Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-05-03
Is TT TRUE2

death OF Abraham Lincoln, the Corper-
head" journals and leaders were lavish IN
singing praises to the martyr President
He who was heretofore usurper, despot,
a tyrant, is now denominated the good, the
wise, the magnanimous. The question arl-
ses, Why this sudden change of opinion? Is
it because Mr.. Lincoln departed from the
policy he had steadily pursued in regard to
the rebellion from the beginning, or Is 1t
for some other cause? A change of policy
is alleged as the reason. But, is this true?
That the President was humane and mag
unanimous towards the enemies of the Union,
all viii admit; but that he retracted or mod
flied any of his official edicts, does not ac-
cord with the truth.
During Mr.. Lincoln visit to Richmond,
few days before his death, and just as he
was leaving the rebel capital, he gave an or
der to General Weitzell to permit the rebel
Virginia Legislature to meet in Richmond
for the purpose of taking the necessary pre-
liminary steps for the return of that State
into the Union. This order was penned in
consequence of representations by Judge
Campbell, who said that Davis, Benjamin,
Breckenridge, and others, when they were
leaving Richmond, admitted that the Con-
federacy was gone up and its cause hope
less, and 'as Mr.. Lincoln would not treat
with them, the States must do the best they
could. In this conversation with Judge
Campbell, says a correspondent of the New
York Tribune, Mr. Lincoln wrote down the
following conditions on which he would
make peace:
''Ist-The territorial integrity of the Re-
public. 2d-No retraction of Executive or
Congressional action on the subject of slave
ry. 3d-No armistice
To these he added fourth condition, that,
IF leading Confederates still persisted in
the war, now it had become so utterly hope
less, their property should be relentlessly
conhscated.
Judge Campbell prayed for modification
of the third article, but the President was
| immovable. He said:
eve will not negotiate with men so long
as they are fighting against US. The last
election established this as the deliberate
determination of the country"
| These were the Hampton Roads condi-
tions; ard on the very day of his death, MIR.
Lincoln received letter from Judge Camp
| bell, tinged with the usual rebel lnso!ence,
| ignoring altogether the proposition which
the President had made to him in writing,
and urgingly wrote,
''It is true that the military power of the
Confederacv is destroyed, but the spirit of
the Southern people still remains unbroken.
IF you want to conciliate them, it will be
wise for you to grant an armistice. and ne
cessary for you to treat lenicntly their lead
ing public men and seek their assistance.
| This was too much for Mr. Lincoln. He
characterized Campbell s course as migrate
ful and outrageous Meanwhile the capt.
ulation of Gen Lee obviated the necessity
of convening the rebel Legislature, and he
sent an order countermaading the call.
In the above the President asks the ac-
acknowledgement of the territorial integrity of
| the Union-assent to the validity of the E.
Emancipation proclamation-and the laying
down of their arms, as the conditions upon
which he would receive the insurgents back
into the Union.
Submission, on the part of the rebels, to
the Constitution, the Laws, and the Govern
ment authorities, was Mr. Lincoln ultima
tum to Judge Campbell and submission was
the only terms ever offered to them since
the beginning of hostilities. Here certain
ly is no change of policy-no deviation from
any of his former we'll established opinions,
or from any of his public acts. Then there
must be some other reason for this great
change of sentiment on the part of the Cop
perhead papers and leaders. What can it
be? Do they now condemn and acknowl-
edge as false all that they have heretofore
said of Mr. Lincoln and his policy and acts,
or are they merely playing the hypocrite
from some sinister motive? Do they feel a
responsibility resting upon them as having
to certain degree been instrumental in in
stigating the death of Mr. Lincoln, and by
their fulsome praise hope to escape the in
dignation of bereaved and injured nation
Whatever may be their motive, it is evident
that the plea they make is not the true one
that it is a mere pretext to deceive the un-
wary but honest masses, with the expecta-
ton of escaping any responsibility or odium
) that may attach to them for the course they
have pursued towards our departed Chief
Magistrate, and the Union, ever since the
rebellion commenced.
The Last Ditch.