The Columbia daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, June 07, 1865, Image 2
COLUMBIA.
Wedn . y, lorri e, Juno 7, 1865.
_._ - _
G -?us. j
V ? wi . 1 . . may perhaps, with ;
.n yr[??'. i ii.-tv he described a? the 1
' .s. "V. ry. Genius is the very
. v.- ,-t intellect ?nd the wing of thought.
]t i- always in advance of its time. It is J
the pioneer for the generation which it. i
pr?c< des. For this reason, it ii culled a !
seer-and hence, it? songs have been pro
phecies. Its promptness of discernment, j
its courage for adventure, its energy in j
pursuit, and its unselfish surrender, to |
others, of the quarry which it strikes, are )
the great indications of its character.
Genius is largely endowed with what may
be described ns the imaginative judgment
-a faculty which enables it to fl}- to its
conclusions, long in advance of the slowei
process's of reasoning. While ordinary
minds attain their results, step by step, by
laborious diligence and doubtful thinkimr, .
it reaches its conclusions by a flight I
equally swift, and certain. Ccdi.mbus-like j
it penetrates and passes those wastes which j
other ir.en tremble*to survey- Its province I
is new empire always, and still conquest
lather than possession. The way once
opened, it 3?elds the path to other foot?
steps, and is never so much al home as
when it, leaves the traveled thoroughfare
behind it. .
Will and Mood.
Our will is not always superior to our
moods. The heart, is a fine instrument,
which the atmosphere easily deranges, j
Ordinarily, the natural instinct is to strug?
gle fearlessly in the face of death; yet
there are moments when the feeblest cou?
rage feels bow easy it would be to die, and
resii-n itself, without a will, to any for?
tune. To struggle niall, at such moments,
would l>>* som.-thing worse than death.
Such moments are, however, of very brief
duration. They ate adverse to our most
precious instincts; indeed, it is in the tem?
porary sleep of our instincts that we in
?1 ii lire in moods of this erring and debasing
character. Life is a duty, involving many
strifes ?md embarrassments; tho lear to
encounter, and the effort to escape from
whLh is quite as little creditable to our
manhood as our religion.
Columbia.
MR. EDITOR: Our duty-that is, the duty
of the old citizens-is to shake oiF the
lethargy that has enfolded them so closely
for the hisi four mouths, and tic-slir them?
selves into something like action, and pre
pare for the business of life. Do not
?despair. Lift yourselves out of it. Help
yourselves and others will then assist you.
Your beautiful city is to be rebuilt, and to
resume her place once again among her
sisters in the march of progress and im?
provement. Some there are who have
done wonders already. There is nothing
like tryine. if it is on ever so small a
heall-: it will encourage furl her and renew?
ed efforts, and finally end in gaining thc
desired object. Lo not let strangers take
this great work oil' your bunds. If you
longer pause and wait, it. will be done be?
fore you are aware ot it. There are gr.-al.
and trying impediments in th*ts Kuy; but
they will melt into thin air before energy
and perseverance.
The want of a . market place is begin
jiitig to be felt. The people are bringing
their meats, vegetable . J:?., to the corners
o! il- streets, and dr?.-pp?ng down their
commodities and exposing them for sale.
Let us have a market, if it. is only a tem?
porary affair; and let th; city authorities
select some wide street, building the mar?
ket house-a nice, light, airy structure,
with some nt tract tons about il-in tho
.centre; a market, that is a market Let
the city father.-, commence action as soon
as circumstances will permit; for the
question of a suitable place for the above
desirable object has beet? in contemplation
for a long time. AN OLD CITIZEN.
-.
BOGUS.-The word "Bogus,*' we believe,
is a corruption of the name of one "Bor
ghese," a very corrupt individual, who,
twenty years ago or more, did a tremen?
dous business in the way ol' .supplying thc
great West, 'nud portions ol' the South?
-west, with a vast amount of counterfeit
bills and bills ou fictitious banks, which
uevi r had an exist, nee outside ot thc "for
get.iva brain" of hun, the said Borghesc.
Tli.- Western people, who arc rat her rapid
in their talk when excited, soon fell into
th.- habit of shortening the Norman name
nf Borghcse te -.he more handy one o!
