Galveston I. Ap^l 75.

 

Hon. S. B. Maxey

Paris, Texas

                       

Dear Gen^l:

                                    You have many thanks for your kind favor, and tho' I have not time to answer it fully, as I should desire, it cannot be permitted to lie on for fear of misapprehension.

 

            We do not differ in opinion, I am cordially with you in igoring the recent war in principle and in action, where a sacrifice of self respect is not required, and we are met in the same spirit by the other side. Had our people confined themselves to an invitation 

 

to all "Mexican War Veterans", in Texas, including officers of the Army, I should have said nothing, But they specially selected all officers of the Army, & specify "Capt. U. S. Grant" as an offset to "Col Jefferson Davis". This might be very well when the l;ion and the lamb lie down together, but for the lamb to ask that happy union whilst the lowly beast is making his daily breakfast from the sheep fold, is a little too much. But, General, the matter which compels me to abstain is more directly personal. At a general meeting of the Association at Austin in Jan'y, I attended by invitation, and joined and was initiated as a member. A part of the proceeding of that evening was to appoint a "Committee of Arrangements" for an annual meeting in May. I was made chairman of that Com^te. / At a meeting of that Committee, held a few days thereafter, the question of inviting officers of the Army was discussed, and it was decided, as a matter of policy, and to secure harmony, not to entertain it. At the subsequent meeting of the Association, a special committee is appointed to do this very thing, and in a way to be offensive to Mr. Davis, to whom I had written, and from whom they had recd his courteous reply, sent up by me.

 

            Another phase, personal to yourself, I need not mention. I wrote for an explanation, and only rec^d in reply a statement of what had taken place. On the receipt of this, I simply withdrew from the Committee. Could I do less? Yrs Truly,

                                                                                               

Braxton Bragg.

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