ged to coerce the seceding States. While at Montgomery, he
expressed the belief that heavy fighting must occur, and that
Virginia was to be the chief battle-ground. Years prior to
secession, in his address before the Legislature and people of
Mississippi, Mr. Davis had earnestly advised extensive
preparation for the possible contingency of secession.

"After the formation of the Confederate States, he was far in
advance of the Constitutional Convention and the Provisional
Congress, and, as I believe, of any man in it, in his views of
the gravity of the situation and the probable extent and
duration of the war, and of the provision which should be made
for the defense of the seceding States. Before secession, Mr.
Davis thought war would result from it; and, after secession, he
expressed the view that the war commenced would be an extensive
one. What he may have thought at a later day than the early part
of 1862, I do not know; but it is inconceivable that the
'interview' can be correct as to that.

"The idea that Mr. Davis was so 'extreme' in his views is a new
one. He was extremely conservative on the subject of secession.

"The suggestion that Mississippi would have preferred General
Toombs or Mr. Cobb for President has no foundation in fact. My
opinion is, that no man could have obtained a single vote in the
Mississippi delegation against Mr. Davis, who was then, as he is
now, the most eminent and popular of all the citizens of
Mississippi.... Very respectfully,"

(Signed) "J. A. P. Campbell."

From the Hon. Duncan F. Kenner, of Louisiana:

"....My recollections of what transpired at the time are very
vivid and positive....

"Who should be President, was the absorbing question of the day.
It engaged the attention of all present, and elicited many
letters from our respective constituencies. The general
inclination was strongly in favor of Mr. Davis. In fact, no
other name was so prominently or so generally mentioned. The
name of Mr. Rhett, of South Carolina, was probably more
frequently mentioned than that of any other person, next to Mr.
Davis.

"The rule adopted at our election was that each State should
have one vote, to be delivered in open session, _viva voce_, by
one of the delegates as spokesman for his colleagues. The
delegates of the different St