"Bogus," and his bill?, and all other bil':.;
?.f ?ike character, were universally styled
by tl.i m "BogKs currency." By an easy
and nd v.-rv unnatural process of transi
ti: i, or metaphorical ten fen cy, the word
i ? now occasionally applied to other fraud?
ulent pap.-rs, such simm mortgages, bills
of saie, conveyance, &c. We believe it
has not been inserted in any dictionary;
,.i least, we d.) not rind it eitrtei in Welt
Interesting ?lctemjROt of tho Position
of iJavis and tile Confed?rate Go?
vernment.
The Charleston Courier says thnt the
following letter was written I?-,- a gent?o
man wl)0 oecupiei] the position of private
secretary lo one nf the most, infiupntial
members of Jeff. Davis'Cabinet through
out the rebellion. It comci, therefore,
bom one well quadified to set forth the
actual condition of affairs in thc rebel
capital during the latter days of the rebel?
lion. It, gives an interior view of the
movements und sentiments of the rebel
Government, such an it has not been possi?
ble to obtain hitherto:
RICHMOND, Monday, May 15, ISO.'.
Owing to the mystery of secret sessions
and the reticence observed by the jour?
nals, much ol' thc real history of thc great
struggle remains to ne written, lt is
known to the world that Mr. Davis wield?
ed to thc I aft the lilli powers of the South,
and that the Southern Congress (-ranted
m arly all his requests for power, insatiable
as he seemed to be in this respect. But it
is not Well known that, be was unpopular
with the leading statesmen of th.- South.
They thought lightly of bi? capacity, and
deemed him an incubus upon their cause.
Some opposed him openly, but. the major?
ity, while deploring his errors, did not i
think it a fit period for opposition. Among ?
the Sormer class reeve Orr, Toombs, Wig
fall, Graham. Among thc latter were j
Messrs. Campbell, Cobb, lim,1er and many
Others. On the other hand. Mr. Davis had
a cordial hali e.i for Congre .... und took no
pains to conceal it. One of Ids last [pro?
ceedings was to scud in a special message,
winch, when analyzed, was found to be
nothing less than n carefully prepared bill
ol indictment, and designed to throw upon
the Congress all the odium in Hie event of
failure. This document elicited a severe
reply from the Senate, at. which body it
was supposed to he specially aimed.
Ko person, peri mps, ever occupied a
prominent position ^Fho availed himself so
litUeof the wisdom or experience of others
as Mr. Davis. He was rudely intolerant,
of any difference cf opinion, and seemed
to rejoice in isolation from those who were
likely to express au independent judgment.
His despotism over Iiis Cabinet was su?
preme. Ile admitted that he knew no?
thing of tinance, but upon all other sub?
jects made no pretence of modest v.
W'heu tho Southern Congress met in
November last, Mr. Davis sent in a mes?
sage, which wa?, upon the whole, o? a
confident tone. Me seemed to take no
account of the waning resources and spirit
of thc South, ortho diminished numbers
of ber ai mies, au .1 .still less o? the con?
stancy, determination and power of the
North. The members of Congress were
not disposed lo accept as gospel this- cheer?
ful manifesto, ami accordingly a resolut ion
wa.? offered t y Mr. Cr.perton for a joint
committee to look into the condition of
public affairs, 'flin necessary effect of this
was to compel the Administration lo look
into its own hain!, and this motion Mr.
Davis regarded arid resented as a hostile
proceeding. This investigation lasted a
month or more, and the resolutions it pro?
voke I produced .1 marked effect upon the
temper and spirit of the Southern Con?
gress, which, som rt weeks after the in?
formal conferences at Portress Monroe,
I i pened into action. A movement was
organized, of which Senators Hunter, of
Virginia, Graba in, of North Carolina, and
Orr, of South Carolina, were tho leading
spirits, to induce the President to negotiate
for peace, an.l secure the best terms possi?
ble for the South. Judi:.- Campbell, the
Assistant Secretary of War, lab:.rid ear?
nestly ami constantly Lo this end, and it is
understood that Mallory, of the Cabinet,
was anxious for the adoption of ibis policy.
