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used the political philosophy taught them by South Carolina。 But
it was a mental weapon in political debate； it was not for them
an emotional fact。
And yet these men of the Southwest had an ideal of their own as
vivid and as binding as the state ideal of the men of the eastern
coast。 Though half their leaders were born in the North； the
people themselves were overwhelmingly Southern。 From all the
older States； all round the huge crescent which swung around from
Kentucky coastwise to Florida； immigration in the twenties and
thirties had poured into Mississippi。 Consequently the new
community presented a composite picture of the whole South； and
like all composite pictures it emphasized only the factors common
to all its parts。 What all the South had in common； what made a
man a Southerner in the general sensein distinction from a
Northerner on the one hand； or a Virginian； Carolinian； Georgian；
on the othercould have been observed with clearness in
Mississippi； just before the war； as nowhere else。 Therefore； the
fulfillment of the ideal of Southern life in general terms was
the vision of things hoped for by the new men of the Southwest。
The features of that vision were common to them allcountry
life； broad acres； generous hospitality； an aristocratic system。
The temperaments of these men were sufficiently buoyant to enable
them to apprehend this ideal even before it had materialized。
Their romantic minds could see the gold at the end of the
rainbow。 Theirs was not the pride of administering a
well…ordered； inherited system； but the joy of building a new
system； in their minds wholly elastic； to be sure； but still
inspired by that old system。
What may be called the sense of Southern nationality as opposed
to the sense of state rights； strictly speaking； distinguished
this brilliant young community of the Southwest。 In that
community Davis spent the years that appear to have been the most
impressionable of his life。 Belonging to a 〃new〃 family just
emerging into wealth； he began life as a West Pointer and saw
gallant service as a youth on the frontier； resigned from the
army to pursue a romantic attachment； came home to lead the life
of a wealthy planter and receive the impress of Mississippi； made
his entry into politics； still a soldier at heart； with the
philosophy of state rights on his lips； but in his heart that
sense of the Southern people as a new nation； which needed only
the occasion to make it the relentless enemy of the rights of the
individual Southern States。 Add together the instinctive military
point of view and this Southern nationalism that even in 1861 had
scarcely revealed itself； join with these a fearless and haughty
spirit； proud to the verge of arrogance； but perfectly devoted；
perfectly sincere； and you have the main lines of the political
character of Davis when he became President。 It may be that as he
went forward in his great undertaking； as antagonisms developed；
as Rhett and others turned against him； Davis hardened。 He lost
whatever comprehension he once had of the Rhett type。 Seeking to
weld into one irresistible unit all the military power of the
South； he became at last in the eyes of his opponents a monster；
while to him； more and more positively； the others became mere
dreamers。
It took about a year for this irrepressible conflict within the
Confederacy to reveal itself。 During the twelve months following
Davis's election as provisional President； he dominated the
situation； though the Charleston Mercury； the Rhett organ； found
opportunities to be sharply critical of the President。 He
assembled armies； he initiated heroic efforts to make up for the
handicap of the South in the manufacture of munitions and
succeeded in starting a number of munition plants； though
powerless to prevent the establishment of the blockade； he was
able during that first year to keep in touch with Europe； to
start out Confederate privateers upon the high seas； and to
import a considerable quantity of arms and supplies。 At the
close of the year the Confederate armies were approaching
general efficiency； for all their enormous handicap； almost if
not quite as rapidly as were the Union armies。 And the one great
event of the year on land； the first battle of Manassas； or Bull
Run； was a signal Confederate victory。
To be sure Davis was severely criticized in some quarters for
not adopting an aggressive policy。 The Confederate Government；
whether wisely or foolishly； had not taken the people into its
confidence and the lack of munitions was not generally
appreciated。 The easy popular cries were all sounded： 〃We are
standing still！〃 〃The country is being invaded！〃 〃The President
is a do…nothing！〃 From the coast regions especially； where the
blockade was felt in all its severity； the outcry was loud。
Nevertheless； the South in the main was content with the
Administration during most of the first year。 In November； when
the general elections were held； Davis was chosen without
opposition as the first regular Confederate President for six
years； and Stephens became the Vice…President。 The election was
followed by an important change in the Southern Cabinet。 Benjamin
became Secretary of War； in succession to the first War
Secretary； Leroy P。 Walker。 Toombs had already left the
Confederate Cabinet。 Complaining that Davis degraded him to the
level of a mere clerk； he had withdrawn the previous July。 His
successor in the State Department was R。 M。 T。 Hunter of
Virginia； who remained in office until February； 1862； when his
removal to the Confederate Senate opened the way for a further
advancement of Benjamin。
Richmond； which had been designated as the capital soon after the
secession of Virginia； was the scene of the inauguration； on
February 22； 1862。 Although the weather proved bleak and rainy；
an immense crowd gathered around the Washington monument； in
Capitol Square； to listen to the inaugural address。 By this time
the confidence in the Government； which was felt generally at the
time of the election； had suffered a shock。 Foreign affairs were
not progressing satisfactorily。 Though England had accorded to
the Confederacy the status of a belligerent； this was poor
consolation for her refusal to make full recognition of the new
Government as an independent power。 Dread of internal distress
was increasing。 Gold commanded a premium of fifty percent。
Disorder was a feature of the life in the cities。 It was known
that several recent military events had been victories for the
Federals。 A rumor was abroad that some great disaster had taken
place in Tennessee。 The crowd listened anxiously to hear the
rumor denied by the President。 But it was not denied。 The tense
listeners noted two sentences which formed an admission that the
situation was grave： 〃A million men； it is estimated； are now
standing in hostile array and waging war along a frontier of
thousands of miles。 Battles have been fought； sieges have been
conducted； and although the contest is not ended； and the tide
for the moment is against us； the final result in our favor is
not doubtful。〃
Behind these carefully guarded words lay serious alarm； not only
with regard to the operations at the front but as to the
composition of the army。 It had been raised under various laws
and its portions were subject to conflicting classifications； it
was partly a group of state armies； partly a single Confederate
army。 None of its members had enlisted for long terms。 Many
enlistments would expire early in 1862。 The fears of the
Confederate Administration with regard to this matter； together
with its alarm about the events at the front； were expressed by
Davis in a frank message to the Southern Congress； three days
later。 〃I have hoped；〃 said he； 〃for several days to receive
official reports in relation to our discomfiture at Roanoke
Island and the fall of Fort Donelson。 They have not yet reached
Me。。。。 The hope is still entertained that our reported losses
at Fort Donelson have been greatly exaggerated。。。。〃 He went
on to condemn the policy of enlistments for short terms； 〃against
which；〃 said he； 〃I have steadily contended〃； and he enlarged
upon the danger that even patriotic men； who intended to
reenlist； might go home to put their affairs in order and that
thus； at a critical moment； the army might be seriously reduced。
The accompanying report of the Confederate Secretary of War
showed a total in the army of 340；250 men。 This was an inadequate
force with which to meet the great hosts which were being
organized against it in the North。 To permit the slightest
reduction of the army at that moment seemed to the Southern
President suicidal。
But Davis waited some time longer before proposing to the
Confederate Congress the adoption of conscription。 Meanwhile； the
details of two great reverses； the loss of Roanoke Island and the
loss of Fort Donelson； became generally known。 Apprehension
gathered strength。 Newspapers began to discuss conscription as
something inevitable。 At last； on March 28； 1862； Davis sent a
message to the Confederate Congress advising the conscription of
all white males between the ages of eighteen and thirty…five。 For
th