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cannot be doubted。 It is also likely that this opposition gave a
vent to certain jealous spirits who had missed the first place in
leadership。
Furthermore； the issue of state sovereignty had been raised。 In
Georgia a movement had begun which was distinctly different from
the Virginia…Carolina movement of opposition； a movement for
which Rhett and Pollard had scarcely more than disdainful
tolerance； and not always that。 This parallel opposition found
vent； as did the other； in a political pamphlet。 On the subject
of conscription Davis and the Governor of Georgiathat same
Joseph E。 Brown who had seized Fort Pulaski in the previous
yearexchanged a rancorous correspondence。 Their letters were
published in a pamphlet of which Pollard said scornfully that it
was hawked about in every city of the South。 Brown； taking alarm
at the power given the Confederate Government by the Conscription
Act； eventually defined his position； and that of a large
following； in the extreme words： 〃No act of the Government of the
United States prior to the secession of Georgia struck a blow at
constitutional liberty so fell as has been stricken by the
conscript acts。〃
There were other elements of discontent which were taking form as
early as the autumn of 1862 but which were not yet clearly
defined。 But the two obvious sources of internal criticism just
described were enough to disquiet the most resolute
administration。 When the triple offensive broke down； when the
ebb…tide began； there was already everything that was needed to
precipitate a political crisis。 And now the question arises
whether the Confederate Administration had itself to blame。 Had
Davis proved inadequate in his great undertaking？
The one undeniable mistake of the Government previous to the
autumn of 1862 was its excessive secrecy。 As to the other
mistakes attributed to it at the time； there is good reason to
call them misfortunes。 Today we can see that the financial
situation； the cotton situation； the relations with Europe； the
problem of equipping the armies； were all to a considerable
degree beyond the control of the Confederate Government。 If there
is anything to be added to its mistaken secrecy as a definite
cause of irritation； it must be found in the general tone given
to its actions by its chief directors。 And here there is
something to be said。
With all his high qualities of integrity； courage； faithfulness；
and zeal； Davis lacked that insight into human life which marks
the genius of the supreme executive。 He was not an artist in the
use of men。 He had not that artistic sense of his medium which
distinguishes the statesman from the bureaucrat。 In fact； he had
a dangerous bent toward bureaucracy。 As Reuben Davis said of him；
〃Gifted with some of the highest attributes of a statesman； he
lacked the pliancy which enables a man to adapt his measures to
the crisis。〃 Furthermore； he lacked humor； there was no
safety…valve to his intense nature； and he was a man of delicate
health。 Mrs。 Davis； describing the effects which nervous
dyspepsia and neuralgia had upon him； says he would come home
from his office 〃fasting； a mere mass of throbbing nerves； and
perfectly exhausted。〃 And it cannot be denied that his mind was
dogmatic。 Here are dangerous lines for the character of a leader
of revolutionthe bureaucratic tendency； something of rigidity；
lack of humor； physical wretchedness； dogmatism。 Taken together；
they go far toward explaining his failure in judging men； his
irritable confidence in himself。
It is no slight detail of a man's career to be placed side by
side with a genius of the first rank without knowing it。 But
Davis does not seem ever to have appreciated that the man
commanding in the Seven Days' Battles was one of the world's
supreme characters。 The relation between Davis and Lee was always
cordial； and it brought out Davis's character in its best light。
Nevertheless； so rooted was Davis's faith in his own abilities
that he was capable of saying； at a moment of acutest anxiety；
〃If I could take one wing and Lee the other； I think we could
between us wrest a victory from those people。〃 And yet； his
military experience embraced only the minor actions of a young
officer on the Indian frontier and the gallant conduct of a
subordinate in the Mexican War。 He had never executed a great
military design。 His desire for the military life was； after all；
his only ground for ranking himself with the victor of Second
Manassas。 Davis was also unfortunate in lacking the power to
overcome men and sweep them along with himthe power Lee showed
so conspicuously。 Nor was Davis averse to sharp reproof of the
highest officials when he thought them in the wrong。 He once
wrote to Joseph E。 Johnston that a letter of his contained
〃arguments and statements utterly unfounded〃 and 〃insinuations as
unfounded as they were unbecoming。〃
Davis was not always wise in his choice of men。 His confidence in
Bragg； who was long his chief military adviser； is not sustained
by the military critics of a later age。 His Cabinet； though not
the contemptible body caricatured by the malice of Pollard； was
not equal to the occasion。 Of the three men who held the office
of Secretary of State； Toombs and Hunter had little if any
qualification for such a post； while the third； Benjamin； is the
sphinx of Confederate history。
In a way； Judah P。 Benjamin is one of the most interesting men in
American politics。 By descent a Jew； born in the West Indies； he
spent his boyhood mainly at Charleston and his college days at
Yale。 He went to New Orleans to begin his illustrious career as a
lawyer； and from Louisiana entered politics。 The facile keenness
of his intellect is beyond dispute。 He had the Jewish clarity of
thought； the wonderful Jewish detachment in matters of pure mind。
But he was also an American of the middle of the century。 His
quick and responsive naturea nature that enemies might call
simulativecaught and reflected the characteristics of that
singular and highly rhetorical age。 He lives in tradition as the
man of the constant smile； and yet there is no one in history
whose state papers contain passages of fiercer violence in days
of tension。 How much of his violence was genuine； how much was a
manner of speaking； his biographers have not had the courage to
determine。 Like so many American biographers they have avoided
the awkward questions and have glanced over； as lightly as
possible； the persistent attempts of Congress to drive him from
office。
Nothing could shake the resolution of Davis to retain Benjamin in
the Cabinet。 Among Davis's loftiest qualities was his sense of
personal loyalty。 Once he had given his confidence； no amount of
opposition could shake his will but served rather to harden him。
When Benjamin as Secretary of War passed under a cloud； Davis led
him forth resplendent as Secretary of State。 Whether he was wise
in doing so； whether the opposition was not justified in its
distrust of Benjamin； is still an open question。 What is certain
is that both these able men； even before the crisis that arose in
the autumn of 1862； had rendered themselves and their Government
widely u