The New York herald., 1865-07-09
MR. LMCOLN'S POLICY.
The Secret History Of the Peace Nego-
tiatiOnS Of the Late President aa
Related by Judge Campbell.

Quu Wny IL V0S DVSVAVus
--~~o~>~~-o.~~~~.>~~~~~~~~
The Justification Of General
Weitzel,
dbe, &C., 60.
Our Richmond Correspondencc.
RcHxoxD, Va, July 1, 1896
| nmro9Y or M EuooLH's rzAcz NEGOTIATIONS
II may now appear bo very late date to give any
details Of the famous peace negotiations known a. tho
champion Roads Conference " have thought since
the publication Of what purported TO be Ar Stephens
statement Of that conference that the particulars
given me by Judge Campbell will be not less interesting
| q presenting another rebel view Of the affair
will not questioned that IL was the height Of Mr.
Lncolns ambition to sgnaze his administration Of tho
Chief Executive ONCE Of the nation which was COM
menced under such adverse circumstances by the reso
ration Of tho Union In oil Its territorial integrity with tho
foul blot Of slavery eradcated from its cscutcheon.
From the day that hostiities commenced until the
render Of Lees amythe grand original act Of the hnal
collapse Of the nsurrecton-Mr. Lincoln's voice and
influence for peace. No efforts consistent with the
dignity Of his position, the great nation Of which he
the head the great principles he represented,
were ever left untried that promised any tendency to
this grand desideraum Great questions Of expediency
the masses Of tho people, frequently prevented negota
tons that 70 public view promised favorable results
but instance be cited wherein opportunity
presented that could properly and honoraby be
braced for treatment with the controlling powers Of the
| insurgents that was neglected
THE NIAGARA FALLS H0vIN1Nr
II must be remembered that not possible for Mr.
Lincoln recognize JeG Davis authority the head Of
government since that would virtually be an acknow
lodged and recognized by u.s. would quickly have been
acknowledged by the governments Of Europe Hence II
was not possible treat with parties accredited by jon
Davis TO negotiate peace Neither would II have been
at all consistent with the dignity of the head OF great
nation into negotiations with any unauthorized
individuals who might chance to along and repre-
themselves tho agents Of the insurgents Here
then was great daculty tho outset This dihnculty
was happily met and by Mr. Lincons very apt
and terse proclamation addressed ro whom may con-
cern in which exhibited degree Of statesmanship
and diplomatic ability hitherto unsurpassed BY our great
| est statesmen ~
! appeared on investigation that tho particular indi
| viduas at whom the ''ro whom It may concern" pro-
camaon was aimed had no power act in the premises
which they assumed to occupy, and hence negotiations
With them confined solely TO the ascertainmcnt OF
| this fact.
| run BrAR MISSION
70 Richmond in all its aspecss fnliy dianessd
| and commented on. Although It is probable that Mr.
Blair went TO Richmond with Mr.. Lncoln's knowledge
ana consent-porhaps at his suggeston-with view OF
starting train that might terminate in successful peace
yet tho mission successfully covered
under diplomatic subtorfuge that its failure could in
manner impcate Mr. Lincoln imperil the dignity Of
| the national administration
| TIM HAMPTON ROADS coNHERENcg.
The result Of that mission tho Hampton Roads
peace conference the first real meeting looking to
peaoeful adjustment Of the difficulties existing bstwcen
tho North and the South OF this conference much has
been said and written both at the North and tho South
| and reports submitted at its termination and
printed both by Mr. Lincoln and the insurgcnt commits
soners neither Of which reports nor any OF the un-
official communications upon the subject have let in the
full light which the death Of and consequent justice TO
Mr. Lincoln demands and the present changed aspect Of
| public affairs permits
or the circumstances attending the assembling Of this
conference sufficient has already boon printed and ID
generally known. I propose to take it at its zonth
when the parties had mot, and state Of Its leading
features many of which, for political reasons, have
hitherto been suppressed And PREDATORY 10 what
have to say will only remark that my information IL
ndsputabc and can be subsan by the surviving
parties to the conference. 81. a.. .,...
And first Of ALL it merely repeating what has already
been said officially and unofcally when say that the
conference was conducted wholly in an informal ane
conversational manner Mr. Lincoln throughout was th'
principal spokesman. He laid down his policy and con
ditions, supporting them by the able arguments fo
which he noted occasionally receiving sugges
tons or hints from Mr. Seward though usually all such
merely in support Of the points originating with th
President and from time to time receiving and answer
ing the exceptions amendments Of tho other parties
But from beginning TO end the conference was to franz
L
points his; the arguments his their support his
| all was hs The rebel commissioners solely gained b.
the interview an intimate knowledge Of Mr. Lincoln
| purposes and plans Now as TO
| WHAT WAS SAID AND DISCUSSED.
And nrs let il be remarked that throughout the con
ycrsational interview the President exceedingly
careful avoid any expression that could DO consrue
into a recognition or acknowledgment either OF tn
Southern confederacy Of the State governments CON
posing conederacy In the Of the confercnc
the question the status Of tn, parties at wal
Mr. Lincoln contcndcd and niained that the hostil
ties were wagcd by individuals 1t tho South The insu
gent commissioners sought 10 secure cogni;ion OF th
theory that separate States had rovotcd withdraw
from the Union and that thcso States should be recot
nized in their political organ za,ions Their ground
wers that the war was insurrccton, which imp
an uprs ng OF porion OF tho people against tho legt
mate government but n OF States against cenir
government, based on principle and therefore TO
treated Ms u legitimate war Against all this sophistr
Mr. Lincoln msnfuy ana ably commended, with logic an
argument yet tho entire conversation being conduc'e
| in the bost Of humor and kindly spirit
Mr. Lincoln SGT out with the opinion that the settl
mcnt of the existing difficulties between the United Sta
and those In hostility to IL was of supreme importanc
But he was not disposed entertain any proposition
an srmistcs cessation Of hostllties orr diversion TO
other enterprise, until these difficulties were adjusted
the re-es,ablshment of the national authority. nec
hero TO he explained that in the dcsutory conversat'
= that had preceded and introduced the more formal co
ference If may so term IT, the insurgont commissions
had hinted nrs formal armsticc and, failing that
s cessation Of hosttcs, the pending questions fema