Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/604

566 final issue.&quot; The Confederate Congress delayed its adjournment beyond the appointed time, at the President’s request, and with some modifications converted his suggestions into laws. One act provided for raising coin to furnish necessary supplies for the army, and generous Virginia advanced at once $300,000 in specie for that purpose. The banks in other States were likewise put in readiness to meet the requisition. A general militia law was also enacted, and after considerable hesitation author ity was given to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in certain cases for a limited time. Then Congress ad journed the latter part of March to assemble no more.

Only a few days later Grant broke Lee s lines, forcing his retreat and causing the removal of the Confederate government from Richmond. The surrender of Lee’s army at Appomattox and of the army of General Johnston in North Carolina quickly followed. President Davis having gone into North Carolina, understood the situation of the civil government and expressed to his Attorney-General, George Davis, his conception that he was himself now more of a soldier than anything else. In answer to the inquiry of the attorney-general whether it was possible to serve him officially any further, the President replied on April 25, 1865: &quot;It is gratifying to me to be assured that you are willing at any personal sacrifice to share my fortunes when they are least promising. * * * It is due to such generous friendship that I should candidly say to you that it is not probable that for some time to come your services will be needful. * * * Should you decide (my situation having become rather that of a soldier than a civil magistrate) to retire from my cabinet, my sincere wishes for your welfare and happiness will follow you."

Notwithstanding its precarious situation the Confeder ate States had still a legal existence although its military support was gone. Every State ordinance of secession was still in force. The Constitution of the Confederate