The Van Buren press., 1869-06-15
Jefferson Davis during the War-Lettsr
from Hon. n. 8. Toote.
NASHVILLE, Saturday, May s, go.

NASHVILLE, Saturuay, May 0, w.
w. ii. CALDWELL, ESQ. -
Nv Dear Sir. / am placed under
special obligation to you, by your letter
just received, inclosing several printed
pages, which understand to be part of
forthcoming volume entitled Life Of
Jefferson Darts, etc, by Edward A. Pol
lard. l regret that Mr. Pollard should
have fallen into the notable error of sup
posing that certain peace propositions
introduced by me in the Confederate Con
crcss, Just after the second battle Of Ma
nassas, were prompted in any degree by
Mr. Davis, and that ne should have made
them the pretext of unjust animadversion
upon this gentleman. Thought that there
were no intelligent persons in Richmond
during the war that did not know that
there had been between Dir. Davis and
myself, ever since 9ai sAsnfn' contest IN
1851 in Mississippi, no intercourse what
ever up to the day Of my arrival in Rich
mond, and thataa week or two after l
took my seat tin the Confederate Congress
/ had felt (compclled to commence n
course of Jealous opposition to his aad-
ministration. which was kept up without
an hours intermission as long rs | re-
maincd in the performance OF legislative
duties. To speak Of me, as Mr. Pollard
has done, rs being, at the time OF bring
ing forward these peace resolutions, " in
intimate relations with MIR. Davis, and
to attempt to subject this gentleman to
the disoaalit of having been guilty Of
cunning 6|h ambidcxtrous political man
aucment ii the instigation Of a dcccptious
public movemex ntended to beguile tho
Northern Demd N, seems to me to be
one Of thea1npst xtraordinary proceed
incs that r vi hl4rd Of The truth is,
that never during my stay in Richmond
did enjoy Mr. Davis political confidence
for one minute. l saw him but three
times in three years, and on oil these oc-
casions my Interchange of words with
him was most brief, at his office, and al
ways in presence Of others. ! did, on no
occasion, advise or confer with him, or
with any member Of his cabinet, in regard
to any movement which ! contemplated
making in Congress, and ! certainly
never had reason to conjecture that Mr..
Davis had derived the smallest gratiica-
ton from any act performed by me, or
from any word uttered by me while ] was
endeavoring conscicntiously and indie
pendently to perform my duty as Repre-
sentative in the Confederate Congress
from the State Of Tennessee. My rela.
tions with Mr.. Davis could surely not
have been very =" intimate or even kind,
when I was warmly opposing conscrfp-
ton, confscation, forcible impressmcnt,
martial law, suspension Of habeas'corpus,
and other kindred measures or when !
was moving resolutions of want OF conii-
when twas orflvNfleihs ssbiuet pf6cGra;n ;nr
ton and IIindman, and yindicating Joe
Johnston, Stonewall Jackson, Gustavns
Smith, Polk, Beauregard, Forrest, Nor
gan, Floyd and Pillow. The truth is,that
i brought forward peace resolutions, or
counselled others to bring them forward
repeatedly, and always simply because !
preferred peace to war, and thought IL
better to strike for peace while fair and
honorable one could be obtained instead
of waiting as others thought best, until
our armies were all dispersed, and we
should be compelled to submit to such
tsrms as the conqueror might impose.
What / attempted in the interests OF
peace, / attempted openly, and am not
willing now that the burden of respons'
bility should be shifted from my own
shoulders to those of any other indlvid-
ual whatever.
To Mr.. Pollards disrespcctful allu-
sions and inuendocs in reference to my
self, | have no response to make. My
acts are before the country. The history
of the Confederate struggle, and OF the
events which have succeeded that strug-
gle, will be hereafter written by some
calm enlightened and just-minded indi'
yidual, and what have done OF good OF
of evil in the past will be fairly estimated
I shall patiently and choerfully avail
the test of scrutiny Of talents, and o.
time"
With grateful sense of your friend
ship in some of the most trying scenes o
my past life, have the honor to bc,very
truly and cordially, your obcdient ser
want, H. D. roolh'