The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-07-21
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE

/
toa-He as not al1oaeed TO proceed further than
Newport Negos-His mission rejected.
The following correspondence will explain itself:
fLeter of instructions from President Davis to Mr.
RlcnnosD, I'd July, 1868.
Hon. a. Fl. Stephens, Richmond, IA:
/ SR-Hayings accepted your patriotic offer to
proceed as Military Commissioner under flag of
/ truce, to Washington, you will receive herewith
| yenr letter of authority to the Gemmander-in-
Chief Of the<Army eud Navy of the United States
This letter is signed by nae, as Commander-in-
Chief of the Confederate land and naval forces.
You will perceive from the terms of the letter
that it is worded as to avoid any political diff
culties in its reception Intended exclusively as
one of those communications between belgerents
which public law recognizes as necessary and
proper between hostile forces, has been taken
to give pretext for refusing to receive it the
ground that it would involve tacit recognition of
the independence of the Confederacy
Your mission is simply one of humanity, and
has no political aspect.
If objection is made to receiving your letter on
the ground that it is not addressed to Abraham
Lincoln, as President, instead of Commanderin-
Chief, &C., then you will present the duplicate
letter, which is addressed to him, as President,
and signed by me, as President. TO this latter,
objection may be made on the ground that | am
not recognized to be President of the Confederaey
In this event, you will decline any further attempt
to confer on the subject of your mission, as such
conference is admissible only on the footing Of
perfect equality.
My recent interviews with you have put you so
fully in possession of my views that it is scarcely
necessary to give you any detailed instructions,
even were |, at this moment, we'll enough to at
tempt it.
My whole purpose is, in one word, TO place this
war on the footing of such as arc waged by civ
iized people in modern times, and to divest it of
the savage character which has been impressed on
it by our enemies, III spite of all our efforts and
protests. War is full enoug h of unavoidable hor-
rors, under all its aspects, to justify and to
demand, of any Christian rulers who may be un-
happily engaged in carrying it on, to seek to Ie-
strict its calanlities, and to divest it of all
necessary seventies. You will endeavor to estab-
sh the cartel for the exchange Of prisoners on
such basis as to avoid the constant difficulties
and complaints which arise, and prevent, for
the future, what we deem the unfair conduct of
our enemies in evading the delivery Of the prison
ers who fall into their hands; in reardng it by
sending them on circuitous routes, and by detain-
ing them, sometimes for months in camps and
prisons, and in persisting in taking captives
combatants. Your attention is also called to the
uuheard Of conduct of Federal officers in driving
from their homes entire communities of women
and children, as we'll as of men, whom they find
in districts occupied by their troops, for other
reason than because these unfortuEatcs faith
full to the allegian due to their States and re-
fuse to take the oath of fidelity to their enemies
The putting to death of unarmed prisoners has
been ground of just complaint in more than one
instance, and the recent execution of officers of
our army in Kentucky, for the sole cause that they
were engaged in recruiting service in State
which is claimed still one of the United States,
but is also claimed by of; the Confederate
States, must be repressed by retaliation if not un-
conditionally abandoned, because it would justify
the like execution in every other State of the
lessly cruel and only lead to the slaughter of
prisoners on both sides-a result too horrible to
contemplate without making every effort to avoid
it.
On these and all kindred subjects you will con-
slider your authority full and ample to make such
arrangements as will temper the present cruel
character of tie contest, and full confidence is
placed in your Judgment, patriotism, and discre
ton, that while carrying out the objects of your
mission, you will take that the equal rights of
the Confederacy be always preserved.
Very respectfully, JEFFERSON DAVIS
TLetter from Mr. Stephens giving the result of his
R1cHMosD, 9Th July, 1868.
His Erce1lency Jefferson Dauis:
: SIR-Under the authority and instructions of
your letter to me of the I'd inst, / proceeded on
the mission therein assigned, without delay. The
steamer Torpedo, commanded by Lieut. Hunter
Davidson, of the navy, put in readiness as
soon as possible by order of the Secretary OF the
Navy, and rendered for the service. AT noon, on
the 3d. she started down James river, hosting and
bearing a flag of truce after passing City Point.
The next day (the 4th) at about o'clock p. M,
when within few miles of Newport News, We
were met by small boat Of the enemy, carrying
two guns, which also raised white flag before ap-
proachine u.s. The officer in command informed |
Lieut. Davidson that he had orders from Admiral
Lee, on board the United States flagship Mime
sofa, lying below, and then in view, not to allow
any boat or vessel to pass the point which he
was stationed without his permission BY this
officer I sent to Admiral Lee note stating my
objects and wishes, copy of which is bereunto an
nexed marked A. | also sent to the Admiral to !
be forwarded, another in the same language, ad /
dressed to the officer in command of the United
States forces at Fort Monroe. The gunboat pro-
ceeded Immediately to the Minnesota with these
dispatches, while the Torpedo remained at an
chor. Between 3 and o'clock p. m. another /
boat came up to us, bearing the Admirals answer, |
which is hereunto annexed, marked b.
We remained at or about this point in fe river |
until the 9th inst, when, having heard nothing
further from the Admiral at II o'clock NJ. on that
day. directed Lieut.. Davidson again to speak the !
gunboat on guard, and to hand to the officer in
another note to the Admiral This vas