It was perfectly obvious to the reflecting
men of the Confederacy that to continue
the contest for independence was a hope?
less pursuit-that when the spring weather
permitted thc immense masses of'liant
and Sherman ti> be precipitated upon
them, the Southern armies would be ut.
tel ly insufficient to resist the shock. To
go on was simply to cause a useless effu?
sion of blood, only to be followed in thc
end bv ruin and subjugation, lt was be?
lieved that while the Southerners had twe
huge armies in the fi old. possession of theil
capital and un organized Government,
they could, witli this show of strength,
secure liberal tenus upon the basis ol' ti
restoration of thu Union. It. was believe.'
that Mr. Lincoln mid Mr. Seward woule
favor a policy of conciliation, lu a word
these men held that reconstruction wa:
infinitely preferable to subjugation. Con
tinue the contest, and the upshot wouK:
be that no terms whatever could be ob
taiued.
Views of this sort wore pressed by Mr
Hunter and others upon Mr. Davis, am.
for a long while it seemed with some pros
peet. >>f securing his assent. But. the Rich
mond Ti?(jairer, Sentinel and Whiy won
furious in their (denunciations of any rc
construction, lu a little while. Mr. Davi
began to be jealous of Hunter, and he, bi
clique and organs, spared no pams to brcal
bim down. Feeling that his effort, to sav
his State from fresh calamity was unavail
ing. Mr. Hunter, nt the close of the session
? . ure.i to his home in Kssex County. Th
breach between li;iii and President Davi
was complete and final. The majority o
both Houses of the Confederate Congres
were ready for poner; negot ia lions, bu
nothing could be done wiihoui lite cc
operation ol the Executive. The nor
w.w men and |n-csses denounced ad wh
thought there was danger ahead as "creal;
i err," and "whipp.*.] men." The nias.-es <
the people li i.ei little ol the actual situ;
"TfTTTlTTTm"" "y mnTmMMmv^mWlmmmmmmmWmmmmmmmWmm
tion, r.nd wore ready mid nnxious to fight
na long ns lhere vHs a reasonable prospect
of success. There ?ran be no doubt, how?
ever, that they trere greatly exhausted
and wearied oftlic war. and if their rulers
had sought an honorable pacification, they
would have sustained them.
One of the mer. whose hatred to Davis
was most intense and bitter was Wigfall,
of Texas. ITe declared that success with
Jefferson Davis nt the helm was impossible
- that his incapacity and obstinacy would
ruin any cause in the world, ami he fa?
vored a counter revolution to depose him.
He proposed publiclv to coerce Davis nnd
Stephens to rosien, and it is probable that
tlie President's jealousy of Hunter, who
would thus have succeeded, excited by this
project, hail no small share in defeating
the scheme of the latter to open negotia?
tions for peace. *
If Mr. Davis were to succeed in making
his way to Europe, he would then pass
into history as au incompetent who had
brought, ruin wu the cause he aspired to
lead. Hardly any of the public mon of
the .South have any liking for him, and
every one wouht then have his story to
toll of blunders and mismanagement. As
it. is, however. Mr. Davis is a hunted fugi
live, fleeing for Iii'.-, with a price set on his
head. The Southerners all feel'that the
North desiresto punish him becausehe was
their (diesen leader aud representative, and
as such they desire his escape. At this
moment. Mr. Davis rallies around him the
sympathies of every Southern mon or
woman, and nowhere more than in this
city, where thousands have been beggared
by thc incendiary proceedings which at?
tended his departure. The Southerners
"ny that there is un more reason why Mr.
Davis should bc punished than themselves
for retie li ion. They put him in his posi?
tion, ami kept bim, and approved his op?
position to the national authority.
Again, while ntl Southerners look with
horror and detestation upon the crime by
which Mr. Lincoln lost bis life, they all
repudiate the idea that their Government
had aught, to do with it. Even those
among them most bitter upon Mr. Davis
affirm that be would never for one mo?
ment, have countenanced so i ri famous a
resort, as assassination. It is not believed
that Mr. Davis cherished any personal
hostility for the late President or for C?e
members of his Cabinet. His hatreds
were for the leaders of th- South, those
whom lie feared might outstrip him in
popularity, Air who ventured to question
his infallibility. He hated Joe Johnston
and beauregard. He was jealous of Hun?
ter and Lee; but. those in the South who
mort appreciated and suffered by his re?
