The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-11-21

The Baltimore Sun publishes the only
letter which could have possibly furnished
the great war romancer General Tecumseh
Sherman with the excuse for charging
President Davis with threatening certain
States with coersion.
The letter is addressed to Governor
Vance and was published in the raleigh
IN. C.l Standard in January, 1863 and has
been clipped from the file OF that paper
II not only shows that Mr.. Davis did not
threaten the State of North Carolina
with coercion, but that the State was Oh
fered the assistance of the Confederate
authorities against her enemies, evidently
referrino to certain little tricks OF treason
in few localities.
The opinion of the President OF the
Confederate Government, that treason
should be promptly punished, is all that
has thus far been brought to light to give
the slightest coloring to Shermans story
1t is possible that he heard OF the let
ter. and construed its meaning to be thaI
tbere was a Union movement in North
Carolina of Importance, and that Mr..
Davis intention to put it down meant a
threat AGAINST the State of North Caro-
lima.
Such a conclusion, however, would De
worthy of cankered imagination lncap-
able even of inventing anything in har-
mony with the facts.
Referring to Governor Vance's propo-
sition to send commissioners to wash
ington to treat for peace, Mr. DAVIS says:
owe have made three distinct efforts
TO communicate with the authorities at
Washington, and have been lnyariaDly
unsuccessful. Commissioners were sent
before hostilities began, and the ASH
ington Government refused to receive
them there. or hear what they had to say
A second time | sent a military oincer,
with a communication addressed by him
self to President Lincoln. The letter was
received by General Scott, who ana not
permit the officer to see Mr.. Lincoln,
but promised that an answer would
he sent. No answer has ever
been received. The third time,
few months ago, gentleman
was sent whose character and reputation
was such, it was thought, as to insure his
reception. But the enemy was deter
mined not to receive any proposals What-
ever from this Government. VICE Presl.
dent Stephens made patriotic tender OF
his services, in the hope OF beng aDle 10
promote the cause of humanity, ana, al
though little belief was entertained OF MS
success. | cheerfully yielded to his sug-
gestions that the experiment should be
tried. The enemy refused to let MN
mass through their lines or to hold any
conference with him. He was stopped
before he even reached Fortress Monroe
on his way to Washington.
The following extract is the passage
which might have been distorted into a
threat to coerce, but it will be seen that
it was distortion;
81 fear much from the tenor OF the news
I receive from North Carolina that an at
tempt will be made by some bad men to
inaugurate movements which must be
considered as equivalent to laid and com
fort to the enemy" and which all patriots
should combine to put down at any cost.
You may count on my aid in every effort
to spare your State the scOurge or CIVIL
warfare which will devastate her homes II
the designs of these traitors be suffered
to make head ] know you will place
Yourself in your legitimate position III the
lead of those who willnot suffer the name
of the old North State to be blackened by
such a stain"