The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-23


teres,ing. The impudence Of the man
Davis in refusing 10 address the Prssi-
dent as such, is characteristic Of a Mis-
sissippi p%arvenue:
Hon. A. II. STEPHENS on A MISSION TO
WAsHIsaToE-HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO
PRooEED FURTHER THAN NEWPORT
NEws-HIs Mission RFJEcrED-THE
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES CoNsIDER "TnE
AUTHORIZED CHANNE1s" SUFFICIENT.
The following correspondence will
explain itself:
RICHMoND, July 2, 1868.
lion. 4. H. Stephens, Richmond, "a:
SIR-Having accepted your patriotic
offer 10 proceed as a Military Commits
sioner, under flag Of truce, to Washing
ton, you will receive herewith your letter
Of authority 10 the Commander-in Chief
of the army and navy Of the United
States.
The letter is signed by me, as Com
mander in Chief of the Confederate land
and naval forces.
You will perceive from The terms of
the letter that il is so wOrded as 70 avoid
any political difficulties in it's reception.
Intended exclusively as one of those
communications between belligerents
which public law recognizes as necessa-
ry and proper between hostile forces,
care has been taken to give no ptetext for
refusing TO receive IL on the ground that
it would involve q tacit recognition of
the independence of the Confederacy.
Your mission is simply one Of hui
manity, and has no political aspect.
If objection is made 20 receiving your
letter, on the ground that it is not adj
dressed TO Abraham Lincoln, as Presi-
dent, instead Of COmmander.in-O Chief, &C.,
then you will present the duplicate let
ter, which is addressed TO him, as Presi-
dent, and signed by me, as President
To this latter objection may he made on
the ground that / am not recognized 10
be President Of the COnfederaey. In this
event, you will decline any further at
tempt TO confer on the subject Of your
mission, as such conference is admissa-
BILE only on the footing Of perfect equality.
My recent interviews with you have
put you SO fully in possession of my
views that il is scarcely necessary to
give you any detailed instructions, even
were I, at this moment, we'll enough to
attempt il.
My whole purpose is, in one word, TO
place this war on the footing Of such az
are wsged by civilized people 10 modern
times and TO divest il of the savage
character which has been impressed on
it by our enemies, in spite of all our ef-
forts and protests. War is full enough
of unavoidable horrors, under all its
aspects, TO justify, and even to demand
Of anv Christian rulers who may be un.
happily engaged in carrying il on, 20 seeb
TO restrict its calamaties, aud 20 divest
it Of all unnecessary seventies. Yor
will endeavor to establish the cartel fol
the exchange of prisoners on such a basi:
as to avoid the constant difficulties anC
complaints which arise, and TO prevent
for the future, what we deem the unfair
conduct of our en- mics in evading th,
delivery Of the prisoners who fall int
their hands in retarding il by sending
them on circuitous routes, and by detain'
ing them, sometimes for months, 10 camp
and in prisons, and in persisting in TAX.
ing captives non ~combatants.
Your attention is also called 10 tn
unheard of conduct of Federal officers
in driving from their homes entire con-.
munilies of women and children, as vel
as of men, whom they find in district
occupied by their troops, for no otheI
reason than because these unfortunate
are faithful TO the allegiance due.to theii
States and refuse to take an oath Of tideli
~ TO their enemies.
The putting TO death of unarmed pris
oners has been . ground Of just com
plant in more than one instance, anC
the recent executions Of officers of on
army in Kentucky, for the sole caus
that they were engaged in recruiting scr
vice in a State which is claimed as stil
n of the United States, but is ais
claimed by us as one of the Oonfederat
States, must be repressed by retaliation
if not Internationally abandoned, be
cause it would justify the like execu
ton in every other State Of the Confed
eracy, and the practice is barbArouI
uselessly cruel, and can only lead to tn
slaughter OF prisoners on both sides
result too horrible 20 contemplate with
out making every effort 20 avoid il.
On these and all kindred subject 20
will consider your authority full an
ample 10 make such arrangements a
will temper the present cruel chsrac
ter of the contest, and full confidence i
placed in your judgment, patriotism an.
discretion that while carrying out th
objects of your mission you will tax
care that the equal rights Of the Confed
eracy be always preserved,
Very respectfully,
~(Signed) J%EFFEEsoa DAVIS.
RIoHMoED, sth July, 1863