 Meade found the time that Benjamin spent as attorney general to be fruitful , as it allowed him the opportunity to judge Davis 's character and to ingratiate himself with the president . Benjamin served as a host , entertaining dignitaries and others Davis had no time to see . At the first Cabinet meeting , Benjamin counseled Davis to have the government buy 150 @,@ 000 bales of cotton for shipment to the United Kingdom , with the proceeds used to buy arms and for future needs . His advice was not taken , as the Cabinet believed the war would be short and successful . Benjamin was called upon from time to time to render legal opinions , writing on April 1 to assure Treasury Secretary Christopher Memminger that lemons and oranges could enter the Confederacy duty @-@ free , but walnuts could not . 
