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Unofficial.

Richmond. Oct: 19" 1864.

Mr President:

You will admit, doubtless, that philosophical speculations, based on unerring general principles, and properly applied to practical questions, constitute the secret of the statesman in the conduct of human affairs. In this light alone have I troubled you heretofore, and now again take the liberty of appealing to your hours of ease & leisure from the onerous tasks of the day.

I find that Mr DeBoor, without warrant from myself, or my friends that I am aware of, has, upon the reestablishment of his Review at Columbia South-Carolina, taken the liberty of introducing as his leader, with the usual address of former articles, my Selma speech, made in March last on "Our Foreign & Domestic Status".

In this speech will be found a resume of much that I had, from time to time, previously said, but so arranged in all the parts as to apply to the present. Perhaps it may serve somewhat to interest you. It will be seen that, in a section of the Confederacy where peace ideas were most prevailing, the speech was made to controvert the idea that peace could be possibly attained save through War & the success of our arms.

I know that many fools, in different quarters, have ignorantly sought to traduce me here in respect to my opinions & their expression, and I prefer to appear before you as I really am even though my warts should overshadow my features.

I congratulate you upon the happy change in our Georgia Military status so quickly following your visit there, and well remember your graphic remark made to me before you left Richmond foreshadowing present results.

Believe me, Mr President

Very sincerely yours &c

John, Tyler

P. S.

Since my return from Henry County I should have called upon you at your Residence but I have scarcely been able to move about my quarters. Upon reaching the foot of the mountains I suddenly contracted cold & bronchitis which has been steadily increasing, affecting my chest for the first time in my life. The truth is the swamps of Arkansas & the Mississippi brought back the ague upon me after the lapse of twenty four years, and its renewed attacks, together with the recent reopening of the old wounds of my private griefs, to say nothing of the unhappy effects upon the mind of my official matters here, weaken and impair me greatly. I trust however, soon to grow better -

J Tyler

To His Excellency

Jefferson Davis.

President, C.S.A.