Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-07
bisPUrED WAR HISTORY.
Gov. Vance and President Davis-A
Tribute 10 North Csroiina.

from North Carolina, was in this city for
a snort time recently, and while here met
quite anumber OF MS old friends and ac-
qusintances.
IN the charges and counter-charges that
have been made In the pending contro-
versy between Gen. Sherman aud Jefferson
Davis the name OF Senator Vance has
been frequently mentioned. Gen. oheT-
man, in a speech made not long since IN
St.-Louis, No. SAID be bad seen letier
written. bg Jefferson Davis % a Cove lor
OF a Southern state, meaning senator
Vance, who was then Governor or NortA
Carolina. ) i'm which " Davis threatened
the coercion ~ any southern state t1at
should attempt 90 sece6e from the Con-
federacy Mr. Davis bias denied empbati
caliy that be ever meditatsd such 'nea-
sure. but Gen sherman, I'm letter
deposited 10 the archives of the W ar De-
partment. has attempted 90 make good bis
charge by asserting that there was talk
about the camp "Of the desire Of Gov
Vance and other state officials % take
North Carolina ont Of the COnfederacy,
but they were afraid OF JEFF Davis and
wanted prot ctiOn"
bow well and faithfully Senator Vance
served the COntederaCy every one knows
who was in its service. His own people
wonder that any one questions his loyalty
10 the Southern cause. When the ques-
ton Of dissolving the Union arose TO
distract the Southern people he identified
himself with those that were against
secession. During HIS services in the
Thirty-fIth and Thirty-slxth Congress,
Immediately preceding the event, his elo-
quent voice was often heard in defense OF
the Union. At every step he met the
rabid secesslOnists with the logic OF bis
great mind, pleading for the preservation
OF the Union he loved. he urged upon
the South measures Of forbearance, and
10 the North appealed for compromise.
de continued his labOrs in behalf OF unity
until the secession Of North Carolina, on
May q, 1861, disclosed that he was in the
minority, and then, like Stephens b. II.
Hill, and many others, be yielded his in
dividual convictions and gave unqualified
allegiance to his state He at once, in
May. 1861. entered the Confederate army
as captain, and in August Of the same
year was made colonel. In August 1862,
he was elected Governor OF North Caro-
lima, and reelected in August. 1864. Dur
ing all this eventtul period he served his
State and the COnfederacy faithfully, hon.
estly and devotedly, as he then under
stood it.
Upon being asked to explain his rela-
tons with the Confederate President at
the time mentioned by Gen. Sherman. he
replied IN the most positive manner that
no letter containing such a threat as as
serted by Gen. Sherman was ever re-
ceiYed by him from Jefferson Davis. and
as evidence Of this fact he said: "All
letters from him to me of any nature are
TO be found copied in the letter books Of
the Executive Department of North
Carolina, now IN the War Department at
w Washington" He added: alt is we'll
known that in regard TO many OF the de-
tails OF administration | was at variance
with the authorities Of the Confederate
government; but is equally well known,
/ hope, that after my own honor was en-
gagged and the honor Of my native State,
there never was an hour during all that
time in which l did not give
every energy Of my body, mind and soul
to the success OF the cause to which |
had pledged nv allegiance. Gen. sher-
man in his letter TO the War Department
holds out the idea that was disaffec ed
while Governor toward the cause for
which | was Ostensibly fighting, and that
i Was ANXIOUS 10 separate myself and
State from the COnfederacy, but was re-
strained by fear. He commends me for
this, but | want no mans respect or good
viii based on the supposed virtues
OF treason to my country and the deser-
ton OF my associates. The goodwill OF
a man who would respect these
traits in another is not worth picking
up from the dust OF the common high
ways"
senator Vance says he never disobeyed
any legal order that the President Of the
COniederacy made. He differed very
materially with Mr.. Davis on several
questions that came up during the war,
particularly the enforcement of the con-
scription act and the suspension by the
President Of the writ Of habeas corpus.
He always discussed these differences
with Mr.. Davis very frankly and indie
I,endently, and the President always con-
ceded his points. He never threw any
obstacles at any time in the way of the
Confederate authorities, and the re-
lations Of Mr.. Davis and himself
were always OF the most friendly
character.
Upon calling his attention 70 the state
ment Of Gen. Sherman that "Gov. Vance
had sent commissioners 10 meet him as
he approached Raleigh" and that they
had told him that Gov. Vance wanted TO
make separate terms for the State, but
was afraid of JEFF DAVIS" he replied:
81 do not believe II % be true. Tney
never told Gen. Sherman or any other liV-
ing mau that | was afraid OF opposing
hr. Davis. They knew ! differed with
him, and that | was faithful 20 the Con-
te0eracy." In this connection the follow
Ing statement Of senator Vance, which
has already appeared in print, VIII be OF
interest: On April the 10Th. 1861 Gen.
Sherman advanced towards Raleigh, Gen.
Jos. L. Johnston retreating before him. |
had already shipped away westward the
principal military stores Of the State, To-
gether with the principal archives Of the
departments. About April the 10th or
II b rumors reached me OF the sur
render Of Gen. Lee and his army. Know
ing that the operations Of Gen. Johnston
were mainly 10 secure the best terms pos
slble for his command, ! spoke TO him
about the propriety OF sending commits
sioners through his lines 10 meet Gen.
Sherman, with instructions TO make the
best terms / could for the protection of
the state capital and people. He advised
me 70 do this, and shortly after went
West 20 meet President Davis at Green's
bOrG, \. c., leaving Gen. Hardee in
command, with whom / likewise had n
conference, and who gave me the permit
20 send the embassy. / appointed ex-
Gov. VIM. A. Graham and eX-Cov. David
j.. swain commissioners 70 visit Gen.
sherman, and gave 20 them letter TO
him, requesting that be would grant
protection 10 the capital, aud stating that
these gentlemen were authorized TO treat
with HIM for that purpose. A copy OF
That letter. rs u appears, WAS not entered
on my official letter-bOOk, and / have not
been able 10 obtain L.; but that was It's
purport, o. save the capital from the fate
Of Columbia, which had just been burned
q md aaa ffN To- &