Before secession, Mr.
Davis thought war would result from it; and, after secession, he
expressed the view that the war commenced would be an extensive
one. What he may have thought at a later day than the early part
of 1862, I do not know; but it is inconceivable that the
'interview' can be correct as to that.
"The idea that Mr. Davis was so 'extreme' in his views is a new
one. He was extremely conservative on the subject of secession.
"The suggestion that Mississippi would have preferred General
Toombs or Mr. Cobb for President has no foundation in fact. My
opinion is, that no man could have obtained a single vote in the
Mississippi delegation against Mr. Davis, who was then, as he is
now, the most eminent and popular of all the citizens of
Mississippi.... Very respectfully,"
(Signed) "J. A. P. Campbell."
From the Hon. Duncan F. Kenner, of Louisiana:
"....My recollections of what transpired at the time are very
vivid and positive....
"Who should be President, was the absorbing question of the day.
It engaged the attention of all present, and elicited many
letters from our respective constituencies. The general
inclination was strongly in favor of Mr. Davis. In fact, no
other name was so prominently or so generally mentioned. The
name of Mr. Rhett, of South Carolina, was probably more
frequently mentioned than that of any other person, next to Mr.
Pages:
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388