sentments would be among the first to
acquit him ol au imputation of a thirst f.>r
blood. Like Mr. Lincoln, it was almost
impossible lo obtain his consent to an exe?
cution, nnd thus the discipline of the
Southern armies was lost, never afterward
to be regained
At on.; t ime throughout the South, there
was a clamor for ivt .dation for alleged
outrages by the Union armies. Mr. Davis,
Hen. Lee, Mr. Hunter and others steadily
resisted this demand, and no light share oi
blame fell in consequence upon the Con?
federate Government. Even Gen. Lee, the
ido! (d' the. South during this war, did not
escape censure, lt is well known in Rich?
mond that. Dahlgren's command would
have been executed a year ago but for the
interposition ot Mr. Lavis and Gen. Lee.
ll ia well that these facts should be
known in forming an estimate of one
whose character all are now discussing
The same Southern gentlemen who repu?
diate as afisurd the idea that Mr. Davi;
coul l have stooped to s-o infamous a crimr
a-> that of procuring the assassination o
Mr. Line?la and Mr. Seward, will tell yoi
that he was obstinate, narrow, self-willed
domino.-ring and saltish-a man whose
faults (d' temper and intellect would have
ruined a lar stronger cause tban that o
the South. As tlu-y '-peak from this point
ot view, their testimony is entitled to tin
more weight, lt. is a verdict of acquitta
from a hostile ju ny.
The ?mount of specie taken hence b\
tho Confederate Government has beer
greatiy over-rated. II. d.i.Ino! much ex
ceed half a million of dollar.-; but a larg?
proportion-say half-was in silver, am
hence ttie bulk would give the idea of n
great value. The Richmond hanks tool
away their specie, and this amount ma}
have reached several millions of dollars
lt is au error to suppose that Mr. Davi
took away this or any amount of specie
willi the idea of providing for himself il
Europe. Thc balances ot the Confederate
Government in foreign countries, con
stantly keptupvto procure supplies, ?fcc.
arc subject to the checks of Mr. Davis am
his Cabinet, and are ample lo inert thei
wants if they get abroad. Resides, it i
well known thar, when Mr. Davis left hero
he, of all men in the world, had the leas
idea that the Confederacy was about t'
tumble. Thc coin was to provide fund
for a war in America-to buy food am
munitions ot war. He thought, in hi
folly, be could give up thc capital and tb
great State of Virginia, and, with th
cotton States, keep up the contest unti
the North should be wearied out. At th
beginning of the war, the seven cotto
States thought that, by their staple, the.
could coerce Christendom, the North ir
eluded; and of this folly of standing alon
their leaders had nat. been fully coree
Mr. H iv ? baited at Danville, with the ii
lennon of . locating his Government then
He staye? just one week. On healing i
Lee's capitulation, and ?I.et. lhere was i.
organized body ot troops between hun an
tirant, he set out for Charlotte, N. C , ii
teudmg to fix hit, capital thee. Even aft?
Lee's capitulation, h? seemed utterly un?
able to grasp the situation. Ile" still
thought himself able to make war or
peace, as he pleased; and it is reported
that he even hesitated at accepting I he
terms grunted by Sherman, and subse?
quently set aside by President Jolinson.
After spending three or four day:; at
Greensboro, he left for Charlotte, wile re
he proceeded to locate Iiis capital, open up
Government offices, confer promotions, ap?
point generals, ?c. Nothinti could exceed
his infatuation. He wasted time which,
for his escape, was invaluable, in keeping
up the forms of a Government, which had
no existence. Thc train of Government
und b.irik specie had already started bli?
the So'lth. Of his own safety, Mr. Davis
seemed to take little thought. He fancied
himself at the head of a powerful people,
able to marshal armies and ofter battle to
the North. He did not realize that his
fortunes were desperate.
In the midst of ali this delusion came
lh<? intelligence that the negotiations were
nt an end; and then Mr. Davis and his.
