按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a
grain of salthas left this account of recruiting under the new
act： 〃Two companies of blacks； organized from some negro
vagabonds in Richmond； were allowed to give balls at the Libby
Prison and were exhibited in fine fresh uniforms on Capitol
Square as decoys to obtain recruits。 But the mass of their
colored brethren looked on the parade with unenvious eyes； and
little boys exhibited the early prejudices of race by pelting the
fine uniforms with mud。〃
Nevertheless both Davis and Lee busied themselves in the endeavor
to raise black troops。 Governor Smith cooperated with them。 And
in the mind of the President there was no abandonment of the
program of emancipation； which was now his cardinal policy。 Soon
after the passage of the act； he wrote to Smith： 〃I am happy to
receive your assurance of success ＇in raising black troops＇； as
well as your promise to seek legislation to secure unmistakable
freedom to the slave who shall enter the Army； with a right to
return to his old home； when he shall have been honorably
discharged from military service。〃
While this final controversy was being fought out in Congress；
the enthusiasm for the Administration had again ebbed。 Its
recovery of prestige had run a brief course and was gone； and now
in the midst of the discussion over the negro soldiers' bills；
the opposition once more attacked the Cabinet； with its old
enemy； Benjamin； as the target。 Resolutions were introduced into
the Senate declaring that 〃the retirement of the Honorable Judah
P。 Benjamin from the State Department will be subservient of the
public interests〃； in the House resolutions were offered
describing his public utterances as 〃derogatory to his position
as a high public functionary of the Confederate Government； a
reflection on the motives of Congress as a deliberative body； and
an insult to public opinion。〃
So Congress wrangled and delayed while the wave of fire that was
Sherman's advance moved northward through the Carolinas。 Columbia
had gone up in smoke while the Senate debated day after
dayfifteen in allwhat to do with the compromise bill sent up
to it from the House。 It was during this period that a new
complication appears to have been added to a situation which was
already so hopelessly entangled； for this was the time when
Governor Magrath made a proposal to Governor Vance for a league
within the Confederacy； giving as his chief reason that
Virginia's interests were parting company with those of the lower
South。 The same doubt of the upper South appears at various times
in the Mercury。 And through all the tactics of the opposition
runs the constant effort to discredit Davis。 The Mercury scoffed
at the agitation for negro soldiers as a mad attempt on the part
of the Administration to remedy its 〃myriad previous blunders。〃
In these terrible days； the mind of Davis hardened。 He became
possessed by a lofty and intolerant confidence； an absolute
conviction that； in spite of all appearances； he was on the
threshold of success。 We may safely ascribe to him in these days
that illusory state of mind which has characterized some of the
greatest of men in their over…strained； concluding periods。 His
extraordinary promises in his later messages； a series of vain
prophecies beginning with his speech at the African Church；
remind one of Napoleon after Leipzig refusing the Rhine as a
boundary。 His nerves； too； were all but at the breaking point。 He
sent the Senate a scolding message because of its delay in
passing the Negro Soldiers' Bill。 The Senate answered in a report
that was sharply critical of his own course。 Shortly afterward
Congress adjourned refusing his request for another suspension of
the writ of habeas corpus。
Davis had hinted at important matters he hoped soon to be able to
submit to Congress。 What he had in mind was the last； the
boldest； stroke of this period of desperation。 The policy of
emancipation he and Benjamin had accepted without reserve。 They
had at last perceived； too late； the power of the anti…slavery
movement in Europe。 Though they had already failed to coerce
England through cotton and had been played with and abandoned by
Napoleon； they persisted in thinking that there was still a
chance for a third chapter in their foreign affairs。
The agitation to arm the slaves； with the promise of freedom； had
another motive besides the reinforcement of Lee's army： it was
intended to serve as a basis for negotiations with England and
France。 To that end D。 J。 Kenner was dispatched to Europe early
in 1865。 Passing through New York in disguise； he carried word of
this revolutionary program to the Confederate commissioners
abroad。 A conference at Paris was held by Kenner； Mason； and
Slidell。 Mason； who had gone over to England to sound Palmerston
with regard to this last Confederate hope； was received on the
14th of March。 On the previous day； Davis had accepted temporary
defeat； by signing the compromise bill which omitted
emancipation。 But as there was no cable operating at the time；
Mason was not aware of this rebuff。 In his own words； he 〃urged
upon Lord P。 that if the President was right in his impression
that there was some latent； undisclosed obstacle on the part of
Great Britain to recognition； it should be frankly stated； and we
might； if in our power to do so； consent to remove it。〃
Palmerston； though his manner was 〃conciliatory and kind；〃
insisted that there was nothing 〃underlying〃 his previous
statements； and that he could not； in view of the facts then
existing； regard the Confederacy in the light of an independent
power。 Mason parted from him convinced that 〃the most ample
concessions on our part in the matter referred to would have
produced no change in the course determined on by the British
Government with regard to recognition。〃 In a subsequent interview
with Lord Donoughmore； he was frankly told that the offer of
emancipation had come too late。
The dispatch in which Mason reported the attitude of the British
Government never reached the Confederate authorities。 It was
dated the 31st of March。 Two days later Richmond was evacuated by
the Confederate Government。
Chapter XII。 The Last Word
The evacuation of Richmond broke the back of the Confederate
defense。 Congress had adjourned。 The legislative history of the
Confederacy was at an end。 The executive history still had a few
days to run。 After destroying great quantities of records； the
government officials had packed the remainder on a long train
that conveyed the President and what was left of the civil
service to Danville。 During a few days； Danville was the
Confederate capital。 There； Davis； still unable to conceive
defeat； issued his pathetic last Address to the People of the
Confederate States。 His mind was crystallized。 He was no longer
capable of judging facts。 In as confident tones as ever he
promised his people that they should yet prevail； he assured
Virginians that even if the Confederate army should withdraw
further south the withdrawal would be but temporary； and that
〃again and again will we return until the baffled and exhausted
enemy shall abandon in despair his endless and impossible task o