ates met in secret session to
select their candidate and spokesman.

"Of what occurred in these various meetings I can not speak
authoritatively as to other States, as their proceedings were
considered secret. I can speak positively, however, of what took
place at a meeting of the delegates from Louisiana. We, the
Louisiana delegates, without hesitation, and unanimously, after
a very short session, decided in favor of Mr. Davis. No other
name was mentioned; the claims of no one else were considered,
or even alluded to. There was not the slightest opposition to
Mr. Davis on the part of any of our delegation; certainly none
was expressed; all appeared enthusiastic in his favor, and, I
have no reason to doubt, felt so. Nor was the feeling induced by
any solicitation on the part of Mr. Davis or his friends. Mr.
Davis was not in or near Montgomery at the time. He was never
heard from on this subject, so far as I knew. He was never
announced as a candidate. We were seeking the best man to fill
the position, and the conviction at the time, in the minds of a
large majority of the delegates, that Mr. Davis was the best
qualified, from both his civil and military knowledge and
experience, induced many to look upon Mr. Davis as the best
selection that could be made.

"This conviction, coupled with his well-recognized conservative
views--for in no sense did we consider Mr. Davis extreme, either
in his views or purposes--was the deciding consideration which
controlled the votes of the Louisiana delegation. Of this I have
not the least doubt. I remain, respectfully, very truly yours,
etc."

(Signed) "Duncan F. Kenner."

From the Hon. James Chesnut, of South Carolina:

".... Before leaving home I had made up my mind as to who was
the fittest man to be President, and who to be Vice-President;
Mr. Davis for the first, and Mr. Stephens for the second. And
this was known to all my friends as well as to my colleagues.

"Mr. Davis, then conspicuous for ability, had long experience in
civil service, was reputed a most successful organizer and
administrator of the military department of the United States
when he was Secretary of War, and came out of the Mexican war
with much _eclat_ as a soldier. Possessing a combination of
these high and needful qualities, he was regarded by nearly th