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identity in the mosaic of the Austrian Empire； so this little
American community saw nothing of happiness in any future that
did not secure its virtual independence。
Typical of the newer order in the South was the community that
formed the President of the Confederacy。 In the history of
Mississippi previous to the war there are six great namesJacob
Thompson； John A。 Quitman； Henry S。 Foote； Robert J。 Walker；
Sergeant S。 Prentiss； and Jefferson Davis。 Not one of them was
born in the State。 Thompson was born in North Carolina； Quitman
in New York； Foote in Virginia； Walker in Pennsylvania； Prentiss
in Maine； Davis in Kentucky。 In 1861 the State was but forty…four
years old； younger than its most illustrious sonsif the paradox
may be permitted。 How could they think of it as an entity
existing in itself； antedating not only themselves but their
traditions； circumscribing them with its all…embracing；
indisputable reality？ These men spoke the language of state
rights。 It is true that in politics； combating the North； they
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 Engla