The National tribune., 1907-02-21


The Convention to Establish 1t Meets at
montgomery, Ala, Jefferson Davis
Elected President and A. III. stephens
Vice PresIdent-"SlaveTy the Corner
Stone"-Abraham Lincoln STARTS f"r
WashiDgtor-The Doctrine of "Coer-
ciOn."
The Confederate Convention.
A convention of the six seeding
States to establish a Southern Confed-
eracy assembled in Montgomery, Ala
Feb 4. 1861 There were AZ delegates
present, representing South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi-
ana and Florida. A Provisional Gov
ernment was formed. which was soon
made permanent, and Jefferson DAVIS
of Mississippi, was elected president J,
with Alexander II. Stephens, of Georgia.
Vice President South Carolina was
sorely disappointed in the scant recog-
milton which she received for her lead
ership in secession, and the worst dis
appointed of all her citizens was Barn
well Rhett, who wrote home: Pre-
pare for disappointment: they have not
put me forward for Office" Georgia,
as the largest State. claimed the Secre-
taryship of State, to which Robert
Toombs was appointed. Alabama, the
second in size, received the portfolio OF
War, which was bestowed upon l.. Pope
Walker man of mediocre capacity
and little experience. South Caroiihi
received the Secretaryship of the 1reas-
ury for Mr. Memminger gentleman
of high social standing, but not regard.
ed by South Carolinians as their bess
representative man. He was born IN
Germany, and had been Originally
Union man. Louisiana was representen
in the Cabinet by ex-senator judah r.
Benjamin. as Attorney-General. inc
Texas was not yet formally included IN
the Confederacy, John II. Reagan was
appointed Postmaster General, and the
NAVY portfolio was given to stephen
r Mallory. of Florida. In after life
Mr.. Davis spoke quite frankly OF. ms
constitutional advisers, and had little
respect for the abilities of any If them
except judah P. Benjamin.
The Confederate states of Americn.
The title of the new Government was
officially designated 1.-THE Confederate
States of America" and the Constitu-
ton was in most respects 1denucai WIFI
that of the United States. The preahi-
BILE made a concession to States Rlshts
by substituting for I'VE. the people o.
the United States" 1--WE, the people oI
the Confederate States, each State act
ing in its sovereign and Independent
character. in order to form permanent
Federal Government" etc. The Presi-
dent and Vice President were CHOSEN
for six years, the former rendered IN
capable of reelection while IN ofnce'
and the members of the Cabinet, in I'M.
itation of England, had the privilege OF
seats in either House, and the right of
discussing measures pertaining to their
respective Departments. Free trade
was instituted by prohibition of levy
ing duties for the purpose OF protec-
ton. The Post Office was made to rely
on its own revenues, and all laws were
forbidden denying or impairing the
right of property in slaves. A bait was
thrust out to draw Virginia and the
other Border States into the Coh1eo-
eracy by the provisions:
'sThe importation of African negroes
from any foreign country other than
the slayeholding States of the United
States is hereby forbidden. and Con-
eress is required to pass such laws as
shall effectually prevent the same
But, with an ominous monition, the
second article read,
congress shall also have power to
prohibit the introduction of slaves from
any State not a member of this Con-
federacy-"
At this time Virginia was receiving
an annual income of s12,000,0O0 from
the sale of slaves. In 1860, 1000
slaves were sent over Virginia railroads
to the South and Southwest. The risht
of the citizens of each State to take
their slaves any place at will was dis
tinctly affirmed, and a stringent fugi-
tive law was provided for. Slavery
should at once extend TO all new terri
tory which the Confederacy might ac-
quire.
Soufh Carolina Dissatisfied.
South Carolina had much reason for
dissatisfaction with the new Govern
ment She had only white population
of 3OI. 900. less than that of many cities
in the North. Under Mr.. Calhoun
teachings. and especially by his So
phism of Constructive majorities,' she
had become fully possest of the idea
that her 100000 whites should count
for several times that many in any
other State While only a small por-
ton of these 100000 whites owned
slaves. vet the slaveowners owned more
slaves per capita than those IN any other
State. and up to that time they were
proportionately more wealthy. They
had opportunities for travel and educa-
ton. they maintained certain high
standard of society among the select
few. and had much basis upon which
to build their fancy Of towering su-
periority to every other State in the
Union. They did not have the least
mcdesty in asserting that their morals,
their manners, their education, tnelf
chiyalric courage were distinctly pre-
eminent to those of their fellow human
beings, no matter where found. hey had
received much countenance for those
claims when made upon the floor OF
Congress. because all of their fellow
Southerners were quite willing TO sup
port their assumptions as against Mas
sachusetts and the rest of the North
When they came into convention. how
on. -r.a ,ff dor ~
the Cotton States. these claims received
scant courtesy. and Alabama, Georgia
Louisiana and Mississippi were apt to
fmpatiently remind the South Carolin-
fans that they w,-Ia rot n particle better
than anybody else nor entitled to any
particular consideration on account oi
the srnallness of her numbers.
Furthermore, South Carolina was
sorely disappointed by her failure TO re,
open the slave trade. This could MOI
be done and leave any hope of bringing
Virginia. Maryland. Kentucky and Mis-
souri, into the Confederacy, becaus'
their interests were involved in sellins
their slaves at good prices to the State
further south.
MIR. Davis Brcnthes War.
Jefferson Davis started from his hom,
IN Mississippi for Montgomery by spe
cial train and was received with en-
thusiastic ovations nj every point where
the train stopt. He made 25 speeche
on the route, to large and excited
crowds. and from the first his attitude
i,, m aytraraa n,