The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-06-17
Letter of jeff. Davis to Coy. Vance
EXECUTIVE MANSION. J
KIcuMo>D. Jan s. 1864 {

o. the measures to be adop'ed for the pur-
pose o: removing the sources of dl.con-
tent 10 North Carolina. The contents
Of the letter are substantially the same as
those Of the letter addressed by you to
Senator D"rtch. extracts of which we're
by him read 10 me. | remarked 10 Mr.
Dorich that you were not probably aware
of the obstacles to the course YOU midi
Gated, and, without expressing an opinion
on the merits Of the proposed policy. |
desired him IN answering your letter to
write suggestions as to the method Of
opening negotiations, and as to the terms
which you thought should be offered to
the enemy. felt persuaded YOU would
appreciate the difficulties as soon IS your
attention WAS called to the necessity of
considering the subject in detail. As YOU
have made no suggestions touching the
manner of overcoming the obstacles.
infer that YOU were not apprsed by Mr.
l'or'ch Of my remarks to him.
Apart from indispensable objections to
the line Of policy you propose (~nd to
which will presently advrrt canno,
see how the more material obst acles are to
be surmounted We have made three
di.,inc' .ffor's to communicate with the
authorities ut Washington, and have been
iinvariahIv Unsuccessful Commissioners
were sent before bos:li,ies were BEGUN
and The Washington government refused
20 receive them or hear whs, they had 10
saw !. second time sent a military of
fcer With communication addressed bv
myself TO President Lincoln. The letter
WAS received hy General Scott, who did
not permit the officer to see Mr. Lincoln
hu, promised that An answer should be
sent No answer has ever been received
The thnd time, few months ago. gen
tleman WAS sent, whose position chsrac-
ter and r-pu'a'on were such a. 10 insure
his reception. if the snem> were not de
'ermred to receive no proposals what
ever from the government Vice Presi-
dent Stephens made patriotic tender Of
his service in the hope "f being able 20
promote he cause Of humanity, and Al
'hough lutte belief WAS entertained of his
success. che-rfuIlv Welded to his Jug
gps'ion that the experiment, should be
tired. The enemy refused TO let htm pass
through their lines or 10 hold anv confer
encs with them He wss stopped before
he ever reached fortress Monroe on his
way to Washington. To attempt again
Gn the face Of these repeated reflections
"f all conference with u.s. to send commits
s,"ners or agents 10 propose pasce. i. 10
invite insuI. and conumev and to subject
ourselves to iudignitv without the slight
est chance Of being listened TO
No true citizen, 10 nan who has our
cause At hear can desire this. and the
good people Of North Carolina would be
lie "a, :" approve OF such An attempt, if
aware If All the facts So far from re-
moving sources Of discontent. such a
course ~" MD receive. A. il Won 4 merit,
he condemnation of those .rn- patr:n,,
Who have given their blood and heir
treasure to maintain the freedom. eoual-
" and Independence, Which decer1pd 10
them from the immoral heroes o; kirs'>
Mountain and other battle fields of the
revolution. If, then. these proposals can
not be made through ENJOYS. because the
enemy would MOI receive them. how is i,
possible To communicate our desire for
peace otherwise than by the public an =.
nouncpments contained in alrnn,, eyer,
message | ever sent 10 co giess!
cannot recall Al this tune one Instance
III which have failed 10 announce tha,
our only desire was pc ace and che unlt
terms when formed n sine qua non were
precisely those that you suggested narne>
ly dan nnl, ba I,, "A d.
+ suppose it were practicable to obtain "A
conference through commissioners with
the government of President Lincoln. is !,
y, this moment that we are to consider i,
desirable or even at all admissible Have
We not just been anprlsed by that despot
that we can only expect his gracious par
don bv emanclpatlng all our slaves. sweat
ing allegiance and Obedience to him and
his proclamation, and becoming in point
of tact the slaves Of our own negroes q
. Can there be n North Caro!ins one citi.
, Zen SO faIie, beneath the dignity of bis An
. restors AZ 10 accept, or to enter into con-
ference on the basis of lhese terms? That
there are few traitors IN the state who
~, I'D be willing 10 be'ray their fellow
: ItiIlLcus ~ suGu ueg' aNcG CONDITION. IN
hope of being rewarded for treachery by
Al escape from the common doom NAV be
true. But do not believe that the viies,
wretch would accept sucn terms for him ;
self cannot conceive how the people OF
your state. than which none has sent no.
Der or more gallant soldiers to The field of
battle Gone of whom ii Ia Your honor 10 hel
ran have been deceived by anything to
which you refer in "lbe recent action of
the federal honse Of representatives.
have seen no action OF that house ,ba:
does NOT indicate ~ a very decided major
itv, the purpose of the enemy to refuse all
terms Of the south, except absolute, un>
conditional suhiuga,ion or determination
But If 1t were otherwise. how are we to
treat with the house of representatives
1t is with Lincoln alone thai We ever
could confer, and his own par,sans at the
north avow unsquivocalIy tina, his purpose
IN his message and proclamation was to
shut out all hope that he could ever treat
with us on snv teIms II We will break
up orr government. dissolve the cpnfeder-
acv dIsbanh our armies eniaucipate our
slaves. take an oath IF ai.egianc- hindlpp
our-.i.e> 10 obedience to him aud of dis
10y alts to our own stare, he proposes to
pardon Va aud not 10 plumber us Of any,
| thing more thln the iop-rty alre4dy SIN