Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-21
Mr.. FOOte VindiCateS MIR. Davis.
NASHVILLE, May ., 1869.

NASHVILLE, May q, lsC9
w. H. Card'ceN, Esq:
My DEAR SIR:-I am placed under special obi
cations to you by your letter just received, en-
closing several printed pages, which understand
to be part of q forthcoming volume, entitled Liz
OF Jefferson DdU1s, by Edward a. Pollard. I re
gret that Mr.. Pollard should have fallen into tho
notable error of surprising that certain peace
propositions introduced by me in tho Confederate
Congress-, just after the second battle OF MGnas-
sas, were prompted in any degree by Mr.. Davis
and that ne should have made them the pretcXt
of unjust animadverslOn upon this gentleman. |
thought that there were no intelligent persons ia
Richmond during the war that did not know that
there had been between Mr.. Davis and myself
since our painful contest in 1851 in Mississippi
no intercourse whatever up to the day Of my at
rival in Richmond and that q week or two after
took my seat in the Confederate Congress, / had
felt compelled to commence course OF zealous
opposition to his administration, which was KEPT
up without an hours intermssion as long as J
remained in the performance oflegislatlve duties.
To speak Of me, as Mr.. Pollard has done, as be
ing, a. the time OF bringing forward these LeaCr
| resolutions, lin intimate relations with MI
Davis" and to attempt to subject this gentleman
to the discredit of having been guilty of cunning
and ambidextrous political management, in the
iustigatlon of a deceptious public movement in
tended to begule the northern democracy, seems
to me to be one OF the most extraordinary pro-
ceedlngs that have ever heard OF. The truth i,
that never during my stay in Richmond did l Ell.
Joy Mr.. Davis political confidence for one mo.
ment. I saw him but three time in three years.
ana on al tneSe occasions my interchange OF
words with him was most brief, at his Office and
always in presence of others. did on no occa-
sion advise or confer with him, Or with any mem.
Der 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 qualification from
any act performed by me, or from any word ut
tered by me, whilst was endeavoriug conscieu-
tiously and independently to perform my duty
az Representative in the Confederate
congress from the State of Tennessee. My rela-
tons with M. Davis could surely not have been
very - intimate" or even kind, when Was warm
~ opposing CONSUMPTION, confscation, forclblC
inpressment, martial law, suspension OF hdbeds
corpus, and other kindred measures or when
several OF his Cabinet officers or when was de-
nounclng Bragg, Pemberton, and Hindman, ana
indicating Joe Johnston, Stonewall Jackson,
Gustavus Smith, Polk, Beauregard, Forrest MOI,
gan, Floyd, and Pillow. The truth is that
brought forward peace resolutions, or counseLed
others to bring them forward repeatedly, snd
always simply because l preferred peace to war,
aud thought it better to strike for peace whilst
fiir and honorable one could be obtained instead
OF waiting, as others thought lest, until cur
armies were all dispersed and we should be com
PEELED to submit to such terms as the conqueror
might impose. What 1 attempted in the interests
of peace attempted openly, and am not Will,
ing now that the burden of responsibility should
be shifted from my own shoulders to those OF sny
other individual whatever.
To Mr.. Pollard's disre5pGctfnl illusions ana ID
uendoes in reference to myself have no response
to make. My acts are before the country. Inc
history Of the Confederate struggle, and OF the
events which have succeeded that struggle, WIZ
and iust-ninded individual, and what have done
Of good or of evil in the past will be fairly estima
ted by posterity. as
shall patiently and cheerfully await the test ol
&C scrutiny of talents and of time"
With grateful sense of your fr.eDdsLip ID
some of the most trying scenes OF my past me-
have the honor to be, very truly snd cordially
Your obedient servant,
II, s. Foo7T.