Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-07-20
President Lincoln's visit to
Richmond.

President Lincoln with the rebel Judge
, CsRpbcll, during his visit to Richmond
just after the capture Of that city. At the
first interview, which was granted at Camp.
BELLS request, the latter was permitted to
be the spokesman. His idea, we're too
strongly Southern to be entertained Mr..
Lincoln, however, said that he would see
Campbell again next day, and at second
interview read from paper the essentials
to peace, as he regarded them:
First-The restoration Of the national ai,.
thority throughout all tho States.
Second-Ns recedipg by the Executive
Of the United States on the slavery question
from the position assumed thereon in tbo
late annual message to Congress and in pre.
ceding documents.
Third-NO cessation Of hostiities short
of an end of the war and the disbanding Of
all forces hostile to the Government.
All propositions coming from those in
hostility to the Government, and not incon.
sistent with the foregoing, will be respeot-
fully considered and passed upon in a spirit
Of sincere liberality. Beyond the indispen.
sable terms any reasonable conditions will
be entertained.
The remission of con6scations was left
within the power of the Executive. Con
fscalions will be enforced if the war is con.
tinued, but will be remittcd to the people
OF any State which shall now promptly and
in good faith withdraw its troops and other
support from further resistance to the Gov
ernment. This has no reference to right of
property in slaves.
Mr.. Lincoln then re-read the paper COM
! nfanfInH n IpnUfh aooh ~
sentence, in order to make his meaning
clear and distinct. The paper was then
handed to the Southern Representatives.
Mr.. Lincoln remarked that the question
of pardons was not mentioned in the paper.
The pardoning power, he said, was vested
wholly and unreservedly with himself He
could not force pardens upon anybody. -
JEFF. Davis had said that he would not ac-
cspt a pardon from him (Mr Lincoln. y
What was not worth asking for was not
worth receiving. "But most anybody can
have almost anything they choose to ask
| for.
MR.. LINooLN's PLAN FOR REA 5sEMBLING
TIE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
After seme general conversation, Mr.
Lincoln, doubtless referring to the PROPOSE
tion ct thesprevious evening said:
Il have been considering plan for reas-
sembling the Virginia Legislature. deem
1t OF the greatest Importance that the same
organization that has been casting the inftti-
ence aud support of the State to the rebels
should bring the State back into the Union.
Ii can work it out in my mind, l will let
you know"
In justice to Gen. Weilzel, whom the
public has charged nth transcending his
authority in permitting the call for the as
sembling of the Virginia Legislature to be
made, this point is important. The rrope-
sition that had been made to Mr. Lincoln
was to convene the public and leading states
men of Virginia, without reference to their
official station, and to settle with them the
terms and mode of reorganization, and to
obtain their aid in composing and tranquil
izing the people. On the following day the
President addressed note to Gen. Weitzel
from City Point authorizing him to permit
the convening of the Legislature, and di-
recting that the note be shown to Judge
Campbell. On that authority the call for
the convening of the Legislature was pre-
pared and submitted to Gen. Shepley for
approval. Gen. Shepley made some alter
atien in its wording, and then permitted IT
to be printed.
In the meantime the late President re-
turned to Washington, where, it would
seem, the action had was made the topic of
discussion in the Cabinet, by the advice Of
which body, and because of revelations
hereinafter detailed, the President was led
revoke the action he had taken. He there
upon addressed note to Gen. Weitze di- |
recting that the permission for the re-as-
sembling of the Virginia Legislature be re-
voksd, and all the papers that had passed |
in the premises be Withdrawn. This note
entered somewhat at length into the reasons
that induced the Executive to adopt this
course. simultaneously with the reception
Of this note by General Weitzel, Maj Gen. |
+. o. Q. Ord, Commander Of the Depart |
ment of Virginia, arrived at Richmond. !
having previously been absent with one of |
his corps, cooperating with the Army of
the Potomac in the pursuit of Lee. His |
arrival operated to relieve Gen. Weitzel of |
the supreme command he had been exer-
cising, and the latter was sent to Petersburg |
with his corps. Because of the coincidence |
Of these events it was generally stated in |
the Northern papers that General Weitze
was relieved because of having transcribed |
his authority by permitting the call to issue
tor the assembling of the Legislature.
From the above it will be seen how un-
just was this imputation. 1t is unfortunate
that the considerations of national policy |
lorplu tub puollCbtl0u III lui OF tHe ldCe |
President final note to Gen. Weitxel on
this subject, which fully exonerstes that of. |
foer from all blame or eensure in the matter.
1t is, however, most probable, as stated
on eminent authority, that Mr.. Lincoln, in
the honesty OF HIS intentions and the frank
ness Of his heart, permitted himself to be
entrapped where he considered everything
to he fair and honorable. 1t will be renem,
bered that the proposition had been made
to him to assemble ''the public and Leading
statesmen Of Virginia, without reference to
their Official station" This proposition was
intended and understood to mean the as.
ssmbling of the people composing the State
Legislature, though not as an official body.
Mr.. Lincoln, in referring to it, spoke of the
"Virginis Legislature" doubtless meaning
thereby the unofficial body that had been
spoken of to him; and when he sanctioned
the assembling Of that body, he did net in
tend that the old rebel Legislature should
be called together as recognised political
organization, which was attempted under
the sanction gathered from his note. When
he saw the literal Interpretation that had
been put upon his language by Campbell
and ethers, he made haste to revoke the
Whole proceedings and recall all papers that