Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-06-24

that they would be modified 70 obtain that end.
We understood from him that no terms or pro-
posais OF any treaty or agreement looking to
me ultimate settlement would be entertained
9s Or made BY him with the authorities OF the
HSsonIederase States, because that would be O
| oshiuon OF their existence as q separate
| be hich, under no circumstances, would
ps cone; and, for like reasons, that no such
r..a s,s, woaid Dc entertained by him from sepa-
uce, as ~ Presens advised, would be granted
| or allowed, without satisfactory assuran ces,
antnority Of the Of the the
utted States over all places within the States
| Of the Confederacy.
The first paragraph of the above simply
means that Reconstruction or the Union was
the only basis Of peace or Of conference, and no
desire for peace would be allowed to overrule
| that sine qua non. The words W hlch we have
italicized Were the principal subject of discuss
sion for, as in Mr. DavIs's Instructions to Mr..
stephens at the time of his first attempt to reach
Washington city, MIR. Davis insisted upon his
RANK either as Commander or President and
would have no conference without that being
recognized.
ground upon which he could rest the justice Of
the war-etther with his own people or with
Foreign Powers-was that 1t was not war for
conquest; but that the States never had been
separated from the Union Consea uently he
could not recogpi ize another government inside
OF the one of which he alene was President,
that were yet part OF the tnion. That, said
he, would be doing what you have so long
asked Europe to do in vain, and be resigning
the only thing the armies of the Union are
To that Mr.. Hunter replied at length in
rather Congressional style, urging that the
RECOGNITION OF Mr. Davis's power to make a
treaty was the first and indispensable step to
peace, and referring to the CORES pondence be-
tween King Charles the First and his Parlia-
ment, as a reliable precedent of a constitutional
ruler treating with rebels.
Mr.. Lincolns face then wore that indescrib-
able expression which generally preceded his
hardest hits, and he remarked: "Upon cues
tons OF history must refer you to Mr.. Sew
propose to be bright MY only dsfInst .asS,s eeS
head" That settled Mr.. Hurter for a while.
There was little said about the fact that an
armistice would be OF no benefit, unless 1t
preceded that which the North must have,
IL her armies stopped from the tide OF vic
tory, to wit: the restoration of the Union and
its law.
Mr.. Lincoln remarked that whatever conse-
quences may follow from the ere-establishment
Of that authority, it must be accepted; but in
dividuals subject to pains and penalties under
the laws OF the United States might rely upon
q very liberal use of the powers confided to
him to remit those pains and penalties If peace
He also stated in the above connection, that
limited he was by the Constitution, he eeuld
not change or impair the power Of Congress,
nor abolish Its laws, nor stay the judgments of
the courts; for the legislative and judicial
power had coeQual jurisdiction with the ex-
ecutive. But he did offer all the power of
mercy, and pardon, and influence, both as the
Chief Magistrate and as popular party leader,
and that is a better offer than rebels on the eve
Of destruction and ruin ever had before from
victorious power. .#
Mr. Hunter stated that he had never enter
tanned any fears for his person or life from SO
milo a Government as that Of the United
States. To which Mr.. Lincoln retorted that
he, also, had felt easy as to the rebels, bat not
always so easy about the lamp posts around
Washington city-a hint that he had already
done more favors for the rebels than was ex-
th rtnol an nj
during the conference the proposed amend
ments to the Constitution adopted by Congress
ON the 3Ist were brought to notice; these
amendments provide that neither slavery nor
inso1ntary ,es;n ss5EtpSs aS sIsspt Tor cnnss
place within its Jurisdiction, and Congress-
should have power to enforce the amendment
by appropriate legislation.
mr. Lincoln had almost assumed the tone of
argument, and inumated that the States might
DO much better to return to the Union At once.
than to stand the chances Of continued war
and the increasing bitterness Of feeling in Oon-
gress; and that the time might come when we
would cease to be an erring people, invited
back to the Union as citizens, but looked upon
perhaps as enemies to be e1terminated or
ruined.
Mr.. seward then remarked: ssMr. President.
1t is we'll to inform these gentlemen that yes
the Constitution abolishing slavery"
Mr.. Lincoln stated that was true, and sug-
gested that there was question as to the right
claim right to vote upon the amendment, to
which the concurrence OF two.thirds OF the
States was required.
He stated that it would be desirable TO have
the institution OF slavery abolished, by the
consent of the people. as soon as possibie-he
hoped within six years He also stated that
four hundred millions of dollars might be
offered as compensation to the owners, and re.
marked, "You would be surprised were to
give yon the names Of those whe favor that"
Mr. Hun ter said something about the inhu-
manity of leaving so many poor old negroes
ard young children destitute. by encouraging
the able. bodied negroes to run away, and
asked, what are they-the h6lpless-to do?
Mr.. Lincoln said that reminded him Of an
old friend in Illinois, who had a crop Of pota-
toes and did not want to dig them So he told
neighbor he would turn in his hcgs and let
them dig them for themselves. But said the
neighbor, the frost will soon be In the ground,
and when the soil is hard frozen, what will
replied, "let 'em root!' 80
Mr.. Stephens said he supposed that was the
original Of "Root Hog or Die" and fair in
The finishing up part OF the report Of Mr..
Daviss commissioners reads thus:
OF all correspondence that preceded the con-
ference herein mentioned, and leading to the
same, You have heretofore been informed.
Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
ALEXANDER II. STKPHRNs,
r. M T. HUNTER,
JOHN A. CAMPBELL.
Stephens reported to Davis that nothing had
been done, but that nothing was determined,
anu tudt IL uc IclcC upou tuc SiuSOtNy VI IxAA
Blair, the conference was but confirmation
of the desire for peace on the part Of the Uni
ted States, and the way open for settlement.
Davis, however, looked upon the proposition
as insulting, and seemed to have the concur
renee of Hunter in that view. He wished
statement to 60 before the public that only IN
sulting terms were rendered.; but the com mis-
sioners declined to make it, on the ground that
1t was not true.
With some difficulty they secured the re-
cepuon of the brief and perfectly rnthfui, but
not very clear report that was published, and
Da Wis put the coloring to 1t, and endeayored
to secure his object of crushing the great south
ern peace party by an infiammatory despatch
all over the country, followed by the actual re-
port, with the following ingenious preface,
written by himself:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, RICHMOND, Feb. 8,
1865 = To the Senate and House of Representatives.
of the Confederate States ! recently received q
written notification which satisfied me that the
President of the United states was disposed
to confer informally with any official SCENTS
that might be sent by me with view to the
restoration of peace. I requested the Hon. A.
H. Stephens, Hon. r. NJ. T. Hunter and Hon.