Cabinet set out for Geor;oa. Their subse?
quent movements and rate of progress arc
probably not known in Richmond. Upon
thc great mass of thc Southerners, the
crash of their Confederacy has fallen as
suddenly and unexpectedly as an ava?
lanche. They were confident the struggle
would last another year, and many hoped j
for final success. Il is hard to realize the
infatuation of the Confederate Administra?
tion. Confederate paper was not worth
two cents to the dollar, and was kept, up
to this figure solely by the sale of Govern?
ment sprei?-which Mr. Tren hoi m put in
the market at sixty for one. JTtie Confede?
rate armies had wasted away by losscs and
straggling. Joe Johnston had some 25,000
men, Lee 35.000, and in all there were not
ns many as loO.OOO men in arms East "f
the Mississippi River. Kirby Smith and
Magruder might, perhaps, have together
26,000 men in all. These troops were
tolerably clothed, but thc equipment of
thc ai my was inferior. The horses of the
cavalry and artillery were inferior, and the
former were so greatly reduced in num?
bel s that they were utterly insufficient to
protect the Confederate communication-.
How Mr. Davis could shut his eves to all
this, is perfectly marvelous; but he did,
and when people spoke to him of negot ia?
tion, he doubted and arraigned their pn.
triotism. Gen. Lee had, beyond all, the
most gloomy forebodings. As early us the
9th of March, he wrote a letter to Mr j
Davis, stating that he could neither hold
his lines nor withdraw his army with the
small number of troops at his command.
And yet it is said that, in a speech at
Charlotte, Mr. Davis spoke of bis inability
to understand why a force of 12,000 men
should surrender. Judge Campbell con?
stantly pressed upon the attention of thc
Government the fact that, the war could
not be earned on, in the vaia hope that,
unable to dispute the statement, they j
would draw the necessary inference, and
consent to negotiations Ujj>on the basis of
reconstruction. But he counted without j
his host.
A CONVERSATION WITH A. II. STEPHENS. I
A friend who saw and conversed with I
Alex H. Stephens, on I oard the steamer at j
Pori. Royal, writes as follows in a private
lefter: He looks much older than when I
saw him in the House in "?7. lie con verses
freely and does not appear at all like- a
prisoner of war. He says he never saw so
marked a change in four years, in any two
men, as in Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson
Davi.i. He expressed great regret at the
President's assassination, admitted the
Confederacy was played out, and seemed
anxious to have peace declared and the
.matter settled as speedily as possible. His
idea is to have the diff?rent rebel States
repeal the ordinances of secession and ac?
cept the Constitution of the United States
and vote on the constitutional amend?
ment. He expresses the opinion that the
seceding States will not pass it. Ile ac?
knowledged that his M iliedixeville speech
was almost proph?tie, and that, he went
willi the popular current, to- prevent any
clash between himself and Toombs. lie
appears to have no concern for himself;
says he is only anxious to secur-a* honor?
able terms as possible for his State and
people, the majority of whom, he says,
never were secessionists. He is lieut over
very much, his hair is nearly whit-.-, his
voice is lower and not. so shrill as former?
ly, and his hand trembles when he uses it;
but he talks as smoothly as ever, and his
eyes Hash as in days gone by.
Persons Traveling
p-'*r"Tpj?^ TO any point cnn be aeoom
X?>^?2?Mno.lated with a TWO HORSE
SPRING WAGON, at liberal terms, by
inquiring at. this office. June 7 3
Mrs. Henry
HAS opened a DAY SCHOOL in the
College Campus. She will also teach
her pupils the rudiments of MUSIC and
SINGING free of charge. June 7 2
TINWARE- "
JW. SMITH is prepared to furnish
. TINWARE at wholesale or retail.
All orders promptly attended to, at. Iiis
residence, Taylor street, opposite Sidney
Park. REPAIRING done at shortest
notice. June 7 4*
lai?E ! 3FLXO?ES V
'"IMUS undersigned hus for sale a small
J., quantity of prime whole RICE, and
offers it in lots to suit purchasers.
WM. SHEPHERD,
Winn stree*, near Charlotte Depot.
June 7 2*
Xsocal Items.
The office of tho Columbia Phoenix is
on Gutes street, second -loor from Plain.
Our readers aie referred lo the adver?
tisement of Messrs. James P. M. Stetson A
Co. Their stock of groceries. Meines, otc.
is said to he very large, and their prices
reasonable. These gentlemen are also in
charge ol the Charleston Hotel, and, we
learn, are keeping ftp thc old and deserved
reputation of that hotel.
