davis that The troop
would light Eo logger. Then followed the
scene described by Mr.. Parker in my forme
article. My Information is to the further
effect that the matter OF the dissolution OF th'
Conf.deracy was hotly opposed by Mr.. Davis
On vote being taken, The cabin votet
unanimously for dissolution and the Conied
erucy was then and there dissolved There
fore, no acts ofMr. Davis alter he left Aboe
vile could revive the Confederacy; no
CO aid a legal cabinet meeting have beer
held. Those are some OF the facts for IN.
friends TO disprOye before they can subStantl
ate their claim.
/ What the Plan Was.
What Mr.. Davis Intended to do alter h