During the autumn of 1862 and the following winter the disputes
over the conduct of the war began to subside and two other themes
became prominent: the sovereignty of the States, which appeared
to be menaced by the Government, and the personality of Davis,
whom malcontents regarded as a possible despot. Contrary to
tradition, the first note of alarm over state rights was not
struck by its great apostle Rhett, although the note was sounded
in South Carolina in the early autumn. There existed in this
State at that time an extra assembly called the "Convention,"
which had been organized in 1860 for the general purpose of
seeing the State through the "revolution." In the Convention, in
September, 1862, the question of a contest with the Confederate
Government on the subject of a state army was definitely raised.
It was proposed to organize a state army and to instruct the
Legislature to "take effectual measures to prevent the agents of
the Confederate Government from raising troops in South Carolina
except by voluntary enlistment or by applying to the Executive of
the State to call out the militia as by law organized, or some
part of it to be mustered into the Confederate service." This
proposal brought about a sharp debate upon the Confederate
Government and its military policy. Rhett made a remarkable
address, which should of itself quiet forever the old tale that
he was animated in his opposition solely by the pique of a
disappointed candidate for the presidency. Though as sharp as
ever against the Government and though agreeing wholly with the
spirit of the state army plan, he took the ground that
circumstances at the moment rendered the organization of such an
army inopportune. A year earlier he would have strongly supported
the plan. In fact, in opposition to Davis he had at that time, he
said, urged an obligatory army which the States should be