United States prior to the secession of Georgia struck a blow at
constitutional liberty so fell as has been stricken by the
conscript acts."

There were other elements of discontent which were taking form as
early as the autumn of 1862 but which were not yet clearly
defined. But the two obvious sources of internal criticism just
described were enough to disquiet the most resolute
administration. When the triple offensive broke down, when the
ebb-tide began, there was already everything that was needed to
precipitate a political crisis. And now the question arises
whether the Confederate Administration had itself to blame. Had
Davis proved inadequate in his great undertaking?

The one undeniable mistake of the Government previous to the
autumn of 1862 was its excessive secrecy. As to the other
mistakes attributed to it at the time, there is good reason to
call them misfortunes. Today we can see that the financial
situation, the cotton situation, the relations with Europe, the
problem of equipping the armies, were all to a considerable
degree beyond the control of the Confederate Government. If there
is anything to be added to its mistaken secrecy as a definite
cause of irritation, it must be found in the general tone given
to its actions by its chief directors. And here there is
something to be said.

With all his high qualities of integrity, courage, faithfulness,
and zeal, Davis lacked that insight into human life which marks
the genius of the supreme executive. He was not an artist in the
use of men. He had not that artistic sense of his medium which