[
103]
the United States Government should attempt to coerce
South Carolina back into the
Union, or to blockade her ports.
His expectation, at that late period, apparently was that
South Carolina would be left out of the
Union alone, and that the United States Government would simply collect duties off the bars of her seaports; and he expressed himself “in favor of seeking to bring those [the planting States] into cooperation before asking for a popular decision upon a new policy and relation to the nations of the earth.”
These views did not strengthen him with
Mr. Rhett for the executive head of the Southern Confederacy; nor did the published report of his shedding tears on retiring from the United States Senate after the secession of
Mississippi.
But
Mr. Rhett's contemporary and second cousin,
Mr. Barnwell, called three times to solicit his vote for
Mr. Davis.
The impression was produced upon his mind that he,
Mr. Rhett, was the only man in the delegation opposed to
Mr. Davis.
In reply to objections suggested by
Mr. Rhett,
Mr. Barnwell said that
Mr. Rhett's standard of the statesmanship requisite was higher than he might be able to get. He added that he knew
Mr. Davis, and although he considered him not a man of great ability, yet he believed him just and honorable, and that he would utilize the best ability of the country, as
Monroe and
Polk and others had done, and would administer the powers intrusted to him as
President, with an eye single to the interests of the
Confederacy.
Upon this presentment
Mr. Rhett concluded to forego his own mistrust, and to give his vote for
Mr. Davis, along with the rest, as he supposed.
On taking the vote in the convention (February 9th)
Georgia gave hers to
Mr. Cobb, and the other States theirs to
Mr. Davis.
Georgia then changed her vote, which elected
Mr. Davis unanimously.
Mr. Alexander E.
 |
|
Robert Barnwell Rhett, chairman of Committee on Foreign affairs, Confederate Provisional Congress.
From a Photograph.. |
