The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-04


The following is the full text of the recent
correspondence between Secretary of War
BeInap and Rev. DR.. J. William Jones, see.
retary Southern Historical Society:
WAR DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON cITY,a
January =, 1876. &
DR.. j. Wiliiam Jones, Secretary Southern
Historical Society:
Dear Sir,-My private secretary has com.
municated to me the substances Of conver.
sations had with yourself and other gentle.
mes, which disclose the fact that there are
in existence in different sections of the coun-
try many records, such as battle reports, Off
cial correspondence, &C., s., relating to the
late war, and that intimations have been
given that it would be practicable for the
War Department to secure these, either per.
manently or temporarily, for use in connec-
ton with the publication Of tie records OF
the war now in hand.
The Confederate records now in the pos
session of the Department are necessarily
much more incomplete than those Of the
Federal Government, owing to the fact that
it has only those of the former that were cap
tured, and it is with qualification that have
learned of the disposition Of certain parties
holding Confederate archives to place them
at the disposal of the Department for the
purpose above indicated. II has also been
intimated to me that an impression prevails
to greater or less extent in some localities
of the country that disposition exists on
the part of the Administration to make dis
tinction between the Confederate and Fede.
raj archives as regards the thorougbness
of their compilation. Were l not assured
that this impression is quite widespread
would not deem it worthy Of notice or de-
nal, but it may be proper to state, for the ln'
formation of those interested, that the De-
partment is not only willing, but anxious TO
secure every official report, letter, telegram,
or order emanatng from either side during
the late war, and has no thought whatever
OF discriminating In favor. of one section as
against another In their publication, its only
OBJECT being to place on record, in an Official!
form, for the use of historians and others in
terested, all the data in its possession on this
subject.
It will be esteemed favor if any gentle
men, either residing in the North or South,
will communicate with this Department that
they have knowledge of such records, and
will pllce at its disposal, temporarily or
permanently, any official data relating to the
war. In this way the work could be made
much more complete and satisfactory than 1t
otherwise would be.
1t may be interesting to you to know that
under the appropriations made by Congress
for the publication of the records considerable
progress has been made in the preparation of
data relating 10 both the northern and south.
ern armies, which might be made more COM
plete if access could be had to matter not now
in the custody of the Government.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM w. BELKNAP,
Secretary of War.
To the above, DR.. Jones has sent the fol-
lowing reply:
OFFICE SOUTHERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY,"
STATE CAPITOL.
RICHMOND, Va, February 2, 1867
General William ". Belkndp, Secretary Of
War, Washington, D. c.:
Dear Sir,-Your favor of recent date has
been duly received, and its contents fully
considered. Your private secretary rightly
informed you that the Southern Historical
Society has accumulated large mass OF Of
fetal reports and other documents bearing on
the late war; that rye are diligently adding
to our store, and that as our object in max
ing the collection is to place our Confederate
people right upon the record we are ready
to cooperate most heartily in any effort
which shall tend to secure that result.
1t will be great satisfaction to our people
to learn that your Department contemplates
a publication of the official records, both
Federal and Confederate; and l am sure
that there will be a general disposition to aid
you in supplying theInissing links.
To be frank, there has been, as you inti-
mate, widespread fear at the South that
few of the captured Confederate records
would ever see the light, and general leel.
ing that their suppression, and a refusal to
give access to them, would be 4 great
wrong to the cause Of justice and truth.
Your assurance that nothing Of the sort is
contemplated, and that 10 the publication
proposed by the Department there is ono
thought whatever of discriminating in favor
of one section as against another" will be
hailed with the liyeliest satisfaction. The
people of the South are not only willing, but
anxious that the whole of their official re-
cords should be given TO the world, and that
the future historian should have the oppor.
tunity OF judging them in the light of those
records. Be assured, then, of our hearty
cooperation 10 supplying your Department
Will mIS5lUR W Z
will have furnished you propery-authentica.
ted copies of such as are in our possession,
and will assist you in procuring others-it
| being understood, of course, that your De.
partment will afford Us similar facilities in
the prosecution Of our work.
Thanking you for your courteous letter,
remain, very respectfully, your obedient ser.
want, y. WILLIAM JONES,
Secretary Southern Historical Society.
A QUESTION ABOUT CONVICT LABoR.-The
following letter and reply refers to The EN-
poyment of convicts in mechanical pur
suits:
RICHMOND. VA, January 80, 1S76.-To hi:
Eroeilency the Governor Of Virginia: Sir
Under aur hority Of resolution adopted by
| the United Workipgnsen's Council OF the
city of Richmond at the meeting held on
Thursday the eth instant [ respectfully call
| your attention to the erms OF the contract
entered into between the Governor of the
State of Virginia aud the Old Dominion