The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-29
The Fortress Monroe Con-
ference.
An Inside History.
What Was DOne and What Was
Said.
The Terms offered the South.
Mr.. LIncOln's Suggestions.


lied, if not prepared, by Mr.. Stephen
the late rebel Vice President, and on
of the Southern Commissioners to th
{ Fortress Monroe conference. 1t give
an interesting inside view Of the neg
tiations there, and confirms the susp
cions that have been entertained of tn
bad faith of JEFF Davis:
We have before stated that Mr.. D.
Wis, late President Of the States engage
in the rebellion. had not communicate
to the people who had elected him, an
trusted him, the truth in regard to th
famed Fortress Monroe conference
Now that the aforesaid Davis has n
longer power to arrest and cOnfine pei
sons without the benefit Of habeas COZ
psls, or his organs to instigate mobs 0
soldiers and irresponsible men 4
threaten destruction to life and privat
property, or for o fheials TO arrest per
sons and suppress papers for publics
tions without his sanction, it may b
as well to let the people know tn,
truth.
We will now give the history of tina
convention as nearly IS we can remem
Der It from the statement Of Mr.. Ste
phens to US, directly after his return
Mr.. Davis sent for him to commune
cate the information that Mr. Blair de
sired a conference between the author
| tiles of the United States and the South
ern States upon the subject of peace
and Mr.. Stephens advice was asked
He promptly replied that if Mr.. Blsil
spoke by authority of President Lin
coin, he most earnestly advised the con.
ference; but that, as the terms of peace
| if favorable to the South, would awaken
angry debate from the radical men OF
the North, and q failure to get terms
but dishearten our own people, he rec
commended, first, that the strictest Sc
crecy 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 know of
the meeting. The advice was taken as
usual in Acknowledgements alto
gether-and by officially telegraphing
the news to every corner of the late so
called Confederacy.
Two days later Mr. Stephens was sur
prised by the information from Mr.
BENJAMIN that committee of three
were to 90, consisting of Alexander H.
Stephens, Vice President, r N. T.
Hunter, Senator from Virginia, and
John A. Campbell, Assistant Secretary
of War. Mr.. Stephens saw at once that
to refuse to 90 would subject him to
unfriendly remarks, and that probably
he would have the responsibility of a
failure to make peace thrown upon his
shoulders. So hewent, merely remark
ing to Mr.. Campbell, shat the old story
of the monkey that took the paw of the
cat to pull his chestnuts out Of the fire
was not without some modern illustra-
tions;" to which Mr. Campbell said that
she thought so too, snd did not like it"
The flag of truce, and the loud and
prolonged cheers of both armies that
gave the lie to the statement of South
ern Administration organs that the vet
Grams were opposed to peace, and the
two days enjoyment of the hospitality
of that glorious old soldier, Grant, are
history well known. Probably but
from the Endorsement of the peace
wishes of Stephens and Hunter BY Gen.
Grant, the interview would not have
been granted. The reason why the
General did not include Mr.. Campbell
in his endorsement was, that Mr.. G was
perfectly satisfied that the country was
whipped then, and prepared TO take
what he could get and therefore did
not talk; while Mr. Hunter, who was
not much for reconstruction, talked the
most
The three Southern gentlemen met
Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Seward, as is
known, and after some preliminary re-
marks, the subject Of peace was opened
Mr.. Stephens-well aware that one who
asks much, may get more than he who
confesses to humble wishes at the out
set--urged the claims Of his section
with that skill and address for which
the Northern papers have given him
credit Mr.. Lincoln, holding the want
age ground of conscious power, was,
however, perfectly frank, and submit
ted his views almost in the form of an
argument
We can best give the facts by giving
the report of the Commissioners, and
the facts in regard TO each statement
RICHMOND, Feb. 6, 1865.
To the President Of the Confederate States.
SIR Under your letter of appoint
ment, as Commissioners, on the 2Sth
nit. we proceeded to seek an informal
conference with Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, upon
the subject mentioned in the letter.
Conference was granted, and took place
on the Both Of December, on board q
steamer anchored in Hampton Roads,
where we met President Lincoln and
the Hon Mr.. Seward, Secretary Of State
for the United States 1t continued for
several hours, and was both full and
explicit
The only statement of moment in
this first paragraph is that the confer
ence was both full and explicit
We learn from them that the Mes
sage Of President Lincoln to the
Congress of the United States in De
cember last explains clearly his senti-
ments as 10 the terms, conditions, and
mode of procedure by which peace
can be secured to the people, and We
are not informed that they would be
modified or altered to obtain that end.
We understand from him that no terms
or proposals of any treaty or agreement
looking to the ultimate settlement
would be entertained or made by him
with the authorities Of the Confederate
States, because that would be 8 reoog-
milton of their existence as 8 separate
power. which, under no circumstances,
would be done; and, for like reasons,
that no such terms would be entertain
ed py him from separate states; that
no extended truce or armistice, as at
present advised, would be granted OF
allowed, without satisfactory assurances,
in advance, Of the complete restoration
Of the authority Of the Constitution
and laws Of the United States over all
places within the States Of the Confed-
eracy.
The first paragraph Of the shove sim
ply means that reconstruction Of the
Union was the only basis Of peace OF Of
conference, and no desire for peace
would be allowed to override that sine
o1la non The words which We have
italicised were the principal subject Of
discussion; for, as in Mr.. Davis instruc-
tons TO Mr. Stephens st she time Of his
first attempt 10 reach Washington City,
Mr.. Davis insisted upon bis rank, either
as Commander or President, and would
have no conference without that being
Recognized
Mr.. Lincoln stated fairly that the only
ground upon which ne could rest the
Justice Of the war-either with his own
people or with foreign POwers-WAs that
Il was not q war for . conquest, but that
the States never had been separated
from the Union Consequently, he
could not recognize another govern
ment inside'of the one Of which be
alone was President, nor admit the sep
Arate independeBee Of Ststss that were
va& a nat ~ ia TTs,sos. The4 aid "a