, 1863-08-03
Chicago @ribn1tc.
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1858.
TIE MISSION OF ALEXANDER
STEPHENS.
Protest Against Mastering and Arm
ing Negroes.
4 THREAT THAT THEY WILL Re ESED As
SOLDIERS IN RETALIATION.
RICHMOND. Va. July 10, 1863.

-.. hEAAoSOt VIZ July 4oI 4oo8s
To The Editor Of The n. T. Tribune:
: u = On the Sd day Of July, 1883
the Hon. Alexander q. Stephens, Vice Preai
dent Of the Confederate States q Amei1ca,
rnn down from Richmond III Con1eaeiak1e
steamer, under Gag Of truce, TO the mo9al
Of the james Rivcr' % The7e .ani1si he asd 8 % lea
enee VIII Ac4ng rogr tNfa S1ockadnc squadron,
C. eomnsnd,eG; 70 ee4;at1 5oo1 matters 9f q State.
need not occupy your space Tor at least
yopr time, sir) with formal dllauons. You
know tae1f Ves ~ fesident @ and Your GeyeIu
1nent. Mr.. Stephens desired andience for the
purpose Of presenting to the consideration OF
Mr. Lincoln certain propositions bearing up
on the spirit and conduct Of the war. Mr..
Lincoln declined to confer with Mr. Stephens,
and MIR. Stephens returned to Richmond.
Not to waste words In controversy. that, Mr.
Tribune, was, believe, the end Of the eSpedi-
E6n, hut not the end Of speculations as to its
reh object The gueeses Of your Journals
have been far more numerous than the posi-.
bn1tiea. I propose to dlsenchant you
Therefore this letter.
The Yice.PFcaideut OF the Confederate
States WIS cent to ask the President Of the
United States to CO operate with the former
Government In measures conducive to the
cause Of humanity, to the cu1uvstion Of the
most Christian shapes OF warfare -snch meas
uzes, in the tirst place, as might be agreed up
on between them to tighten the troubles OF
prisoners, and a1legiate the pains Of the woun-
ded And had Mr.. Stephens been 80 fortunate
as to procure he audience he so frankly and
.neIrE If bis errnnd would have met with
proper recognition. THIS, however, second
Tie primary object Of the Vice. Presidents
mfeeion was to protest, in the name Of his
Government and People, against the muster
Inc and aiming Ct the blacks, which no con-
etifntea almosf tie ou|y clear feature Of your
T,n1icv H. ra,nr tn itnnlore Won. in the name
81 Ieon1c yhose resources must laye sur
nrised Won. Of 3 Government whose ability
Ton hsTr9fankly acknowledeed, Of soldiers
whose courage ind devotion you hare felt. to
to this conbummation lot to come at Last. He
came to ASSURE you. on the good faith Of his
Goyernuept, on the simple 1rath OF his fel-
1ow-couutr, men, 1hst not one single regiment
1f corps Of .t<grpes Aas tpcr beea brought into
fbe Confederate serzioe, to be turned
AIMED sgainst you. He came to remind
Won that such negroes as have from
1t1nc to time been found on breast
works and in trenches, have been caught
with spades only or picks in their hands-that
tuch as have BEEN found In regiments-an In.
significant number-haye been IN all cnses
b5dy.seryante, sometimes of officers, some
times Of priva1es, who Of their Own win, ont
Of tie love which you knov they bear us,
have chosen to follow their masters to the
death, And these you have found amoug your
prispuetS. He could have told yoH II dfp1o-
macy permitted sentiment, fGod save The
marx i Of many euch "chattels," some Of
fhcm Nlite-haired, begging, stealing. fighting
1heir Tay home again, TO the sole nissus
and the old place, With Ill that was left Of the
styourg massa "a lock Of hair or a trinket.
Brt 10 motter for that. He came to talk to
sou ii selfpreseryation, Of retaliation, and
Iii that'e shockiuc in The meauing of tbat
word, He came to tell you of the naive devil
fhnf has sient 20 long. 10 he awoke at last IN
4he i, hosnms II a eimnie denendrnt> nffectfnn.
.a4a ,nce Te come To- fmn1oTe vcn ~ ~
:rn,,,a ofcod net 70 dn t1ia ahnn;1shto th7,os
n"n. T.. ~ Io - ~ ~ ~ 49,. sus.
saPSMsot ~ 4,'a = - ~ e,,a.4 giasa tsgnenMts u
~ pt nlauc w 80 anea r. y. slan. eelce ~
tas ers T. 49,. uS, c1I,e 11e sssss Iyns, - !.
a & ~ ~. 9sp9y sest ~ aha snu 1s
ns nne ossa -, htuaiueu ~ Soleuso olaLiso
oeets ts' ~ sas u ~. uovelnmeaI 70
meet tne peeulia1laes oi oa! People-Pecu-
.tat1Laes "Mcn cohs1tnae a9caeuIaote auFa1-
iages, Pfesenung' as taeJ 90, iove ano coon-
asnce N plaee o. o.. aate ~ and 3ea.ousy ana sns-
PlG1onLcaa oe pui ~ ~olking ofaer ~ once.
1as1 Nn1! 1Sn sou can ne cone: Ihn
= Wnat the wee frestoenI oi tne Contederate
states came !i e iea yon aa' sM certainty oe GONE
1o1In"1t0. VIZ 5o0 teu Ju1t HeoP4e this