The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-12-17
The Document Published Ia Connection
with the Controversy of
GEN. SHERMAN VS.. JEFF DAVIS.
strong and Startling Sentiments Most In
geniously Gparded-His Fears that
Davis Contemplated secur-
ing Absolute Power,
BLAINE LIBEL SUIT WITHDRAWN.

The Late Alex, VI. stevens on Jefr Davis,
ST. LOUIS, Dec. l6.-rhe Republican
has received from Washington another
one Of the letters upon which Gen.
sherman based his recent assertions
respecting Je1. Davis. The letter is
from Alex. II. stephens, addressed TO
Herchel V. johnson, and is dated Craw-
lordville, Georgia, April 8, 1864. 1t is
quite long, and the part Of it which
seems most likely to have served as the
ground for Gen. Shermans statement, is
in reply to a letter from Johnson,
in which that gentleman alludos
TO Mr., stephens as being hostile to tire
administration and tells him he will
necessarily be classed with those who's,
probable object it is to organize party
in opposition TO it. 10 this
Mr.. STEPHENS SAYS:
al assure You | have no antipathy to
Mr.. Davis, nor am hostile 10 MIN, and
If there is an object or intention or Wish
with any TO organize u marty in Opposi-
tion o the administration | know moth
ing of it and have heard nothing of IT,.
repeat, have no antipa-
thy, much less hostility, for
Mr.. DAVIS; hut have no nesiGaucy IN
stating TO you, freely and frankly, what
my opinions OF him are. They are much
more akin to suspicion and jealousy
than OF animosiiy or hate. While | do
not and never have regarded him as It
| great man, or n statesman on large
sc ale, 81 man OF any marked genius,
| yet have regarded him AS man OF
| trAA1 Ia xss.4ol aud NuSatil
Iinid, petulunt, feVerish, obsti-
nate, but not firm. am
now beginning to doubt his good inten-
tiops. | say doubt, ior after watching
him closely, | am not satisfied in my
own mind nor have arrived at any
conclusion whether some of his short
Comings are to be attributed to weak
ness o to bad sarposes. These are my
real sentimentN and my reasons ioi
| them are theSGt Since bis first etSV~
ton to power lte has changed many o
his state rights principles, a
in in the case Of consoription
His whole policy on thu
organization and discipline OF th'
army ia perfectly consistent with thu
hypothesis that
| HEI AIMING AT ABSOLUTE POWER.
Not word has come from him o
military usurpation IN the orders TO
martial law by Bragg and Van Dorm; ol
the whole systom of passports ant
provost marshals, which is utterl,
wrong and without the authority of law
After all that may be said or written b.
myself and others agains
these usurpations, not on
word has escaped Mr.. Davi
showing his disapprovalo OF them. Again
it is well known that the subject of
dictatorship has been mooted, talked o
aud discussed in private and in the pub
lie journals, and the most earnest advc
Gates of such course, the virtual doinl
away with congress and the constitu
tion, have been by editors near hin
right under his nose; editors of journal
recognized at the time TO be tho organ
of the administration. Now,
seems to be strange tha
this should be so, and me
holding and advocating such sentiment
Tor months, should hold such near RI
lation to him, If Sucn sentiments weT
distasteful to him.
THESE ARE nan SIGNS to ME-,
vet they are not conclusive evidences I
bad objects or intentions on his par
They leave me in doubt, hut certainl
awaken my suspicion and watchil
jealousy. They teach Inc TO be ON m
guard, and they should, In my opinion
lput tho whole country on their guard