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by the vast multitude that thronged the building, inside and out; and a salute of one hundred guns, in honor of the event, was immediately given.
That evening, Stephens was serenaded.
He made a brief speech to the crowd, in which he spoke of the new government as one which, while it surrendered none of their ancient rights and liberties, would secure them more perfectly.
He predicted for the “Confederacy” a glorious career, if it should be supported by “the virtue, intelligence, and patriotism of the people.”
With institutions, he said, so far as regarded their organic and social policy, “in strict conformity to nature and the laws of the Creator, whether read in the Book of Inspiration or the great Book of Manifestations around us, we have all the natural elements essential to attainment in the highest degree of power and glory.
These institutions have been much assailed, and it is our mission to vindicate the great truth on which they rest, and with them exhibit the highest type of civilization which it is possible for human society to reach.”
He was followed by Keitt, and Chesnut, and Conrad, who all made predictions of the future grandeur of the nation they were then attempting to create.
On the following day, Stephens formally accepted the office to which he had been chosen, and made a speech to the Convention, acknowledging with gratitude the expression of their confidence in calling him to that high station.
He was in an embarrassing position.
His Union speeches in November and January1 were yet ringing in the ears of the people, and his present attitude needed explanation.
He thought it prudent not to attempt any explanation, and simply remarked: “It is sufficient for me to say, that it may be deemed questionable if any good citizen can refuse to discharge any duty which may be assigned him by his country in her hour of need.”
At Milledgeville, in November,2 Mr. Stephens's vision of his “c country” embraced the whole Republic, from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, and from the region of ice to the region of perpetual bloom, with a population of more than thirty millions.
At Montgomery, in February--ninety dayslater — he saw his “country” dwarfed to the insignificant area of six Cotton-producing States on the coast, with a population of four millions five hundred thousand, nearly one-half of whom were bond-slaves, and a seventh (Texas) just marching up to join the sad assemblage of recusants.
After the election of Davis and Stephens, the Convention directed its chairman to appoint Committees on Foreign Relations, Postal Affairs, Finance, Commerce, Military and Naval Affairs, Judiciary, Patents and Copy-rights,3 and Printing.4 All the laws of the United States, not incompatible with
1 See pages 54 to 57, inclusive.
2 See page 54.
3 The first application to the Confederate Government for a patent was made on the 16th of February, when J. M. Waldron, of Georgia, asked leave to file a caveat and drawings, setting forth an improvement he had made in railroad switches.
4 The most important committees were constructed as follows:--
Foreign Affairs.--Messrs. Rhett, Nisbett, Perkins, Walker, and Keitt. Finance.--Messrs. Toombs, Barnwell, Kenner, Barry, and McRae. Commercial Affairs.--Messrs. Memminger, Crawford, Martin, Curry, and De Clouet. Judiciary.--Messrs. Clayton, Withers, Hale, T. R. Cobb, and Harris. Naval Affairs.--Messrs. Conrad, Chesnut, Smith, Wright, and Owens. Military Affairs.--Messrs. Bartow, Miles, Sparrow, Keenan, and Anderson. Postal Affairs.--Chilton, Hill, Boyce, Harrison, and Curry. Mr. Brooke, of Mississippi, was made Chairman of the Committee on Patents and Copyrights — an almost <*>seless office.
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