Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-15
DAVIS ALLEGED THREAT.
NO LETTER CONTAINING TT RE
CEIVED By VANCE.

Every Letter of the War Time Corres-
pOndence of the Two SOutherners on
the Letter BOOk-The ReDortad
Breach Between Them an Unfounded
Fabrication.
WASHINGTON, Dec. I4.-The Wasbington
Post this morning prints the following letter
from Senator Vance with reference to the
sherman-Davis controversy;
To the Editor of the Post. A several ,,a,,-,
paper reporters have interrOgated me with
reference to a letter mentioned by Gen. Sher-
nan man Is > having been written by President
Davis 10 a southern Senator, threatening tbe
coercion OF any State that would attemDt to
leaNe the COnfederacy, and as all of the re-
p,I poris OF my replies, that Of your reporter es-
peclaily, were more or less inaccurate. | have
lhOught IL best to speak for myself Every let
yer ever written to me on political topic bv
PRESIDENT Davis is to be found faithfully
COPIED on the official letter book of the Fvac
utlye Department of North Carolina. Those
letter books were taken from me by Gen.
Sherman's troops at the closing of the war
ana are now in possession of the War Depart-
ment IN this city. Aside from the letter books
zen. Sherman never saw any letter addressed
to me by President Davis. Although / have
not seen those books and read their contents
IN almost 20 years, am quite sure that no
such letter can be found there I could NOT
have forgotten such letter had it been re-
ceived by me.
NOT THE PERSON REFERRED TO.
The suggestion, therefore, that l am the
person referred to in Gen. Sherman's state
ment Is entirely untrue. The attempt of some
newspapers TO give probability to this sugges-
tlon by the allegation that l was in bitter hos
tlllty whilst Governor of North Carolina To the
@ @admlnistratlon OF Mr.. Davis, is based also
upon misrepresentation of the facts. 1t is
Wen known by those acquainted with the
history Of those times that my differences
with Mr.. Davis were purely in regard to
matters OF detail, and that | supported him in
ms enOrts 10 maintain the Confederacy with
all the zeal that l could command and all the
power of the State which | could hiring tn
bear. This Mr.. Davis letters all show. To a
leuer OF mine to Mr.. Davis of Oct l6 1862
the New 1Ork Tribune correspondent saws no
copy OF any reply can be found, and suggests
that probably the statement to which Gen
sherman refers is contained in it. Certainly
no effort was made to find that letter. 1t is
upon the letter book. dated Nov. l. 1862.
NO SUCH EXPRESSION IN IT.
1t has been widely published, and contains
no such expression as threat against States
attempting to secede from the COnfederacy.
put does contain this expression: 81 feel
grateful to you for the cordial manner in
which you have sustained every proposition
connected with the public defense" l send
you herewith printed copy of that letter.
This much is due to truth. l do not wish to
pose as martyr to the circum-
stances OF those times, or as one ready to
turn upon his associates after defeat. | desire
to take my fun share OF responsibility for
anything | did and said during those un-
happy times. Great were the abil ties, and
high as were the courage and faithfulness of
Mr.. Davis, have no disposition to load him
with all the misfortunes of defeat. Respect
luIly yours. u. b. VANCE.
United States Senate Dec H. 1881