The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-14
JEfFERSON DAVIS TO cor. VLNCE.
The Alleged Confederate Secession Letter.

RALEIGH n. c.. Dec. l2.-In reference to the
reccnt controversy between Gen. sherman and Jea-r.
son Davis IN which the former charged the latter with
having threatened to force certain States in
the cofederacy it has been stated that Dnyss letter
containing tins threat written to toy Vance. then
United states senator reply his letter to President
Davis OF oct 81 1882 1t has been stated also that the
letter o Daviss had been DESTROYED This mistake;
the letter is herr" aud il in the possession of
tlemam of Raleigh. 1t is as follows;
RICHMOND. Nov. !. 1862.
To His Ercr'lency Cor. Vance Rdsigb, ", e.
DEAR SIR: have tho honor TO acknowledge
yours of the 25th ult.. and regret the disap-
pointment to which some of the recruits OF
North Carolina have been subjected. / concur
with you as to the policy OF allowing the con-
scripts. MS far as the state of the service will
permit, to select the companies and regiments
in which they are to serve The right secured
by law Of the volunteer TO select his own COM
pany was lost 1t is true by enrolment; but tho
policy was SO obvious of associating men to-
gethcr who would best harmonze with each
other, that II WAS my purpose to continue the
privilege beyond tho limit fixed by the law.
The danger to the coast OF North Carolina and
our inability to draw troops from the Army of
Northern Nrg mia rendered it proper that the
greatest eXertion should be made Immediately
to I'll M the regiments in Gen. French's COM
mand: but this did not interfere with allowing
the ono to which they would be assigned so
long ~ vacancies. existed in the companies
chosen. ana that expected would have been
done.
will send your letter TO the War Depart
mont with copy Of this reply to YOU and hope
for the future there Will b. no ground for dis
satisfaction. and that as far as feasible the dis
appointments TO which you rcier may be cor
rected bv transfer.
l feel grateful to YOU for the cordial manner
in which you have sustained every proposition
connected with the public defence. and trust
thai ther' VIII always he such co-intclligcnce
and accor lance as will enable us to cooperate
for the public good.
The Conscrpt act has not been populnr any,
where out of the army. There, rs you are aware
II serves to check the discomfort whch res ulted
from retaining the twelve months men beyond
IN" term of their original engagement, and WAS
larry regarded As n measure equtab,y to dis
tribute the burden of public defence but the
State authorities have nowhere offered any on
position to Its execution or withheld their aid
except In the State of Georgia. and SO far as
the cadets of the Military Institute are con-
cerncd III the State of Virginia.
shall cndenvor by judicial decision TO settle
tn" question raised in those two Sta'oS and in
the mean time have been chcered by the evil
dencn OF II popular sentiment which supports
any m"hsVr" necessary 20 protect Our country
and secure oar political Independence.
Like yourself hay" hoped that the party
distinctions which existed ut n former time
would u" buried IN III. graves OF tho gallant
men who hav" fallen in the deenc" al their
birthright. and that We should al a. Il la nj OF
brothers. strIk" for the inhrritan 80 our fathers
i"it us. With sincere regard am, respectfully
ana truly, JEFtilSON DAVIS.