The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-05-21

| AAotl TIE AhhatS OF TIE Army OF lennesseeI
THE following letter was written bv the Hon
ETHELBERT BARKsDALE. in answer to in
quiries addressed 10 him, and Is, by his per
mission, submitted TO the Annals for publica
ton.
DEAR SIR:
| A paper Is contributed TO The Annals of tn
| Army OF Tennessee bv Honorable A. : Colvar
a member OF the Confederate Congress con
| tanning statements which deserve notice from
members OF thar body interested in the vindi
cation OF the truth OF history. He states tha
| resolutions were before the House in the latter
part of 1864 and in 1868 inStrueting Pre5iden
| DAVIS 10 accredlt commission to the United
| States To treat Tor peace. and naming the
commissioners in the resolution and that tn,
| resolutions were not pressed To a vote in con
sequence OF a pledge given by the ''particlaI
| friends OF MIR. Davis" that the persons named
would be appointed Furthermore. that sur
prise was felt by the advocates OF the resolu-
ton when they learned for the first time after
| the commissioners had returned that they haG
been clothed with Nc power except 10 treat Oh
the basis of independence &c. As the letter
| of instruction was published at the time, oil
| Its contents We're well known 10 Mr. Stephens
and Others OF the commission, and through
| them were communicated To those who advo-
| Gated the appointment OF the commission this
| latter statement of Mr.. Colyar awaLens aston
ishment. From the statement that Presi-
| dent Davis authorized pledge that II
| the resolutions referred to were not pressed
| he would appoint the commissioners therein
| designated, l must emphatcaIly dissent as a
| member OF the body, who participated in lis
| deliberations and was conferred. with bv the
| President upon the subject under discussion.
l was tully informed of the deliberations OF
the President and his Cabinet in reference To
| the commission from the beginning: of the
! motives that influenced his action, and of the
| persons deemed best suited for the responsible
| and delicate duties which they would be re-
| quired to perform and | am sure that If he
| had authorized the pledge mentioned by Mr..
| Colvar, | would have been cognizaht OF the
| fact | believe he will bear me out in saving
| that no such promise was eNacted, and that
| none was made. The commission was ap-
pointed to satisfy public belief, which had
been busily propagated by malcontents and
obstructlonIsts, that an honorable peace could
be obtained by negotiation; and, in order 10
leave no ground for the charge that the commits
sion not appointed in good faith Honora-
bic A. Ii. Stephens, the recognized leader of
the peace party, was placed upon it. His ASSOC
ciates Honorable X. NJ. T. Hunter and Judge
John \. Campbell were, also, gentlemen Of abil-
ity, and enjoyed the confidence Of the Southern
people. The mission resulted as had been
anticipated: the United States authorities
were unwilling To treat Tor peace. They de-
manded an unconditional surrender ANY
proposition short of this demand would have
been rejected and this the commission were
given to understand. Ii they had gone with
a proposition in their mouths for the estab-
lishment OF peace on any other other terms
the result would have been the same and |
am ut loss to know the cause OF Mr. Colvar's
surprise and regret, in view of the determine
ton OF the United States Government to be
satisfied with nothing less than the absolute
surrender OF the Confederate armies. and the
sinh i'm Of hA rhoY. 4. l.
laws as they might choose TO dictate.
The opinion has been industriousy circu-
lated by class OF persons that Mr.. Davis was
a bloody-mlnded ambitious man, who de
lighted IN the carnage produced by Il state OF
war, and that he discouraged every attempt
to establish peace and to put an end 10 the
STRIFE Nothing could be more untrue. 1t
must be recollccted that his duties. as the
Chief Executive Officer of the Confederate
States, were clearly defined. lie had taken
an oath to maintain and defend the Govern
ment Of the Confederacy, and he had no pow
erto treat it out OF existence. He could not
have done so without bctraving his trust and
the people who had conided to him the re
sponsibilities OF his high office. But, within
the limit OF his authority, opportunity was
lost 70 establish peaceful relations with the
United States Government Repeated efforts
TO that end were made by the Confederate au-
thorities. Immediately after the oreaniza-
sioners were sent to Washington to assure the |
United States Government of the desire of the |
Confederate States for peace, but they were |
not received. Soon after the United States /
commenced hostilities Mr.. Davis again at
tempted to open communication with the I
United States Government by addressing a |
letter to Alr. Lincoln, OF which a military Off
GER was the bearer; but General Scott then
in command of the L. 5 armies. would not
even permit the officer to pass through his
ines, and no answer to to the letter was ever
received. The attempt was renewed. when. at
he instance of President Davis, Vice Presi-
tent Stephens sought permission to visit
" ashlngton with view to conference but
he was not permitted to proceed further than |
fortress Monroe. Unwilling to leave any
means untried to restore peace consistent with
he honor OF his government, in January, 1863
'e addressed a letter to Mr.. F. p. Blair, of
laryland (who had been permitted to visit
richmond designed for President Lincoln.
informing him that he would either receive
7 send commissioners 10 negotiate for peace
his communication resulted in the Hamp-
On Roads Conference, in which the Couieder-
tie Commissioners were distinctly notified
nat no treaty or arrangement OF anv kind |
ould be entered into with the Confederate
government, or with any separate State: and
lat no arrangement Tor permanent peace |
ould be made except upon the condition of
\ absolute and unconditional surrender.
he attempt to throw upon President Davis
lie failure to negotiate successfully for peace l
as unjust to him the attempt to make I
IN responsible for secession and the war :
hen he was but the selected agent OF
e Southern people for the execution of their :
i'll. d
Mr. Colyar refers TO statements which were r
AIDE to him by Honorable John B. Baldwin !
member OF the Confederate Congress from
lrglnla, designed to throw censure upon
esldent Davis fer obstructing attempts at
occurring peace by negotiation 1t is not NV
Ientlon to dispute the statement of Mr. Col
r further than it is contradicted bv an adj
ess which was signed by Mr.. Baldwin with F
leTs' Tor the instruction and guidance
the people OF the Confederate States n,
lle the war was in progress. 1t contained m
sse words The course of the United States
government has proved that it did not de- in
Ire peace, and ac0aLd not consent 10 It on ann an
rms that are could possibly eoncede. In proof VI
thls we refer TO the repeated rejection If all 81
rms q cancellation and compromise. to their !,
refusal to receive the Vice IN
resident Mr.. Stephens, who was sent to -
egotlate Tor sottening tbs asperites of war mn
1d their scornful rejection of the offer Of a | al
eu}ral power to mediate between the con Sc,
ndlng parties. IrntiI ! gu
me evidence is given of change of poll hin
7, on the part OF the Government OF the hin
nlted States, and until assurance is given tin
at efforts at negotiation will not be spurn- a"
|, the Congress are OF the opinion that any l !f
rect oVertures Tor peace would comproul- -
our self-respect, be fruitless of good and HI,
terpreted by the enemy as an indication of de-
eakness" This paper Mr. Baldwin. who pr
cited by Mr.. Colyar, signed and sent out wi
ms Southern eountrymen. 1t is a positive un
radlctIon OF the statement as TO Mr. Bald
and triumphant vindication of Presi- wo
Davis from charge that is utterly desti- exI
of foundation pro
Very respectfully,
E. BARKsDALE T
AcKsoN MISS, August 3. 1873.