at the
instance of leading Democrats, to persuade them to withdraw,
that their friends might unite on some second choice--an office
he would never have undertaken, had he sought the nomination or
believed he was regarded as an aspirant.

"Mr. Davis did not take an active part in planning or hastening
secession. I think he only _regretfully_ consented to it, as a
political necessity for the preservation of popular and State
rights, which were seriously threatened by the triumph of a
sectional party who were pledged to make war on them. I know
that some leading men, and even Mississippians, thought him too
moderate and backward, and found fault with him for not taking a
leading part in secession.

"No 'plan of secession' or 'scheme of revolution' was, to my
knowledge, discussed--certainly none matured--at the caucus, 5th
of January, 1861, unless, forsooth, the resolutions appended
hereto be so held. They comprise the sum and substance of what
was said and done. I never heard that the caucus advised the
South 'to accumulate munitions of war,' or 'to organize and
equip an army of one hundred thousand men,' or determined 'to
hold on as long as possible to the Southern seats.' So far from
it, a majority of Southern Senators seemed to think there would
be no war; that the dominant party in the North desired
separation from the South, and would gladly let their 'erring
sisters go in peace.' I could multiply proofs of such a
disposition. As to holding on to their seats, no Southern
Legislature advised it, no Southern Senator who favored
secession did so but one, and none others wished to do so, I
believe.

"The 'plan of secession,' if any, and the purpose of secession,
unquestionably, originated, not in Washington City, or with the
Senators or Representatives of the South, but among the people
of the several States, many months before it was attempted. They
followed no leaders at Washington or elsewhere, but acted for
themselves, with an independence and unanimity unprecedented in
any movement of such magnitude. Before the meeting of the caucus
of January 5, 1861, South Carolina had seceded, and Alabama,
Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas had taken the initial
step of secession, by calling conventions for its
accomplishment. Before the election of Lincoln, all t