The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-02
WEEKLY STATESMAN.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM JEFFERSON
DAVIS.

from Mr.. Davis to Governor Vance. The
document upon which General Sherman Is
supposed 20 base his charge that Nj.
Davis threatened to use Lees army to CO.
cree a state of the Confederacy into sub
mission TO the Confederate government.
We took occasion to comment upon this
letter, pointing out our reasons for con-
GLIDING that Mr.. Davis was true to his
state sovereignty principles, and General
Sherman a malicious slanderer.
Now, we abste no iot of our adherence
of General Sherman's character. We be-
leye him capable of any degree of base
righteousness and brutality. We can en-
terrain no other view of his character, be-
cause in his march to the sea, his army
Systematically burned private homes and
drove into restitution, want and death
their only inmates, helpless women and
children. Besides, General Sherman ad-
mits that he told the people of South
Carolina that Wade Hampton burned Co
lumbia in order to destroy his tHamp-
ton's) peoples love for him and confidence
in him, and thus shows himself capable of
willful and malicious lying. We not I'M
reasonably concluded that if he were will
ing to SANDER Hampton to destroy conf
dence in him, he might be equally willing
to Islander Davis to destroy confidence IN
him. We, therefore, took decided pleas
ure in showing his (Sherman's failure) TO
accomplish so base purpose. We
printed Davis letter in full, that our read |
ears might see for themselves that Mr..
Davis was not false to the very principle |
for which we were fighting under the Con-
federacy. Imagine, therefore, our pain
and modification when we read the fol-
lowing from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
In reference to the proposition of the
Southern Bivouac to print the letters and
documents of the late Jacob Thompson
relative to the conspiracy In the north
during the war to release Confederate pris-
oners in union camps and burn northern
cities, jefferson Davis has written the fol-
lowing letter to the editor of the Catholic
universe, OF cleveland, ".
BEAUYoIR, Miss, November II, 1856
Ny Dear Sir: Yours of the Sth has been
received, and fully concur in your opin-
ion as to the Impropriety of publishing
the correspondence of our northern
friends with the COnfederates who held
intercourse with them. Though their con-
duet in resisting sectional pressure and ,
striving to check sectional strife and dis
countenancing the unconstitutional coer-
cion of the southern states was most
praiseworthy, the ex pOsure at this day of l
their efforts could not fail to be injurious
TO them. In taking the hazards they
encountered they of course relied up
on the good faith of the Confederates
with whom they held intercourse, and l s
do not think there is any higher obliga-
ton upon our people than to shield those
gallant sympathizers as best they may
fl m harm.
As for myself and those who cooper |
ated with me / have no wish to avoid dis =
closures. We had learned that our men
in northern prisons were suffering inhu-
man treatment, and oftentimes done to 5
death In cold blood. Our effort to liber- 5
ate them was duty to neglect which h
would have been a shame. While, there
fore. we may claim no credit for our con- {
duct in that connection, We certainly have q
no motive for wishing to conceal it, and O
the only regret Herewith connected is the
sacrifice of brave men engaged in the at
tempt and the want of success which at
tended their efforts. Without knowing q
the scope of the proposed publication l {,
can only say that trust it will not lead to a.
revelations against our northwestern
friends who magnanimOusly came to our IL
aid in our hour of need; and, as for the &
rest, can have no wish to suppress the
of gallant deeds done by Con-
for the relief of their impris
Dned comrades, and hope there is nothing
TO be told of them which they are not s.
willing TO avOw. r
Ever faithfully yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Here was conspiracy formed in north
western states to give aid and comfort to
me Southern cOnfederacy, then at war =,
With these northwestern states-"Soverign "
md independent states" Each citizen VI
,Eed allegiance to his own sovereign state. =
What glaring inconsistency, what surpris- .
ng infdelity to his own state sovereignty u
principles Mr.. Davis letters when taken =
Ogether evidence.
From HE letter to Gov. Vance, January s, 1881
fear much from the tenor of the news
received from North Carolina that an =.
.ttempt will be made by some bad men to
naugurate movements which must be con- e
idered as equivalent to laid and comfort 3
o the enemy and which all patriots :
houId continue to put down at any cost. -
lou may count on my aid in every effort di
o spare your state the scourge of civil W
rarfare, which will devastste her homes if er
he designs of these traitors be suffered to ,.
make head, know you will place yourself "
q your legitimate position in the lead of 10
hose who will not suffer the name of the SC