Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-07-17

officers OF our army IN hentucky, 10! VIC ooi4
cause that they were engaged III recruiting ser
vice in State which IS claimed as stu one OF
the United States, but is also CLAIMED by Us as
one of the Confederate States, must be re- re
Dressed hv retaliation if not Internationally
abandoned, because it would justify the like
execution in every other State of the Contede-
racv. and the practice is barbarous, useessly
cruel and can only lead to the slaughter OF
prisoners on both Sides result too horrible to
contemplate without making every effort to
avoid it.
On these and all kindred subjects you will
consider your authority full and ample to make
such arrangements as will temper the, present
cruel character Of the contest, and tuIl CONT
dcnce is placed in your judgment, patriotism
and discretion, that while carrying out the OBJ
iect of your mission, you will take care that
the equal rights of the Confederacy be always
preserved. Very respectfully,
lSigned) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Mr. Stephens in letter gives an account
Of his effort to proceed to Washington. lie
then Says:
From the papers appended, embracing the
correspondence referred to, 1t Will be seen that
the mission failed from the refusal OF the enc
nv to receive or entertain it, holding the pro
q
The influences and views that led to this de-
termination, after so long a consideration OF
the subject, must be lett to con- lecture. The
reason assigned for the refusal of the United
States Secretary of War, to wit That "the
customary agents and channels are considered
adequate for all needful military communica-
tions and conferences" to one acquainted with
the facts, seems not only unsatisfactory, but
very singular and unaccountable; tor 1t is GER
tainly known to him that these very agents,
to whom he evidently alludes, heretofore
agreed upon in a former conference IN re-
ference to the exchange Of prisoners Zone OF
the subjects embraced in your letter to me-
are now and have been for some time, distinct
~ at issue on several important points. The
existing cartel, owing to these disarrangements,
is virtually suspended, SO far as the exchange
Of officers on either side is concerned. Mott
ces Of retaliation have been G lven on both
sides.
The effort, therefore, for the very many
and cogent reasons set forth in your letter Of
instructions to me, to see if these differences
could not be removed and ifa clearer understand
ing between the parties as TO the war could
not be arrived at before this extreme measure
should be resorted to by either party, was no
less in accordance with the dictates OF human
ity than in strict conformity with the usages OF
belligerents in modern times. Deeply I'M
pressed as was with these views and feelings,
in undertaking the mission, and asking the
conference, I can but express my profound re
gret at the result Of the effort mace to obtain
it; and / can but entertain the behet that II
the conference sought had been granted, mu-,
tual good could have been effected by it; and
i this war SO unnatural, 50 unjust, SO unchrls-
tian, and so inconsistent with every tunda;
mental men, principle Of American constitutional
liberty must needs continue to be waged
against U.s. that at least some OF its severe
horrors, which now so inminently threaten,