The Portland daily press., 1865-04-26
Mr.. Linooln's Views. 0

aa Correspondence of the New York Tribune
A Washington correspondent of the New
York Tribune gives the following history OF
the authority recently given for the assem-
bling OF the rebel Legislature OF Virginia:
While President Lincoln was in Richmond,
he was waited upon by Judge john A. Camp
bell, who observed:
Il had an interview with Jefferson Davis,
Benjamin and Breckenridge just before they
left, and said TO them: The military power OF
the Confederacy is broken. Its Independence
is hopeless. 1t only remains for US to make
the best terms we can. The trouble is, the
President OF abe United States cannot enter
into negotiations with you; but he does re-
cognize the States, and can confer with their
regular authorities. Under the doctrine of
State rights, SO universally held in the South,
the troops from Virginia-the Confederate
government being a iugitive-will recognize
the right OF the Virginia Legislature to con-
| troll them. If yeu, Mr.. Lincoln, will permit
that body to convene, it will doubtless recall
them from the ield.n
Campbeli's arguments for this course were
many and speci0us. The President was actu-
ated by his absorbing desire for peace to list
en- attentively; but he said:
aJudge Campbell, let US have no misunder-
standing. will give you once more, in
black and white, my only terms" And he
Immediately wrote the same propositions
which Seward took from him to the Hampton
Roads conference: kfN
/. The territorial integrity Of the Repub-
lie. 8o5
III. No retraction of Executive or Con-
gressional action on the subject OF slavery.
III. No armistice.
To these he added fourth condition, that.
If leading confederates still persisted in the
war, now it had become SO utterly hopeless
their property should be relentlessly confs.
Gated.
Campbell prayed for q modification Of the
third article, but the President was immova-
BILE. He said: t
they are fighting against us. The last cleo.
ton established this as the deliberate deter
mination of the country" a a
On the steamboat which brought Mr.. Lin.
| coin down the James river, he wrote this or.
| der TO General Weitzel: s.
You will permit the persons who call
themselves the Virginia Legislature to con-
vene in Richmond.for the purpose of with.
| drawing the Virginia troops from the rebel
army, but you will not allow them to use any
reasonable language, or adopt any treason
able measures"
Without consulting with any person what
ever, or advising any one of its contents, he
sealed this document, and sent it to General
Weitzel by United States Senator.
But on the very day of his death, he re-
ceived letter from Judge Campbell, tinged
with the usual rebel insolence, ignoring alto
gether the proposition which the President
had made to him in writing, and urging:
at is true that the military power of the
Confederacy is destroyed, but the spirit OF
the Southern people still remains unbroken.
If you want to conciliate them. il will be wise
for you to grant an armistice, and necessary
for you to treat leniently their leading public
meu, and seek their assistance
This was too much for Mr.. Lincoln's good
nature. He characterized Campbells course
as ungrateful and outrageous. Meanwhile
the capitulation of Gen. Lee obviated the me-
cessity of converting the rebel Legislature,
and he sent an order countermanding the
call.
One of the Presidents last official acts was
deed of mercy towards his enemies. He
expressly said he meant to give the leading
Coniederates an opportunity to leave the
country. This telegram came from Portland /:
Beverly Tucker and Jacob Thompson will
be here tomorrow in disguise. to leave on the
steamer for Europe. What shall we do?"
Mr.. Lincoln directed the authorities to let
them go. A few hours later he fell by the as :
sassin's bullet, and beside his death bed a
member of his Cabinet countermanded that
order. Fortunately for their own lives, Tuck
er and Thompson did not come into the Unit
ed States after the conspiritors had murdered
the only man who could have saved them
from their doom.