Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-16

W
lxsw tork paa, Dscrsaber l@shl
A rsleleA svccisi says: In rcEcreuee 70
he recee< eontroyefry between oencrM
sherman and Jefferson DAVIS. ~ whssn we
lcf1pcF elnrred the latter with having
ihrrsSrufd - force certain States 10 fcmatn
~ the Cop9tderucy. 4 has been stated that
Dsvis>s Ic1tsr containing tbis Threat was
Written 70 Governor Vance. then United
states senator, 10 reply 10 his Ietter 70 Pro-
sysI,nt Davis Of October -, 1859. u has
l<rn slated, also, that the letter OF Dsvnt
had bccn destroyed. This . : mistake;
The letter Is here, and - now ~ TIC posees.
sion Of . gentleman Of Raleigh ~ n~
'O" R,cguoxp, November !, 1862.
10 NE .xeei,sncy Governor Ycncs, Rd-
leigh, N. O.;
nssr eIr.-I have the honor to acknow.
,.dgs Yours Of the 9th ultimo, and regret
,hs d,ssnoolutment TO which some OF The
ssr~nits N North Carolina have been sub
,scfed. cobcur with you as to the policy
- s,lovipg the couscripts. as far rs the
s5ats Of the service viii permit, TO select
the companies and regiments IN which they
are 10 serve. The right secured by Jaw OF
the volunteer 10 select bis own company
was lost, IL Is true, by enrolment; but tue
nolicy was 90 obvious OF associating men
together who would best bafmonize with
each other. that u was my purpose to con-
tmue The. privilege beyond the limit liked
by INV. 80. ~.
Inns and our inability 70 draw troops from
the army Of Northern Virginia rendered u
nropcr that the greatest exertlon should be
,nade Immediately 10 fiil up the regiments
in General Ffenct's command; but this
aid NOT interfere with allowing the con-
scrip,s TO Select among those regiments the
one to which they would be assigned, so
long as vacancies existed In the companies
chosen. and that / expected would nave
been done.
will send your letter TO the War De-.
portment. with copy Of this reply TO you,
and hone for the future there will be no
ground for dissatisfaction, and that, as lar
as feasible. the disappointments TO which
Won refer may be corrected by transfer.
feel grateful to you for the cordial man.
Nor IN which you have sustained every
nroposition connected with the public de-
fence. and trust that there will always be
sucb cointelllgence and accordance as Will
enable us TO cooperate for the public good.
The conscript acs has not been popular
anywhere out OF the army. There, as you
are aware, IT serves 70 check the discomfort
which resulted from retaining the twelve
months men beyond the term OF taeir
original engagement, and was fairly re-
gardea as a measure equitably to distribute
the burden Of public defence; but theState
authorities have nowhere offered any oppo-
sition TO its execution or withheld their
aid, except In the State OF Georgia, and. so
far as the cadets Of the Military Institute
are concerned, In the State OF Virg MIA.
shall eudeayor by judicial decision to
settle the question raised In those two
States, and in the meantime have been
cbeered by the evidence OF a popular sent'-
ment which supports any measure neees-
saw TO protect our country ard secure our
political independence.
Like yourself, have hoped that the
party distinctions which existed at former
time would be buried in the graves OF the
gallant men who have fallen in defence Of
their birhright. and that we should all, as
a band OF brothers, strike for the Inherit
apce our fathers left us. With sincere re-
grrd, am, respectfully and truly,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.