March 9, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
Our Montgomery Correspondence.
MONTGOMERY, March 6, 1861.
Last week a rumor prevailed that the Congress would take a recess. Tomorrow, the Georgia State Convention meets. The Alabama Convention is in session, having assembled on Monday last. But, although members of the Congress are also members of these Conventions, the work on hand has been too important, and the inconvenience of a recess to many who live at a distance, too great, to admit of that policy. The adoption of a Permanent Constitution, to be referred to the States, together with the probability of an absurd attempt by the Northern Government to coerce the Confederate States, and other matters of immediate practical importance, have kept the body actively employed. Perhaps no set of men ever applied themselves more diligently to the task before them. The results of their labors the future alone will determine; for the interminable secret sessions are an effectual extinguisher to outside interest and comment. Occasionally the drift of events is sufficiently divulged to afford opportunity for criticism, but this is not very frequent, and your readers must be content with meager and unsatisfactory letters touching mere externals.
On account of the small size of the future House of Representatives of the Confederate States under the old apportionment, it is not unlikely that it will be altered so as to afford a larger and more efficient body. It is hoped that a full representation will be given to negroes as persons, which would partially remedy the evil of two small a house.
The constitution newspaper at Washington; the recent organ of President BUCHANAN, with its good will and subscription list, will be merged in the Advertiser of this city. The preliminary arrangements between Mr. BROWNE, its editor, and the editors of the Advertiser, have been agreed upon, and will be authoritatively announced in a few days. Mr. BROWNE, however, will not become one of the editors of the paper as he has accepted the position of Assistant Secretary of State, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of that responsible position. The Advertiser, from its past service and rigid adherence to the principles which have triumphed in the formation of a glorious Southern Confederacy, is well fitted to represent the views of the Administration. It has the well wishes of every friend of the cause.
The impression prevails here that LINCOLN will be fanatic enough to try to do what he says in his Inaugural about the taking and holding of the military posts in the Confederate States, and collecting the duties. This is said to be the opinion of DAVIS, TOOMBS, BENJAMIN, &c. Still there are shrewd men here that look upon LINCOLN as an ignorant country bumpkin, whose crude notions will be overruled by those in his counsels that have more sagacity and experience, and that will be wise in tapering him off to the little end of the horn of warlike intention. A short item now will solve the riddle of his policy, and with it the question of peace, or a few fights first.
West Pointers, who have resigned from the United States Army, are going to have a full showing and ample justice in the Confederate States Army. It is understood to be the settled policy that civilians, who have not seen actual service, will have to yield in rank to graduates of West Point and officers who have already been in service. This course is to be adopted to ensure having the right men in the right places, and no mistakes in the start. How far it will be satisfactory I do not know. But the object is efficiency.
And now let me correct a matter of your Montgomery correspondence. “Reviewer,” in his letter published in THE MERCURY of the 26th ult., said: “The individual members of the delegation, including Mr. BARNWELL, recommended that Mr. MEMMINGER should receive the Secretaryship of the Treasury.” This statement is inaccurate, and liable to misconception. The South Carolina delegation did not, as a delegation, recommend any one of a Cabinet appointment; nor did they all, as individuals. The fact appears to be, President DAVIS offered Mr. BARNWELL the appointment of Secretary of States. He declined it, and pressed on President DAVIS the appointment of Mr. MEMMINGER as Secretary of the Treasury, and Mr. COBB or Mr. TOOMBS as Secretary of State. He was not authorized to speak for the delegation. He may have been supposed to represent, more or less, their individual wishes. No doubt an outside impression to that effect was somehow produced.
SUCCESSOR.