The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-27

Mr.. yance's Last Meeting with jeff Davis
North Carolina and the Rebellion.


North Carolina and the Rebellion.
Washington Special.
Senator Vance went over to Baltimore and
addressed the Confederate Maryland Associa-
ton. He devoted much attention to General
Shermans methods of warfare, which did not
seem to please him. He, however. warmly com
mended General Sherman's terms to General
johnson. The Senator gave the following ac-
count of his last interview with jefferson Davis
previous to the surrender. 1t took place at Char
lotte. in the presence of Mr. Reagan, General
Breckenridge and one more members Of his
Cabinet besides as follows
Il told him had come to him to advise with
him what to do, and to learn his further inten-
tons. The conversation WAS long and solemn.
Mr. Davis appeared still full of hope and dis
cussed the situation exhanstively. He told me
of the possibility, as he thought, of retreating
beyond the Mississippi with large sections of the
soldiers still faithful to the confederate cause
and resumlng operations with General Kirby
Smith s forces as nucleus in those distant re-
gions. and intimated rather than expressed de-
sire that should accompany him, with such of
the North Carolina troops as / might be able to
influence to that end He was very earnest, and
displayed remarkable knowledge of the opn-
ions and resources of the people of the Confeder-
acy, as well as most dauntless spirit.
After he had ceased there a sal silence
around his council board. Perhaps one or more
opinions were expressed in support of Mr. Daviss
views, and then General Breckenridge smoke
shall never forget either the language or the
manner of that splendid Kentuckian. With the
utmost frankneSs, and with the courage of sin
cerity, he said he did not think they deal
ing candidly with Governor Vance; that their
hopes of accomplishing the results set forth by
Mr.. Davis were so remote and uncertain that he,
for his part, could not advise me to forSake the
great dates which devolved upon me in order TO
follow the further fortunes of the retreating
Confederacy: that his advice would be that
should return to my position and its response
bilties, do the best could for my people, and
share their fate, whatever it might be.
with deep sigh, Mr. Davis replied to Gen
eral Breckenridge: We'll, perhaps, General,
YOU are right | remarked that General Rreck-
inriges views conceded with my own sense of
duty, and after very little more conversation,
/ arose and offered my hard to President Davis,
to bid him goodbye. He shook it long and
warmly saying: God bless YOU. sir and The
| noble State of North Carolina
with feelings which am not able to describe.
| | thus bade farewell to the Southern Confed-
| eraey and returned to Greensboro with the in
| tention of going to Raleigh and resuming my
duties as Governor. if permitted Because said
| MIR. Vance. II have been severe in my denunci-
atoms of the conduct of General Sherman,
| have no disposition to refuse him justice
when | think he really merits it Had
| the measure he proposed been ratified at
! Washington, the authorities of every State of
| the late Confederacy would have at once sworn
allegiance to the Constitution of the United
States. and the courts and the laws of the federal
| government would have Immediately resumed
| their sway, and there would have been no such
thing as reconstruction, no such thing as eleven
| blood stained waf-riaden and desoiate States,
| plundered of $3.50, 900, 900 by the last and in
| fnitely worst invasion of the army of carpet
| baggers."
Mr. Vance said his State had contributor to
| the war absolutely more troops than any other.
| The total of ali grades was III 038 and she was
| less exhausted when the end came than any
| other state She had the means and vitality and
| the spirit to have continued the struggle two
years longer if she had been supported THE
| last to begin the fight said he, '.she was the
| last to leave it. Let not these things be for
gotten