The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-01-28
GOVERNOR MAERATH,S LETTER
TO GOVEitNOI; VANCE.
No. &c Bread STrErr,
CHARLESTON, JANUARY 81. 1888.

To the Editor Of Ire .Nc"A 0n1
C~0Uricr.-lf remember rightly, Il dis
cuSsion arose not long since as to the
right of the editor to make such Il caption
in his paper to an article IN i: as he
thought proper. However perfect may
embrace the right to affect ininriously
any one connected with 4 matter pub
liShcd by it. When, therefore, III your
publication Of a letter Of mine to Gov
ernor Vance. you direct attention to it,
as ~"proposing in 1865 to save the States
by dissolving the Southern Confcdcracy;
the CarolinaS and Georgia in the same
boat you have dorc n great injustice.
and made it difficult for m" to understand
how, with the letter itself before YOU
and the narrative given in the interview
had with me, o: the purpose and intent
of the letter to cement more closely the
union of the SrCr,ling States for the
successful prosecution Of the war. il,
should he announced rs 'proposing to
save the States by dissolving the South
crn Confcdcracy."
1t was because Of the conviction pre-
sent to me and tho Governors of other
States that causes We're tl:cn operating
which, unless removed, were tending to
the disintcgration Of the Confcdcracy,
that there was Il concurrence in the con-
clusion to present these matters to the
consideration Of the President Of the
Confederate States, and hy the removal
of them revive the spirit Of the people Of
the seccdi : States. Into any detail or
discussion Of these matters | do not in
tend to enter. They were and arc like
the differences in n family, with which it
is quite unnecessary to trouble or amuSc
the outside world. Wethcr these mat
tcrs should have been allowed to exist.
whether they we're unavoidable, whether
if they had been removed any other re-
suit would have followed than that which
befell us in the spring Of 1865, IRE now
no longer necessary, or in my opinion
piofSi, thStSSio " uiSSuSSloh Anu
without entering into them more particu-
larly, | may say that none but they who,
from their official position, We're cogni-
znnt Of the necessity that existed for the
most full understanding Of the condition
of the several States 10y the President Of
tho Confederate States, coald adequately
realize the imperative necessity that re-
quired such undertaking. This was to
be done in the preparation OF 4 COMMUNE
cation. with which was charged, to be
signed by as many Governors of the Sc
ceding States as could be reached and
who would unite in it, 20 be forwarded
to the President Of the Confederate
States. giving him the most full and par
ticular statement OF all matters which in
our opinion called for his serious cosidcr-
alton.
1t was not the purpose of any "to
save the States hy dissolv:ns tho Con-
fcdcracy," but, on the contrary, "to
save the Confcdcracy," by making known
to the President the matters which, it
was feared, threatened its continuance
and safety. These matters constitute in
part "unwritten history'' Of those
times. They belong to the past, and it
serves no purpose, useful or pl ,asamt,
now to recall them.
while many and wide were the differ
ences in opinion Us to the policy OF the
Confederate Government, in matters of
public moment, it is due to those with
whom had official or personal commu-
nication to say that I did not know one
who was in favor OF ~'di$Solving the Con-
tederacy;" but, on the contrary, that the
wishes and minds Of all were intent or
its preservation, and willing to make all
sacrifices for that end.
Yours truly,
\. G. MAuRATu.