Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-16
Mr.. Davis to Gov Vance

Following is the full text of the letter
written by President Davis on the lst of
November, 1862, in reply to the letter of
Gov. Vance, of North Carolina, of the 21st
of October preceding, and supposed to have
been destroyed because of containing the
threats of coercion with which Mr.. Davis
was recently charged by Gen. Sherman:
RICHMOND, Nov. l, 1S62.-To His Excel.
lency Gov. Vance, Raleigh, N. C.-Dear
Sir: | have the 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. / con-
cur with you as to the policy of allowing
the conscripts, as far as the state of the SER
vice will permit, to select the companies
and regiments in which they are to serve.
| The right secured by law of the volun-
| teer to select his own company was lost,
! it is true, by enrolment; but the policy
was so obvious of associating men together
! who would best harmonic with each other
that it Was my purpose to continue the
privilege beyond the limit fixed by the law.
The danger to the coast Of North Carolina
and ourinability to draw troops from the
Army of Northern Virginia rendered it pro-
per that the greatest exertion should be
made Immediately to gill up the regiments
in Gen. French's command but this did
not interfere with allowing the conscripts
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 have been done.
/ will send your letter to the War Depart
ment, with copy of this reply to you, and
hope for the future there will be no ground
fol dissatisfaction, and that as far as FEAST
bic the disappointments to which you refer
may be corrected by transfer. feel CRATE
full to you for the cordial manner in which
you have sustained every proposition con-
nected with the public defense, and trust
there will always be such co.intellgence
and accordance as will enable us to co.ope-
rate for the public good.
The conscript act has not been popular
anywhere out ofthe army. There, as you
are aware, it serves to check the discomfort
| which resulted from retaining the twelve
months men beyond the term of their orig
inal engagement, and was fairly regarded as
a measure eqrltably to distribute the burden
of public defense but the State authorities
| have nowhere offered any opposition 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 Virginia.
shall endeavor by judicial decision to
settle the question raised in those two States
aud in the meantime have been cheered by
the evidence of a popular sentiment which
| supports any measure necessary 10 protect
our country and secure our political indie
peudence. Like yourself, I 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 the
defense of their birthright, and that we
should all, as band of brothers, strike for
the inheritance our fathers left US. With
sincere regard, am, respectfully and truly,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.