The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-07-11
A PIECE OF HISTORY,
The Peace Conference NJ Ham.
'iri'l,' ~ ton Roads, 2,

|. trq'o ton Roads, NJ
The Augusta (Georgis) Chronicle
and Sentinel has published detailed
account of the conference held off
Fortress Monroe last January, between
President Lincoln and Secretary Sew
ard on one side, and the three rebel
commissioners on the other. There
seems good internal and other evidence
for believing that this statement was
prepared at the instance of Mr.. Alex
ander III. Stephens, who is cited as au-
thority by the paper. AS an inside
view of the affair, which has constant
" been misrepresented and enyeloped
in mystery, the article is an exceedingly
interesting one. ,.a,.1 .ql,r,
Mr.. Stephens says that:-- r.
Mr.: Davis sent for him to oomniuni-
cate the information that Mr.. Blair de-
sired o conferehce between the author
tiles of the United States and the South
ern States upon the subject of peace,
and his advice was asked. He promp,
ly replied that if Mr.. Blair spoke by
authority of President Lincoln, he most
earnestly advised the conference, but
that, as the terms of peace, If favora-
BILE to the South, would awaken angry
debate from the radical men OF the
North, and failure to get terms but
| dishearten our own people, he recon-
mended, first, that the strictest secrecy
be used; second, that the parties to the
conference be President Lincoln and
Mr.. Davis, and that Generals Grant
and Lee be the only ones to even know
of the meeting.
This advice was disregarded, how
ever, and the committee of three was
appointed. Mr.. Stephens gives an ac
count of the interview mainly like tha
given to the public by the Union au
thorities. The following incident o
the conference has not got into prin
before: l
"Mr. Hunter insisted that the recog
milton of Davis's power to make trea
ty was the first and Indispensable stel
to peace, and referring to the CORES
pondence between King Charles tn
First and his Parliament as reliabl
: precedent of a constitutional rule
treating with rebels. D!
Mr.. Lincoln's face then wore tina
indiscrbable expression which general
ly preceded his heardest hits, and h
, remarked: "Upon questions OF histo
f ry Imust refer you to Mr.. Seward, TO
: he is posted in such things, and l don
propose to be bright. My only distinc
f recollection of the matter is, that Charlie
. lost his head That settled Mr.. Hur
I ter for while" f
: During the interview itappears tina
: Hunter declared that he had never eT
9 tertained any fears for his person q
/, life from so mild a government as tina
5 of the United States, To which M
e Lincoln retorted, that he also had fe
: easy as to the rebels, but not always s
!. easy about the lamp-posts aroun
/ Washington city--a hint that he ha
s already done more fayors for the rebe
d than was exactly popular with the rae
: ical men of his own party.
8 The amendment to the Constitute
Y abolishing slavery was discussed. M
s Lincoln suggested that there was
y question as to the right of the insur,
: ent states TO return at once and clsir,
a right to vote upon the amendment,
s which the concurrence of two-thirds
d the States was required. pc p
:. He stated that it would be desirab
5 TO have the institution of slavery abe
ishcd by the consent of the people
2 soon as possible--he hoped within S
: wears. lie also stated that four hu
It dred millions OF dollars might be offt
is ed as compensation to the owner
I and remarked, "You would be su
n prised were to give you the names
1t those who favor that"
n Mr. Hunter said something abo
q the inbumanity of leaving so many po
d old negroes and young children des
Is tute by encouraging the ahlc-bodi'
n negroes to run away, and asked, "wh
ir are they--the hclplcss--to do2"I
" Mr.. Lincoln said that reminded hi
y of an. old friend in Illinois, who had
,e crop Of potatoes and did not want
&c dig them, So he told neighbor tn
i'll he would turn in his hogs, and let the
to dig for themselves. "But," said t
n neighbor, "the frost will soon be in I
ground, and when the soil is hard a
. frozen, what will they do then?,,
n To which the worthy farmer replic
,r- 'Let 'em root !"
Ie, Mr. Stephens said he supposed Il
"a was the original of "Root, Hog,
ps Die" and fai, indication of the
il, ture of the negroes. CO ',....,.
it, Mr.. Stephens came home, says I
n Chronicle, with new cause of sorro
W. and those who said he talked of co
TX, ing home to make war speeches a
tie denounce the terms offered simply III
ID: Before Mr.. ,I.incoln's death he thous
so he was doing favor to him not to
,b- clude that offer of four hundred m
at ions in gold for the Southern slaves
vin the published report, for 1t would
be used to the injury Of Mr. Lincoln
,er those Of his enemies who would :
ly, about taxation and the debt" ITO
er, Mr.. Stephens has frequently
The pressed no apprehensions should
up f6rtunes of war throw him into
div handsof Mr.. Lincoln, and said
Ing would not get out of the way of a T
md were it not for appearances, on acco
nq- of the Office he held. He spoke
en- Mr.. lincoln as an old friend who
it's generally'voted with him in Congr
,os- and who had good heart and
the mind, and was undoubtedly honest.