The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-02

GEN sHE'sMAS AND MR.. DAVIS
From baltimore Sun.
The letter to Coy. Vance-It is quite
probable that the letter we publish else
whore is that referred to by Gen. Sherman
as authority for the attack he saw proper
to make upon MIR, jefferson Davis. 1t
will be remembered that Gen. Sherman
asserted in an address delivered by HIM
before the Frank Blair Post q. A. R., in
November, 1854, that Mr.. Davis twas not
! a secesslonist, but conspirator," and in
support OF his charge asserted that he had
seen q letter from Jefferson Davis to a
United States senator in which he said
''he would turn Lees army against any
state that might attempt to secede from
the southern confederacy," and further
stated that he knew Davis writing, and
had seen his signature 1t will further be
remembered that this unsupported charge
found its way into the war department
and was afterwards spread upon the files
OF the United States senate under resolu-
ton introduced by Senator Hawley, in
January, 1885, calling upon the president
ITO communicate to the senate historical
statement concerning the policy of the
executive department of the confederate
states, lately filed in the war department
by Gen. William L. Sherman" This
action of the senate was taken after
protracted debate, in which
every senator from the south averred that
he had never rec eived letter from Mr..
Davis which could bear such cOnstruc-
ton. When this endorsement was given
to Gen. Sherman's charge by the senate,
and it was about to be formulated into an
historical statement" Mr.. Davis properly
deemed it of sufficient consequence to
Justify the elaborate and singularly able
denial he made in his letter of September
20, 1885, published in the Sun of October
l. Since then no further allusion to the
subject has been made by Gen. Sherman,
although it has been rumored that his
brother Senator Sherman, had taken the
matter in hand, and would perhaps be
heard faom. From teh beginning to the
end of the controversy it has been ap-
parent that Senator Vance, of North Car
DINA, was the senator referred to by Gen.
Sherman as the recipient of the alleged
letter from Mr.. DAVIS, and so direct was
the insinuation, not only as to the letter,
but as to the hostile attitude of the sem
ator during the war towards the ex-
ecutive head of the confederacy that he
I felt called upon to publish letter deny
: ing both assertions. If the letter we pub
lish to day is the one upon which Gen.
Sherman bases his attack, and there is
but little room to doubt it, it will at once
: be seen how grossly he has perverted its
language and meaning.
PRESIDENT DAVIS TO GOVERNOR VANCE.
, Executive OFFICE, RICHMOND, VA, Jan
uary 8, 1863-To his excellency, Zebulon
r B. Vance, Governor of North Carolina
Dear Sir: 1 have received your letter OF
the 3Oth containing suggestions of the
: endeavor to be adopted for removing tht
. sources of discomfort" The contents o.
= the letter are substantially the same al
r those of the letter addressed by you tC
. Senator Dortch, extracts of which were b.
u him read to me. remarked to Mr.. Dortcl
: that you were probably not aware o.
v the obstacles to the course you indicated
n and, without expressing an opinion of thu
merits of the proposed policy, directed
him to convey you letter to invite sug
! gestions as to the method of opening
: negotiations, and as to the terms which
you thought should be offered to the enc
nv. | felt persuaded you would appreei
y ate the difficulties as soon as your attel
|, ton was called to the necessity of consid
ering the subject in detail. AS you hav
: made no suggestions touching the name
. of overcoming the obstacles. infer tina
!, you we're not apprised by Mr. Dortch o
n my remarks to him.
! Apart from insuperable objections t
= the line of policy you propose (and T.
which I will presently advert), l canno
. see how the more material obstacles are .
be surmounted. We have made three dis
!, tinct efforts to communicate with tn
: authorities at Washington, and hav
been invariably unsuccessful. Com
missioners were sent before hostilltle
bepan, and the Washington GOV
ernment refused to receive them there, c
u hear what they had to say. A secon
time. i aett military officer with CON
munication addressed by himself to Pres
n dent Lincoln. The letter was received b
= Gen. Scott, who did net permit the Office
to see Mr.. Lincoln, but promised that
n answer would be sent. No answer ht
ever been received. The third time, a te
months ago, gentleman was sen1 who'
character and reputation was sucn' IL w
thought, as to insure his reception. 81
the enemy has determined not to recef'
any proposals whatever from this govern
. ment. Vice President Stephens made
, patriotic tender of his services, in IL
;. hope of being able to promote the eau
s of humanity, and although little bell
was entertained of his success, chez
s fully yielded to his suggestions that I'll
experiment should be tried. The enen
. refused to let him pass through the
@ lines or to hold any conference with hi
He was stopped before he even reach
s Fortress Monroe on his way to Washln
ton.
10 To attempt again lin the face of
peated rejection of all conference with
IS. to send commissioners or agents to pr
!. pose peace, is to invite insult and GO
IL tumeiy, and to subject ourselves to lndi
nitv. without the slightest chance OF ben
listened to. No true citizen, no man WI
= has our cause at heart, can desire this al
= the good people of North Carolina wou
be the las. to approve of an attempt
aware of ali the facts. So far from
-; sorgcAs of discomfort, such