"
Note, _relative to the Election of President of the Confederate States
under the Provisional Constitution, and some Other Subjects referred to
in the Foregoing Chapters._
Statements having been made, seeming to imply that I was a candidate
"for the Presidency of the Confederate States; that my election was the
result of a misunderstanding, or of accidental complications"; and also
that I held "extreme views," and entertained at that period an
inadequate conception of the magnitude of the war probably to be waged,
information on the subject has been contributed by several distinguished
members of the Provisional Congress, who still survive. From a number of
their letters which have been published, the annexed extracts are given,
parts being omitted which refer to matters not of historical interest.
From a communication of the Hon. Alexander M. Clayton, of Mississippi,
to the Memphis "Appeal" of June 21, 1870:
"... I was at the time a member of the Provisional Congress from
Mississippi. Believing that Mr. Davis was the choice of the
South for the position of President, before repairing to
Montgomery I addressed him a letter to ascertain if he would
accept it. He replied that it was not the place he desired;
that, if he could have his choice, he would greatly prefer to be
in active service as commander-in-chief of the army, but that he
would give himself to the cause in any capacity whatever.
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