Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-24
THE EVENING STAR.
CHAPrER OF RECENT HISTORY.

President Lincoln and virginia Rebels
Secretary Stewards Condition -Presi.
sins.
correspondence OF the New York Tribune
WAsHISGToE. April &c, lS65.-The follow.
Ing is the history of the authority recently
given for the assembling OF the Rebel LegisIa-
fnre OF Virginia.
While President Lincoln was In Richmond
be was waited upon by Judge John A. Camp
IL had an interview with Jefferson Davis,
Benjamin and Breckenridge just before lucy
left, and said 70 them: 'The military power OF
the Confederacy ie broken. Its lpoepenoence
ia homeless. II only remains for as to make
the best terms we can. The trouble Is the
President Of the UHited STATES cannot enter
into negotiations with you; but he does recog-
ME 1he States, and can confer with their
regular authorities. Under the doctrine OF
ss,ate Rights, so universally held in the South,
me troops from Nirginia-the Confederate
Government being fugitive-wiil recognize
The right OF the Nirginia Legislature to control
them If you, Mr.. Lincoln will permit that
body TO convene, il will doubtless recall them
II ON the field"
Dam phelrs arguments for this course were
many and specious. The President was &C.
tuated by bis absorbing desire for peace to
listen stten,ively; but he said:
.Judge Campbell, let us have no mis- under
STANDING. i will give you once more, in black
and white, my only terms" And he immedt-
atsIy wrote the same propositions which Mr..
Seward took from him TO the Hampton Roads
Conference:
i. The territorial integrity of the Republic.
II. No reraction of Executive or Congress
sjonal action on the subject Of slavery.
III No armistice.
To these he added fourth condition, that,
il leading ConiedeI ates still persisted in the
war, now ii had become so utterly hopeless,
their property should be reientlessly confis-
60 ed
Campbell prayed for a modification OF the
third article, but the President was imm0y-
able. He said:
1--WE Will not negotiate with men as long as
Ayh In QOa I'M HI a q apf
establIs he'd this as the deliberate determination
OF the country"
ON the steamboat: which brought Mr.. Lincoln
down the James river he wrote this order to
Gen. WeItzel:
"Yon will permit the persons who call
themselves the Virginia Legislature to con.
vepe IN Richmond, for the purpose of with
drawing the Virginia troops from the rebel
army, but You will not allow them TO use any
reason able language, or adopt any reasonable
measures"
Without consulting with any person what.
ever, or advising any one of its contents, he
sealed this document and sent ii TO General
Weitzel BY Unied States Senator.
but, on the very day of his death, he re-
ceived letter from Judge Campbeli, tinged
with the usual rebel insoence, ignoring alto
gs!her the proposition which the President
had made to MIN in writing, and ufsing:
cit Ia true that the military power of the
Confeoeracy Is destroy ed, but the spirit of the
Southern people still reDlsins un0roken. II
you want 10 mediate them 1t will De wise for
you 10 grant tn armistice, and necessary for
you 10 treat leniently their leading public men,
and see their assistance.'
This was too much even for MIR. Lincoln's
good nature. He characterized Campbells
course as ungraIeful and outrageous. Mean
while, the capitalization Of General Lee obyIated
the necessity Of conyening the rebel Legisla-
ture, and he sent an order concentrating the
call
One ofthe Presidents last official acts was
deed OF mercy toward his enemies. He ex.
pressly stated that he meant to give the lead
Ing COnfederates an opportunity to leave the
country. This despatch from Port Royal came
TO Washington:
"Beverly Tucker and Jacob Thompson will
be here tomorrow in disguise, 10 leave on the
steamer for Europe What shall we do2'
them 90. A few hours later he fell by the as
sassin's bullet, and beside his deatn-bed q
member OF the Cabinet countermanded that
order. Fortunately Tor their own lives, Thomp.
son and Tucker did not come into the United
States after the conspirators had murdered
the only man who could have saved them
from their doom
Mr. Seward exhibits wonderful vitality, bat
his ply sicians have little hope that his mouth
will ever recover Its symmetry. It Is likely
10 be awry, and probably power will be lack
ing entirely to close the lower jaw. Several
days since the Secretary, with characteristic
unseltishness, wrote upon slate: ."For my.
selfI care nothing; but the people should have
been more watchful for their President
Evidence disclcses that there were ten con.
spirators in the r lot; that at a meeting held In
Memphis they selected by lot the assassin Of
lie fItslucut OuE uuluOSlteo nave Il letter
" hich says: sit becomes your happy lot to
destroy this tyrant. You can select the cup,
the blade or the bullet but ysu k1aolc ne cup has
once been Died, and II fatled."
Letter from j. b Booth to J. w. Booth.
WASHINGTON, April ~ "A letter received at
Fords Tneater, directed 10 ]. Wilkes Boom,
has been handed 70 the police. 1t is in the
handwriting Of Iunius Brutus Booth, and is
simply signed "Jun.' The writer speaks sig.
pificantly OF the oil business and ad vises young
Booth 70 abandon il now that Richm ond has
been given up and Lee has surrendered, as his
friends believe il will not be profitable A
postscript signed "Alice" is appended, giving
Booth similar advice.
II is stated that J. Wilkes Booth studiad law
in the Office Of the late Judge Buel, Troy, about
ten years ago. He remained there but short
time.