Louisiana, John Perkins, Jr ., D. F. Kenner, C. M. Conrad. Edward Sparrow, Henry Marshall, and A. De Clouet. 

Texas, L. T. Wigfall, J. H. Rayan, J. Hemphill, T. N. Waul.  John Gregg W. S. Oldham, and W. H. Ochiltree. 

These fifty delegates representing seven sovereign States organized themselves into a convention by electing Howell Cobb of  Georgia, Chairman, and J. J. Hooper of Alabama, Secretary.

Mr. Cobb was a leading advocate of the compromise of 1850. He was elected by the Union party Governor of Georgia in 1851.and he was later Secretary of the United States Treasury.

Mr. Hooper, the secretary of the convention, was an Alabama editor and author of considerable note.

While the convention was being organized, hanging on the  walls of the hall. were the portraits of Andrew Jackson, Marion,  Washington. and Henry Clay.

This first convention of the young' Confederacy now being organized proceeded on February 9, 1861. to elect a President and Vice President. The votes were taken by States separately, which resulted in the unanimou5 choice of Jeffer5on Davis of Mississippi for President, and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia a Vice President. When this honor was conferred on Mr. Davis, he was at home on his plantation in Mississippi. He did not prefer to be the civil head of the young nation, but offering himself if needed, to its military service. Mr. Davis was one among the last to give up the hope of a reconciliation of the two sections.

He only withdrew from the United State Senate in obedience to the will of the state. He followed secession instead of leading it.

At the same time he was educated in the school of 5tate sovereignty, and when the time came Jefferson Davi5 was no traitor to his people, as were some who lived in the South. Alexander H. Stephens, the Vice President elect, was a thorough devotee to the Union under the constitution. He stood to the last moment in Georgia against the secession act, but he was a firm believer in the legal principles of States' rights, and upon the withdrawal of his State from the Federal Union, let it be said to his credit, that he did not hesitate to whom he. owed his allegiance.

A committee was appointed to notify these gentlemen of their election, and they were inaugurated on February 18, 1861, as President and Vice-President of the Southern Confederacy.

The president was at once directed to appoint committees on Foreign affairs, Finance, Judiciary, Military and Naval Affairs, Commerce, Postal, Patents and Printing; and all laws that were in force in the United States in November 1860, that were not in conflict with the Provisional Constitution of the Confederacy, were continued in operation.

The following. Cabinet Officers were now appointed by President Davis: Department of State, Robert Toombs, of Georgia. Department of war, Leroy P. Walker, of Alabama. Treasury, Charles G. Memminger of South Carolina. Post Office, John H. Ragan, of Texas. Navy Department, Stephen R. Mallory, of Florida. Department of Justice, Judah P. Benjamin, of Louisiana.

The world could now see from the National reputation of these men, that the young nation would be led by intellect and patriotism.

President Davis at once appointed a commission of three, viz.- Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, Mr. John Forsythe, of Alabama, and Mr. A. R. Roman, of Louisiana, to go to Washington and confer with President Buchanan, in regard to the settlement of all matters of joint ownership of property of any kind within the limits of the Confederate States upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith.

Up to this time it was said that President Buchanan was willing to receive such a commission, but before this commission reached Washington, President Buchanan had change his mind, and said: that he had only three days more of official life left, (to be continued….)