I IO

THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT AT MONTGOMERY.

On the reassembling of the Provisional Congress in April, ascertaining thatthese powers had not been conferred upon the commission, Mr. Ehett pre-pared a resolution requesting the President to empower the commissioners topropose to European nations, as the basis of a commercial treaty, a tariff ofduties for 20 years no higher than 20 per cent, ad valorem on their importsinto the Confederate States. This he submitted to Mr. Toombs, the Secretaryof State, who promptly approved it and appeared before the Committee onForeign Affairs to urge it. It was reported, with the indorsement of the com-mittee, to the Congress, and was not opposed in debate; but Mr. Perkinsmoved, as an amendment, six years instead of twenty. As this was carried,Mr. Rhett moved to lay the resolution on the table, which was done ; and thiswas the only effort made to appeal to the interests of foreign nations, to securerecognition of the independence of the Confederate States, or to obtain assist-ance. Upon his return from abroad, Mr. Yancey met Mr. Rhett and said:“You were right, sir. I went on a fool’s errand.” In December, 1863, atRichmond, James L. Orr, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of theSenate , said to the writer, “ The Confederate States have had no diplomacy.”

In March, 1863, proposals were made for a loan of $15,000,000 on 7 per cent,bonds, secured by an engagement of the Confederate Government to delivercotton at 12 cents per pound within 6 months after peace. The loan stoodin the London market at 5 per cent, premium; and the applications for itexceeded $75,000,000. In the Provisional Congress at Montgomery , Mr.Stephens proposed that the Confederate Government should purchase cot-ton at 8 cents per pound, paying in 8 per cent, bonds, running 20 or 30years. He believed that 2,000,000 bales of the crop of 1860 could be obtainedin that way from the planters, and that, of the crop of 1861, 2,000,000 morebales might be obtained afterward. By using this cotton as security, orshipping it abroad, he maintained the finances of the Confederate Statescould at once be placed on a solid basis. His plan met with much favor, butwas opposed by the administration and was not carried through. Money forthe long war was to be raised by loans from Confederate citizens on bonds sup-plemented by the issue of Treasury notes and by a duty on exported cotton.

In April, 1865, after the collapse of the Confederacy, Mr. Barnwell, whohad steadfastly supported Mr. Davis in the Confederate Senate , met thewriter at Greenville, S. C. , where Governor Magrath had summoned theLegislature of the State to assemble. There, in conversation, Mr. Barnwellexplicitly expressed his judgment in the following words: “ Mr. Davis neverhad any policy; he drifted, from the beginning to the end of the war.”

For practical regret at the issue of the secession movement, the time haslong passed by. The people of the South have reconciled themselves to therestoration of the Union and to the abolishment of slavery. They havebravely and strenuously endeavored to go through the transition period ofan enormous change without wreck. In complete harmony with the destiniesof the Union, they are working out the future of the United States faithfully.

This is set down to prevent the suppression of important facts in history,and in justice to eminent men, now dead, who have been much misunderstood.