Paroled prisoners have not been allowed
to take thc oath of allegiance during tho
last few days, from the fact that President
Johnson has issued an amnest}' proclama?
tion, in which another oath is prescribed.
Wc lupe to he able to publish this impor
tant document in our nest issue.
r?3g"PERSONAL.-All subscribers to tue
P.'iicitix whose subscriptions have
pired, will plor.se come forward and
roiicvv, in speei.j or provisions; otherwise
their papers will be slopped.
Eg?" We wish it distinctly understood
that our terms arc c?afi. No advertise?
ments will, therefore, be inserted unless
paid for in advance.
The Lourd of Directora of ihe Columbia
Mutual Supply Association will meet TH I.-.
DAY, nt 12 o'clock m., at tho. Guard IIous-,
on special business. A full and prompt
attendance is requested.
JOSIAH E. SMITH,
jane 7 1 ' Secretary and Treasurer.
Mrs. Pelot's Class
FOP the instruction of Younc Undi.s
in the beautiful art. of PENMAN?
SHIP, will meet at ii o'clock n m., ut her
residence. South side of tho College Cam?
pus, next door to Headquarter1;. Cia.?.- f.,r
Younc Men will meet at 4 o'clock p. m.
Terms moderate. June 7 ':,
MILLINERY
MIIS. S. A. SMITH would inform thc
ladies of Columbia that she is pre?
pared to attend to oil orders in the MIL?
LINERY line, and has also for sale White
STRAW BONNETS, White STRAW
JOCKEYS, SPRING RIBBONS. LACKS,
tte, at her residence en Tailor str?-.-t. nu?
door from Assembly. June 7 4*
JUST RECEIVED
AND FOR SALL AT K KT AIL BY
3FL- Xx- DAVID,
Jiiehard-.on Strct, Mr. Fuller's Place.
Iy IRCES CALICO.
Do.-.en <Jc:,i'? SUMMER UNDER?
SHIRTS. June 7 X*
WM. INGLISS," ' Barbel
MOST respectfully informs his old cus
_tomcrs, and tie- publie generally.
that he has removed from thc Arsenal Hill
to the Campus of the S. C.. (?olletie, where,
hy strict at tention io his business, he soli?
cits a. continuance ol' his toi mer pat rouage.
Barbering in nil its branches promptly
Itt Tended to. June 7 f-*
Lost,
I>KTWEEN a noint three miles thc other
y side cf ihe river and the residence of
Mr. Wm. Simons. Bull, corn er of islanding
street, a G ll KY UNIFORM JACK ET. con?
taining sundry b iters in the pocket, ad?
dressed to per.-ous iii Columbia. Any in?
formation which may Lad to its recovery
will be thankfully received and a suitable
reward given ii desired.
June v l* JAMES S. SIMONS
The Misses T-~W. Mordecai,
1]>EING desirous of taking a limited num
y ber of pupils, will open a School for
young ladies and children of both sexes. All
tile branches of an English education w ill
be taught; also, French and Music, pen?
manship strictly attended to. This class
will meet three times a week. Terms for
writing, 25 cents a lesson, payable weekly
in advance. Apply at Mr. R. Keenan's
residence, comer Richland and Sumter
streets. Jen'' 7 '?>
~A7.FTM".
A REGULAR communication of
Richland Lodge No. will be hold
/WrtliS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON,
at -t o'clock, in the Hall in the Collegs
Campus. By order of the W. M.
June 7 R. TOZER. Secretary.
rf yy f* < ? x> ?P? -P' K ? TP*"v i
JAMES P. M. STETSON & CO.,
252 KING ST., TN THE LEND,
Charleston, S. C.,
Ci A LL the attention of deniers visit i PK
/ Charleston to their large assorted
stock of
GROCERIES, WINES,
ALES, SEGARS,
CHEWING TOBACCO.
SMOKING TOBACCO,
CROCKER Y, TlN W ARE,
YANKEE NOTIONS, ic, <fcc
They are also receiving, per each steam,
cr from N~.w York, fresh supplies of BUT?
TER, CHEESE. LARD. FLOUR, ?c., 4c,
which they offer at the LOWEST MAP.
KE? pr ICE for ? -,ch. .Pone 7 fi*