The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-05

| They are too long for our columns, but
we will give brief account Of them.
ON the 2ist Of November, 1854. Mr..
Davis addressed Mr.. stephens the fol-
lowing note:
Richmond Va. Nov. q. lsGi.
| "vice- President stephens. crawfordsVille'
| Ca: ,.,.
| "sir-In the Augusta constitutionalist,
communicated by yourself ma pun
| Ishcd letter addressed py you 10
the Hon. Thomas J. Semmes. {. D SEN
ate IN which IL contained the Following
passage: .,,.
81 know there are many persons
among us whose opinions are enti'ieu 70
high consideration. who do not agree
with me on the question OF Mcclellan
election. They prefer Lincoln to NC
| ClelIap. Perhaps the President belongs
| TO that class. Judging from his acts
should think that he did
"Your public station gives Importance
70 the statement. and the possible effect
| upon those Northern men who desire 10
terminate the war and who supported
the election Of Mcclellan. is TOO obvious
to require conment. ] am quite az
loss to imagine the basis for your con-
cirsior. and have therefore. 70 ask 10
what acts OF mine you refer.
Very respectfully yours.
"JEFFERSON DAVIS
On December 18th Mr.. Stephens answers
this note in letter Of very great length,
the purpose Of which was to show that
he was authorized 20 think from his
different action that Mr.. Davis preferred
TO see Lincoln elected President of the
United States at the election IN Novem-
Der. 1854 rather than Mcclellan.
Passing by many other things when
he claimed 10 tend in that direction, his
letter IS devoted to trying to prove that
this inference was authorized by the cir
cumstances. The first related to the fol-
lowing series Of facts:
lie recalls TO Davis that in April OF
1854. he stephens had written him that
a man I'm the prison at AndersonVilie'
Ca, named David +. Gable. had writ
ten him (stephens) that though taken
prisoner in Florida. when accompany
ing a military expedition there he was
really not a soldier but ciyilian-a
Northern peace Demonstrating to make
his way into the Confcdoracy TO see II
some basis Of peace could not be ar
ranged with the Confederate leaders that
might be adopted as the platform OF
the peace Democrats in the presidential
election to be held in November lSgi.
Ho asked. therefore that Mr.. Stephens
would get him released from prison
and grant him an interview, at Which
the subject unfolded TO him might De
discussed between them. stephens says
he then argued to Mr.. Davis that cable
rao,iest ought to be complied WIN lH"t
he (Stephens) thought it Of the utmost
importance that the peace party III the
North should be conciliated, and encour-
aged in every possible way, and he Of
fered II Mr.. Davis approved, to see Caoie
and have the conference with him. lie
continues that the only reply he got
20 this letter was one intimating Davis
dophts about the genuineness Of Cables
representation, and stating that stan
officer would be directed TO visit An
Jacksonville and make the Investigations
necessary for determining whether Gable
was entitled 10 credence. Stephens mt
mates that he took some umbrage at his
views upon matter of such tremendous
importance being treated so lightly' ana
he thought it very remarkable indeed
that some obscure staff officer should
have been thought a person better cuai-
flied 10 make the necessary investigation
into the status OF Gable than the second
officer Of the Government. The next
thing he heard was that Gable had died
in prison, and so this avenue that held
out a possibility Of great moment was
closed He says he was justified by these
facts in thinking that Mr.. Davis felt very
little interest in promoting the views OF
the peace party in the North, and con-
tributing thereby to the election OF Nc
Clellan.
The next fact that he relied upon was
this. He said Mr.. Davis made speech
at Columbia, S. c., in October, lsol' Ill
which he sneered at the States rights
platform which the Northern peace party
had adopted at Chicago, and in which ne
said chat the only way TO make spaniels
civil was TO whip them The Gable
incident and this speech justified him.
stenbens said. in concluding that Mr..
navis did not want TO see Mcclellan
elected. but preferred to see Lincoln
chosen.
on Januory c. 1865. Mr.. Davis answers
this letter with considerable acrimony'
hut without failing TO meet each point
made by stephens distinctly and de-
cisively. lie goes. step by step over all
the facts relating to the Gable incident.
showing that he Immediately caused
stems TO be taken 10 have the necessary
investigations made. but that the inter-
ruption of our postal communications by
incursions Of Federal cavalry had pre-
vented the instructions being effectuated
before Cables death. Brushing aside with
q few trenchaut remarks, Mr.. stephens
intimation that slight had been put
uron him in stan officer rather than
himself having been selected Tor the per-
formance Of police officers duty he
mentions TO him the fact that just az the
time the matter had got well in hand.