 Davis appointed Benjamin as Secretary of State on March 17 , 1862 . He was promptly confirmed by the Confederate Senate . A motion to reconsider the confirmation was lost , 13 – 8 . According to Butler , the appointment of Benjamin brought Davis little political support , as the average white Southerner did not understand Benjamin and somewhat disliked him . As there was not much open opposition to Davis in the South at the time , Benjamin 's appointment was not criticized , but was not given much praise either . Meade noted , " the silence of many influential newspapers was ominous . [ Benjamin 's ] promotion in the face of such bitter criticism of his conduct in the war office caused the first serious lack of confidence in the Davis government . " 
