The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 3, Volume 2. Page: 847
viii, 1007 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
UNION AUTHORITIES.
The same remarks are applicable in reference to the negotiating
for the exchange of political prisoners, of whom North Carolina has
none in custody.
Your proposition that I should send commissioners to hold an inter-
view with you is also respectfully declined for the reasons set forth
above.
Regretting, sir, that it is equally beyond my province to treat with
you in regard to doing anything to alleviate the inevitable sufferings
that attend the war, and assuring you that any proposition you may
feel authorized to make for that humane purpose will be promptly
forwarded to the proper authorities if intrusted to me,
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. B. VANCE.
[Inclosure No. 3.]
NEw BERNE, November 7, 1862.
To His Excellency ZEBULON B. VANCE,
Raleigh:
SIR: Your communication of the 29th ultimo has reached me by
flag of truce.
The rejection of the propositions made by me renders it unneces-
sary to correspond further with you in relation to them; but lest it
should be inferred that by my silence I acquiesce in the justice of one
remark in your communication I am compelled to address you again,
After giving your first and second reasons you use the following
language:
"Your proposition is based on the supposition that there is base-
ness in North Carolina sufficient to induce her people to abandon
their confederates and leave them to suffer alone all the horrors of
this unnatural war for the sake of securing terms for themselves,
a mistake which I could scarcely have supposed any one so well
acquainted with the character of our people as yourself could have
committed."
There is nothing in my letter, there is nothing I have ever said or
written that can justify the imputation that I ever supposed the
people of North Carolina could be guilty of any baseness. I may
have mistaken the nature and extent of her obligations to what you
call the new government. I have never seen the act, resolution, or
decree by which the State "acceded to the new government." For
nearly twelve months previous to my arrival here I had not seen a
newspaper or letter from the State. I presumed that one in your
position could have informed me what your obligations were, and
could have referred my communication to any other authority if your
duty required it.
With deference I still think this might have been done without the
unbecoming language I have quoted, entirely uncalled for, and
especially ungracious in reply to a courteous letter.
From the best information I could procure I had believed that after
several of the "Confederate States" had formed a compact to suffer
"alone" all the horrors of this unnatural war, the people of North
Carolina deliberately voted by a large majority against the proposition
to call a convention to consider the "baseness" of separating them
from the United States.
From the best information I could procure I had believed that her
people had been aroused to revolution under the idea that wrong had847
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 3, Volume 2. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 3, Volume 2.
Relationship to this item: (Is Referenced By)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 3, Volume 2., book, 1899; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth139264/m1/856/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.