that a united South, led by him, must be
unconquerable.

There was a depth in the hearts of his hearers that discontent could
not touch:--that even discontent had not yet chilled. They saw in him
the representative man of their choice--headstrong certainly, erring
possibly. But they saw also the staunch, inflexible champion of the
South, with iron will, active intellect, and honest heart bent steadily
and unwearyingly to one purpose; and that purpose the meanest one among
them clasped to his heart of hearts!

Then, through the swooping blasts of the storm, came a low, wordless
shout, wrenched from their inmost natures, that told, if not of renewed
faith in his means, at least of dogged resolution to stand by him,
heart and hand, to achieve the common end.

It was a solemn sight, that inauguration.

Men and women left the square with solemn brows and serious voices.
There was none of the bustle and pride of a holiday pageant; but there
was undoubtedly a genuine resolve to toil on in the hard road and reach
the end, or fall by the wayside in the effort.

Having laid out a fixed line of policy, Mr. Davis in no way deviated
from it. There were no changes of government measures and no changes of
government men, except the elevation of General George W. Randolph to
the Secretaryship of War. This gentleman--a clear-headed lawyer, a
tried patriot and soldier by education and some experience--was
personally very popular with all classes. He was known to possess
decision of character and a will as firm as the President's own; and
the auguries therefrom were, that in future the chief of the War Office
would also be its head. His advent, therefore, was hailed as a new era
in military matters.

But Mr. Benjamin, who became daily more unpopular, had been removed
from the War Department only to be returned to the portfolio of State,
which had been kept open during his incumbency of the former. This
promotion was accepted by the Secretary's enemies as at once a reproof
to them, and a blow aimed at the popular foreign policy. They boldly
averred that, though the foreign affairs of the Government might not
call for very decided measures, Mr. Benjamin would not scruple--now
that he more than ever had the ear of his chief--to go beyond his own
into every branch of the Government, and to insert his own peculiar and
subtle sophisms into every recess of the Cabinet.

To do the Secretary justice, he bore the universal attack with most