Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 5.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

Perhaps the search after some new chasm into which he could “Curtius” --like plunge the most prized of his country's possessions-i. e., himself-prevented Mr. Hunter from learning that the President was at Danville exerting himself for the common defence, and that there were gaps in the ranks of Lee's army which a patriot might have filled more usefully than in playing a travesty of “Curtius” by keeping far from the field, where the defenders of his State were gallantly contending against its invaders.

I will not further consider his sophomoric twaddle about Curtius and the murder of the innocents, or his lame effort to show that he meant only — that the phrase, “the two countries,” embarrassed the commissioners in their progress to Hampton Roads. Indeed, I should not have deemed that his article required my notice, but for the unfounded insinuation that a confidential interview which he had held with me had been reported to my aids, and by them used to his injury.

Premising that I have no recollection of such an interview as he describes, I must express my surprise that any one should, after the lapse of thirteen years, be able to report fully a conversation of which, when it ended, he never expected to hear again. I do, however, remember a visit made to me in the executive office, some time after the Hampton Roads conference, by Senators Hunter, Graham, and Orr, to induce me to offer to negotiate on the basis of abandoning our independence; and that I closed the conversation by asking them to send me a resolution of the Senate, and promising to make a prompt reply. I assembled the Cabinet as soon as the Senators left me, and made a statement to them of the interview, which I would not have permitted to be held confidentially. I then went to the house of Senator Barnwell, who was ill, stated the matter to him, and asked him to see that the resolution expected should be so unequivocal that my issue with the cabal should be distinctly understood by the people. Then, for the first time, my faith in Mr. Hunter was impaired; and confidence is a plant which will not bear “topping.”

That he should have thought I distrusted while yet confiding in him, must find its solution elsewhere than in my conduct. Perhaps