The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-12-18
LETTER WHICH JEFF DAVIS WROTE
AND CAUSED The PRESENT
TROuBlE WITH GENERAL
SHERMAN

aINEnlMfANs
RALEIGH. n. c., December 15-In
reference to the recent controversy
between General Sherman and Jefier-
son Davis, IN which the former
charged the latter with having threat
eued to force certain States TO remain
in the confederacy, it has been stated
that Davis letter containing this threat
was written to Governor Vance. now
United States Senator, in reply 70 his
letter to President Davis, Of October
25. 1862. II hss been stated also that
the letter Of Davis has been destroyed.
This is q mistake. The letter is here
and Is now In possession Of 3 gentle
man Of Raleigh. It is as follows:
RIcHlloND, Va,
November llth, 1852.
To HIS ErceUeHcy, Governor Vance,
Roleigh, ~. G.
DEAR SIR-I have the honor to
acknowledge yours Of the 18th ult.i
andregret the disappointment TO
which come Of the recruits Of
North Carolina have been sub
jeeted. concur with you as to the
policy Of allowing the cOnseripts IS
far as the state Of the service will per
NIT to select the companies and regi-
ments In which they are to serve.
The right secured by law Of the vol
unteer TO select his own company was
lost, it is true, by enrOllments, but
the policy was so obvious Of assOeiat-
ing men together who would best
harmonic with each other, that II
was my purpose to continue the priv
ilege beyond the limitildxed by lsW.
The danger to the coast Of North Car
olina and inability to draw troops
from the army Of Northern Virginia
rendered it proper that the greatest
exertions should be made Immediate
ly to I'LL up regiments in General
Frenehis command, but this did not
interfere with allowing the cOnscripts
TO select among those regiments one
70 which they would be assigned so
long as vacancies existed IN the COM
panies chosen, and that expected
would have BEEN done. l will send
your letter 10 the War Department
with a COPY Of this reply TO you and
hope for the future there will be no
/ ground for dissatisfaction, and that
as far as feasible the disappOintments
/ to which you refer may be corrected
BY transfer. feel grateful to you for
/ the cordial manner In which you
have sustained every proposition con-
nected with the public defence, and
trust there will always be such CO
| intelligence and accordance as will
enable US to cooperate for public
| good. The cOnscript act has not
been popular anywhere out OF the
| army. There, as you are aware, II
| earvea In cheek discomfort which re-
suited from retaining twelve months
men beyond the term Of their original
engagement and was fairly regarded
as a measure equitable TO distribute
the burden of the public defense bul
the State authorities have nOwherC
offered any opposition to its execution
or withheld its aid except in th'
State Of Georgia, and go far as cadet!
Of the military institute are concerned
in the State OF Virginia ] shall endea
vor by judicial decision 10 settle th'
I question in those two States, and II
the meantime 1 have been cheered 10y
the evidence of popular senumen
which supports any measure neees
sarv 10 protect our country and re
| ceive our political independence
Like ourself ! have hoped that th
| party distinctions which existed a
. the former time would be buried Il
the graves OF the gallant men VIII
have fallen IN defense Of their birth
right, and that we should all as ban
Of brothers strike for the inberitanc
our fathers left US. With sincere re
gard / am respectfully and truly -,
TSigned] JEFFERSON DAVIS"