The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-14
A LETTER FROM HON. JEFFERSON
DAVIS.
HE DID NOT SAY, II 1861, THAT THE NORTHERN
CITIES SHOULD BE MADE FOOD FOR THE
SWORD AND TORCH.

Jefferson Davis has written letter to a citizen
OF Maryland, denying the statement which ex-
Postmaster General Cresswell Incorporated in
his euogy of Henry Winter Davis that he DEF
Ala, IN February, 1861 ''We will carry the war
where 1t Is easy to advance, where food for the
sword and torch awaits our armies in the denselv
populated cities Mr.. DAVIS SAYS:
:" have no recollection of ever having made a
speech at Stevenson, and have examined a file of
newspapers OF that day containing such matter
but could not find any reference to a speech
made by me at Stevenson. At the time men
toned was going from my home in Mississippi
to Montgomery. Ala. in consequence of notice
received that had been chosen by the Congress
to be the President Of the Provisional Govern
ment OF the Confederate States At MANY rail
road stations on the route the people assembled
to manifest their good will, and often went ont
on the platform OF the car to make due ackn0wl-
edgements
Stevenson was one Of those stations and NAV
there, as at other places, have returned thanks.
but neither there or elsewhere neither then or
at any other time, should l have used the Ian
guaSe at rlbuted to me, or any language that
could be fairly construed to have such meaniro
HI ugh may not claim to remember what sad
on these occasions; [ do know what were NV
thoughts and wishes and therefore can be positive
as to not having said what | never thought or
contemplated. Very soon, say On the second day
after my arrival at Montgomery the inaururatinn
took lace, and the address on that occasion will
show what We're my hopes and purposes surely
more fully and more accura tely than the speeches
made at railroad stations, even if they could
have been supposed to be correctly reported
If, as apprehended, the attempt should be
made to coerce the seeding States, and war
should ensue, certainly did prefer the defensive
offensive policy, and in that event hoped it might
be possible to have the campaigns and battle
fields in the enemys county. When our army
marched into Pennsylvania it was not to pilaoc
to burn and to slaughter, but to compel the vast
hosts which, after proportionate preparation. had
invaded Virgin to countermarch for the protec !
ton of their own territory. The means employed
We're those best adapted to the cnd-the de- |
Tense of our country against invasion The |
conduct OF our armies on every occasion |
when beyond the limits Of their ffiends |
the views of their government |
and challenges comparison with that of Their adj |
yersary The purpose Of the Confederate GOV
eminent was truly the welfare of our people mot |
he Injury Of any other except as necessary IN
iefense. In that spirit was the repeated decIara
ion to be found in my messages to the Congress
hat We only asked to be let alone That ey1rn.9
non might have been forgotten il it had not been
or the jeerng, sc0tfing manner in which # waa
presented to the public by the journals Of tbose
VINO were waglnS against rs a war Of invasion.