The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
WAS 1T A CONSPIRACY ?
a TERT STRIKING CHAPTER IN THE
HISTORY OF TIE CIVIL VAR.

HISTORY OF II CITIL VAR.
suggestive correspondence between Alex. n.
stephens and jefferson Davis-IntImntions
That Davis Favored Lincein's Election in
i~sOt-Dnyis'a Conclusive DeninI-Pian TO
AID n Peace Party mt the No~rth-CnmpaiEn
or Mcclellan Against Lincoln Recalled.
II Is a well-known fact that long prior to
the close OF the civil war q growing party had
sprung into existence at the South in opposi-
ton TO the policy Of President Davis. The
causes of this opposition and the objects
sought IL IL unnecessary to discuss. It grow
stronger and holder rs the fortunes OF the Con-
federacy gradually wancd. After Vicksburg
and Gettysburg It first began to assume pro-
portions which made the maintenance OF Mr..
Davis's policy difficult. There was at times
nm opposition majority in the Con tolerate Con-
gress on important questions almost vital to
the Administration, yet it mainly proceeded
along the lines Mr.. Davis marked out.
MIR. Alexander II. Stephens of Georgia. tho
Vice-President Of the Confedcracy. may BIO
considered to have been tho leader of this op-
position. or. perhaps more.properly its chief In
Tho relations OF Davis and Ste
phens became strained quito early. and during
the last year OF the great struggle tho two seem
TO have been totally.estranged. It was Stephens
and the anti cotcrie who were largely
Instrumental in setting on foot the HAMPTON
Roads reace conference with. Lincoln and Sew
ard and other attempts in the same direction.
which failed. vlndicatipg Mr.. Davis's judy
ment of the matter, and to that extent dlscred-
lung tho Stephens faction and strengthening
Davis with tho people: for It is doubtless
true that these movements. probably more Or
leaa esanycd IN rerfecf uond faith neycrfhe-
less had rs a secondary object the placing of
Davis in o false position. for the purpose Of
weakening and perhaps ultimately driving him
from power. Military influences had n good
deal TO do with this opposition to Mr.. Davis;
the partisans Of Gen. Joe Johnston, Gen. Beau
regard. and perhaps other conspicuous officers
were strongly opposed TO him..
Nothing better Illus rates the state OF feeling
existing between Davis and Stephens .and
their general attitude toward each other than
thu followinG correspondence. recently COM
piled for publication in forthcoming volumes
Of the official WA Records. incidentally
they partially show. too. the view held at the
South Of Northern Presidential politics in
1904. and the probable effect of the result rpon
their fortunes. Thoy have never before been
printed. lot at least since the war.
Some time in the early fall of 1864 Vice.
Presid mt Stephens had published an open let
tel. addressed to Senator Semmes. animad.
verting upon President Davis's policy toward
the peace party at the North. and expressing
the conviction that the Presidents acts showed
n preference for Llncoln's election over Nc
Clellan. which. It was held. was inimical to the
Southern interests. Mr.. Davis thereupon. adj
dressed TO Mr.. Stephens tlts curt note:
..r,,.. p, hIGnMoYP, w: Noy; 81. 1864.
SIR: In the Augusta ConstitutfonuiiSt COM
mnnicated by Yourself. find published a letter
c. s. Senate, in which Is contained the following
passage:
".Iknow there are many persons among us whose
not ,grce with me on the question OF MlCleilan's
s sss Pra;,a nhsy b LEI asr li 10 I'm. to c Mcclellan jnd.,n rer hans
hi acts l should think that he did
Your public station gives Importance to the
statement. and the. possible effect upon those
Northern men who desire to terminate the war,
anc who supported the election of Mcclellan, Is
toe go obvious &c to require ire Sommen am quite at
and have therefore TO ask to what acts Of mino
you refer. Very respectfully Yours. ~.
No further Introductory is necessary to the
correspondence the letters tell.thcir OWE tale.
and aside from personal politics and policy.
carry an interesting story OF a DOOR pri soner'.
fate. who had evidently made n strong play
'or release. But Sho krows?-perhaps Cables
story was true. aad that he hal sought tho
Con :cderacy as the agent OF Northern peace
advocates and knights OF the Golden Circle.
u will BE- noted that the letters. including Mr..
Dnviss cote OF inquiry. were written after Mr..
l.!rco!n's election. Probably Mr.. Stephens's
letter 10 SGnmes. followed by the utter defeat
% the reace party at the polls in the North.
had aroused murmurs against Mr.. Davie. and
caus-i him TO show his hand.
MI. Sterhens's answer to the Presidents note
OF inquiry was as follows:
"RICHMOND. Va. Der. 10. 1864.
ms Encricncv.Presiden jefferson Durts:
Your letter % the 21st uit.. addressed TO me
at Charlottesville. Ga. did not reach me be-.
i,ie eft there for this place. l.; has l.ecn
forwarded hcre and was received by me only n
few DAYS ago. This will explain the delay OF
my answer. | now avail myself OF the earliest
opportunity under the press of other duties to
Sin doing this you will. of course. not ex-
rect me !" 20 Into IA general rcvie " and minute
Guiding what has not been done as we'll as
what has been done by YOU in connection with
he subject that. contributed In bringIn. my
mind TO the belief ana conclusion referred TO.
This would be as difficult and tedious MS useless.
II shall therefore contine myself TO two
THE first of these was your action IN regard
to the case OF David +. Gable. That you may
the better understand what ] say on this point
! rnfe- you 10 our correspondence on tho sub.
iect. And that you may be the better enabled
to appreciate the nature of tho impression pro.
iF''' w III Iiiii't Va wv .lhllrI. hl l
OF the prominent facts In that correspondence
by way or rental may very. properly be here
presented.
You will. then. recollect that on the 9th
dRv OF April of this year ! called your atten.
ton IN :. communicative 1 had received from
this man. He had w'ittcn TO mo on the 10th
OF March. 1864. %st"tlng that he was q prisoner
Mt Andersonvi;le. Ga: that he was from the
State OF Ohio. ard had acc0mpanlcli he forces
Of he enemy that invaded Florida as n non
Comhatant; thar mis- object among other things
was TO Cross our lines and Ia have II confer
ence with prominent men on our side. by which
concert 81 acton could 10 procured between
our authorities and the peace men at tao North
In tho then approncfi Ing Presidential election,
40 M To secure. II possible. tao defeat of the
abolition administration at Washington. Such
concert, he thought. might insure the success
pr q pence party N that election ard event ally
lead 10 m honorable peace. He stated thar he
WINS taken az prisoner AZ Ocean Pond. in Flor
ida, and was then held as a prisolor OF war.
lie wished a parole AMI n conference with mo
and Others on our side upon Whist he styled his
mission. For he stated that lie had com on
this mission after advisement and conrulta-
tion with the leading peace men In the North
west. New York. and the Federal capital. He
gave n sketch OF the terms on which such con.
cert of action should he based IN the opinion OF
the leading peace men a. the North whom he