The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-09
ed to the room MIR, stephens Is was smols,

ing ...., y. II 90" %y.SE-'T =.
AT the time Mont gomeryi was full
to oVarf1o~ing. Besides the accredited
delegates from the six seeding States
there were many politicians and dele,
gates-unofflcial. of course--trom, Vir>
ginia. from Maryland, from North Car,
DINA, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Missouri and Arkansas. Il, = .-. )
"All represented the radical seces
sionists Of their States and pall were
rahid for war. We knew what work
had to be dope. but Mr.. Stephens nev.
er opened his lips. The matter was
not mentioned fbetweep us. ~
con the evening Of February 8, ar.
ter the adoption of the Constitution, q
motion was made to 60 into the cleo.
tion OF the chief officers. Somebody, |
forget who, moved that the election
should take place the next day at IL
o'clock, and in the meantime the dele.
cations should consult separately.
That was decided On and the meeting
adjourned. =. -. = n -
We had hardly reached our hotel
when IN walked Toombs and Keitt, fol.
lowed by Judge Chiffon, Willy Harris,
Gen. Sparrow and Henry Marshall of
Louisiana, Morton and Owen or Flor.
ida, and the whole Georgia delegation.
Toombs was the spokesman and nev.
er saw him In a better humor or look,
ing handsomer, 49,, i.
Alec said he, you are the choice
OF every man In Congress, and all OF
us are ready to pledge ourselves to
help you form your, Cabinet. There Is
only one point--those fellows ,ffom
Virginia and the border States want
you to promise to strike the first
blow y -
"For a moment there was perfect 81.
lence. l believe every man IN the
room held his breath. Mr.. Stephens
made no reply and Mr.. Toombs went
On: .'...
Those fellows say their States are
hanging In the balance, ready to turn
with the first blow. They know
Buchanan will never dare to strike us,
they believe Lincoln will, be as COW.
ardly.
"'Now they want the question set.
tied in their States and they want you
to promise when the first opportunity
offers, say if the Administration
should attempt to reinforce or pro,
vision Sumter, you will strike the first
blow -. :
For about two heartbeats they fac
ed, that magnificent specimen of man
hood and that fragile, emaciated little
man.
ono, will never strike the first
blow at the Union said Mr.. Steph.
ems, speaking slowly and distinctly. I
'Alec!' cried Mr.. Toombs.
They gazed into each others eyes,
Then without word Toombs turned
and walked out of the room with the
other delegates at his heels.
Il afterward understood that many
Of the delegations sat up all night
caucussing, that Toombs was the sec
ond choice with the members OF Con
gress, but the delegates from the un-
decided States did not consider him
adical enough.
They said he would make Mr..
Stephens his premier and be guided
by his advice. Cobb and Rhett's names
were both considered, but the radicals
would not accept either. After fur,
Their skiFmishing jeff Davis's name
| was presented and the radicals made
| no objections. .. : ~
For the sake of harinony the dele.
gates fell into line and the next morn
ing. February 9, 1861, the Honorable
Jefferson Davis was unanimously elect,
ed President of the Confederate States
Of America" The N. Y. Sun.