ce or
position (he declined Mr. Davis's offer of a seat in the
Cabinet), as well as his long experience in public life and
admirably calm and well-balanced mind, all combined to make his
influence with his colleagues very great. But neither could he
be said 'to lead' the delegation. He had no desire, and never
made any attempt to do so. I think there was no delegation in
the Congress, the individual members of which were more
independent in coming to their own conclusions of what was right
and expedient to be done. There was always the frankest and
freest interchange of opinions among them, but every one
determined his own course for himself."

[Footnote 123: See Appendix K.]

CHAPTER VI.

The Confederate Cabinet.

After being inaugurated, I proceeded to the formation of my Cabinet,
that is, the heads of the executive departments authorized by the laws
of the Provisional Congress. The unanimity existing among our people
made this a much easier and more agreeable task than where the rivalries
in the party of an executive have to be consulted and accommodated,
often at the expense of the highest capacity and fitness. Unencumbered
by any other consideration than the public welfare, having no friends to
reward or enemies to punish, it resulted that not one of those who
formed my first Cabinet had borne to me the relation of close personal
friendship, or had political claims upon me; indeed, with two of them I
had no previous acquaintance.

It was my wish that the Hon. Robert W. Barnwell, of South Carolina,
should be Secretary of State. I had known him intimately during a trying
period of our joint service in the United States Senate, and he had won
alike my esteem and regard. Before making known to him my wish in this
connection, the delegation of South Carolina, of which he was a member,
had resolved to recommend one of their number to be Secretary of the
Treasury, and Mr. Barnwell, with characteristic delicacy, declined to
accept my offer to him.

I had intended to offer the Treasury Department to Mr. Toombs, of
Georgia, whose knowledge on subjects of finance had particularly
attracted my notice when we served together in the United States Senate.
Mr. Barnwell having declined the State Department, and a colleague of
his, said to be peculiarly qualified for the Treasury Department, having
been recommended for it, Mr. Toombs was offered the State Department,