The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-22
By Telegraph. Special to The CaledoniaA
Intercepted Correspondence.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER. !
Richmond, July Is, 1864. (

The Hon. TIMOTHY P. REDFIELD:
Nh dear triend,-Permit me to congrat-
ulate you upon your nomination, by the dem
ocratic convention of Vermont, for the office
of governor of the state; and especially to
thank you for your patriotic address on that
occasion.
1t is rare that any of our friends at the
north, occupying the position assigned you,
have the moral courage you have evinced -
courage to denounce the federal administra-
ton and the principal meu of the party sup
porting it, as the criminal authors of the
present war, while you carefully avoid at
taching any blame to the southern confeder-
acy. This is as it should be, for notwita-
standing we of the south have, for more than
thirty years, contemplated this revolution
and sought for the occasion to precipitate it,
and at the proper time took up arms to ef-
feet our purpose, yet it is of the utmost i'm
portance to the success Of onr cause that this
fact should be kept in the dark, and that our
democratic friends at the north should, if
possible, fasten the reproach Of originating
the war upon the administration party, and
tina, they should use every method to create
dlstrust and weaken its ability to prosecute
the present military campaign. You thereby
effect the two-fold object of paralizing the
civil and military arm of the federal govern
ment and of giving aid and comfort to the
confederacy. The end sancti6es the means.
particularly admire the fearlessness you
have exhibited in holding Lincoln up as a
poor ignorant man. who, having sworn to
support the constitution, processes a right 10
trample it under foot and disregard it.
Just SO far as you can fasten this idea up
on the democracy of the north, and destroy
their respect for, and confidence in their own
government, you will prepare them to oppose
the prosecution of the war, and thereby to
become a fire in the rear of the United
States armies.
You do we'll to alarm the people with the
idea that the constitution is violated by Lin.
coin, although they will not be able to I'M
derstand how it is. You are aware that while
We cooperated with you in national politics, we
found this bugbear very effective for retain
ing the reins of power, although most of the
common people, upon whose votes We relied
we're ignorant of the provisions of the con.
sttution.
If you can by such means overthrow Lin.
coins administration, ard again restore the
power of the democratic party, no doubt we
can agree on terms Of peace on the basis 81
an eternal separation of the confederate
states from the federal union; but do not
my dear sir, for a moment entertain the idea
that we of the south will ever again come
under the federal constitution. Our leading
men have staked their all upon the issue O
this conflict, and our only hope of final SUI.
cess IS based upon the cooperation of oul
friends at the north. 1t may be well, how
ever, to keep the idea before the people tina
the policy of the democratic party is and vii
be to restore the Union, and that this is pos
sible; and you, as we'll as our mutual friend
Fernando Wood, will render effective aid t,
the confederate cause by reiterating the as
ssrtion that the object of the Lincoln gov
, eminent is to subiugate the south, and no
to restore peace.
Hoping for the success of the democratic
party, in the present political campaign, ant
having great confidence in your ability ane
purpose to promote our mutual interest i.
this regard,
: have the honor to be, Dear Sir,
your friend and ob't serv't,
JEFFERSON DAVIS"