Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-13
Letter from Hon. JEFF. Davis.

The american of Nashville, Tenn yes
terday published letter from Mr.. Jefferson
Davis, written in reply to request made of
Mr.. Davis by Mr.. E. w Carmack, for a
statement In reply to General Wolseley's ar
ticle in the North american Reuie,O for May,
criticising Mr.. Davis course as president of
the Confederacy. The letter was written at
Bsauvoir Mss., May s. 1889.
Mr.. Davis says: "Supposing that you
cially directed against myself. 1t will be so
limited. A year or so since that same wrf-
ter published an article containing matter
purporting to have been, gained by inter.
course with General R. E. Lee while his
guest during the war between the States
OF the American Union. To those per-
onally acquainted with General Lee, who
knew his character stio discretion, bis strict
regard for official courtesy and person
al friendship and confidential relations
which had long existed between him and
President Davis, it WAS incredible that he
should have seizsd an opportunity offered
by the arrival of an itinerant foreigner TO
make such statements as would afford ma
tc-.s.l for cynical criticisms of the article re-
ferred to on the administration of the Con-
federacy. For the manifested hostility to
me / could imagine no cause, unless an.
egregious vanity had been wounded by my
failure to notice his presence In our country
"a presence which it is most probable was
unknown to me. My reply then made to
his article exposed his historical errors. his
baseless actions, and acknowledged that /
had previously known nothing of him save
through his large promises and small per-
formances of memorable occasion.
In the article to which you now call my
attention the adjutant. general of the Brit
ish army, Vsccunt WoIseley. with increased
venom renews the attack on me and opens
it with the mean cover OF hypocritical pre-
tension of sympathy. His arrogance here
tofore exhibited was so extreme az to be
harmless and merely provoke contempt,
while 1t suggested the inquiry put to one of
old whether he thought knowledge would
die with him. Now, having learned that
facts are needed to sustain allegations, he
follows his deprecatory remarks concerning
me by lbellous sta emit nta. Where. when,
or how did ever express the opinion that
10000 En6eld rifles" would suffice for the
Confederacy? Where, when. or how did /
then refuse to receive 1866 900 men offered
for the Confederate service?n Where, when.
and how was the East Indian fleet"
ever offered to me? What means were
rejected by me when proposed by others
for placing the finances of The Confederacy
on sound basis? These are specifications
of his arraignment. Where are the proofs?
He expresses regret that no answer was pub
lished In the Century to 90 forth with the in
dictments against me, but was here restrict
ed to rehash of the articles there published
and to the views evolved from his internal
consciousness. Why, il. he wished to know
the truth and to tell it. did he not consult
more authentic sources of information ?"
Mr.. Davis concludes with the declaration
that there is ample evidence. which he
names, to show that prompt and energetic
efforts were made to secure large imports
tions OF arms and munitions of war for the
Confederacy, and at the came time by the
policy of enrolling only men who could ba
armed, to draw from the large amount of
private arms in the South the weapons to
supplement the deficiency when the Ccnfed
eracy was organized