The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-07

with foreign Powers-was that it was not
war for conquest, but that the states never
had been separated from the Union; conse-
quently he could not recognize another Gov
eminent inside of the one in which he alone
was President, nor admit the separate lnoe-
pendence of States that were yet part OF tne
Union. "That," said he, "would be doing
what you have so long asked Europe TO 40 IN
vain, and be resigning the only thing that the
armies of the union are fighting for.
To that Mr.. Hunter replied at length IN
rather Congressional style, urging tn nate sne
treaty was the first and indispensable step to
peace, and referring to the correspondence be-
tween King Charles the First and his Parlia-
ment, as reliable precedent of constitutional
ruler treating with rebels.
Mr.. Lincolns face then wore that indescri.
bable expression which generally preceded his
hardest Fits, and he remarked: Upon CUES
tons of history must refer you to Mr.. Sew
ard, for he is posted in such things, and don't
propose to be bright. My only distinct recol-
lection of the matter is that Charles lost his
head" That settled Mr.. Hunter for while.
There was little said about the fact that an ar
mistice would be of no benefit, unless it pre-.
ceded that which the North must have, If her
armies stopped from the tide of victory-to
wit: the restoration of the Union and It's law.
Mr.. Lincoln remarked that whatever conse-
quences may follow from the re-establishment
of that authority, 1t must be accepted; but in
diyiduals subject to pains and penalties under
the laws of the United States might rely upon
a very liberal use of the powers confined to
him to remit those pains and penalties If peace
be restored. -
He also stated in the above connection that
limited as he was by the Constitution. he
~ nh nrS INN % M
gress, nor abolish its laws, nor stay the judg-
ments of the courts, for the legislative and ju-
dicial power had coequal jurisdiction with the
Executive. But he did offer all the power of
mercy, and power and influence, both as the
Chief Magistrate as q popular party leader,
and that is better offer than rebels on the eve
of destruction and ruin ever had before from a
victorious power.
Mr.. Hunter stated that he had never enter
tanned any fears for his person or life from so
mild government as that of the United States.
To which Mr.. Lincoln retorted that he also
had felt easy as to the rebels, but not always so
easy about the lamp posts around Washington
City-a hint that he had already done more IA
vors for the rebels than was exactly popular
with the radical men of his own party.
During the conference the proposed amend
ments to the Constitution adopted by Congress
on the 31st, were brought to notice. These
amendments provide that neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude, except for crimes, should
exist within the United States, or any place
within its jurisdiction, and Congress should
have power to enforce the amendment by ap.
propriate legislation.
Mr.. Lincoln had almost assumed the tone of
argument, and intimated that the States might
do much better to return to the Union at once
than to- stand the chances of continued war
and the increasing bitterness of feeling in Con-
gress. And that the time might come when
we would cease to be an erring people, invited
back to the Union as citizens, but looked upon
perhaps as enemies, to be exterminated or ru-
.ined.
dent, it is as well to inform these gentlemen
that yesterday Congress acted upon the amend
ment to the Constitution abOlishing slavery"
Mr.. Lincoln stated that was true, and sug
gested that there was question as to the right
of the insurgent States to return at once and
claim right to vote upon the amendment, to
which the concurrence of two-thirds of the
States was required.
He stated that it would be desirable to have
the institution of slavery abolished by the con-
sent of the people as soon as possible he hoped
within six years. He also stated that four hum
dred millions of dollars might be offered as q
compensation to the owners, and remarked !:
"Y0u would be surprised were I to give you
the names of those who favor that"
Mr.. Hunter said something about the inhu-
manity of leaving so many poor old negroes
the able bodied negroes to run away, and asked
what are they-the helpless-to do?
. Mr.. Lincoln said that reminded him of an
old friend In Illinois, who had a crop of pota-
toes and did not want to dig them. So he told
a neighbor that he would turn in his hogs and
let them dig for themselves. But, said the
neighbOr, the frost will soon be in the ground,
md xuhnv fhn cnfI &c hnr d hat xrv:1v
they do then? To which the worthy farmer
replied, LET 'em root"
Mr.. Stephens said he supposed that was the
origin of ''Root hog or die, " and fair indica-
ton of the future of the negro.
The finishing up part of the report Of
Mr.. Davis's commissioners reads thus:
Of all the correspondence that preceded the
conference herein mentioned, and leading TO
the same, you have heretofore been informed
Very respectfully your obedient servants,
ALEX. II. STEPHENS,
r. M. T. HUNTER
JOHN A. CAMPBELL.
We remark now that all we know of the
correspondence above mentioned we have
from the report of Mr. Seward, as Mr..
Davis never favored us with it.
The whole meeting was friendly, and
the parting cordial, as reported. Mr..
Stephens reported to Mr.. Davis that moth
ing had been done, but that nothing was
determined, and that if he relied upon the
sincerity of Mr.. Blair, the conference was
but confirmation of the desire for peace
on the part of the United States, and the
way open for settlement. Mr.. Davis, how
ever, looked upon the proposals as insult
ing, and seemed to have the concurrence
of Mr.. Hunter in that view-somewhat.
He wished a statement to go before the
public that only insulting terms were ten
dered; but the commissioners declined
to make it, on the ground that it was not
true. .sa
With some difficulty they secured the
reception of the brief and perfectly truth
full, but not very clear report that was
published, and Mr.. Davis put the coloring
to it and endeavored to SECURE bis object
of crushing the great Southern peace party
by an infammatory dispatch sent all over
the country, followed by the actual report,
with the following ingenious preface, writ