Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-08-16

J OF the prominent politicians. when we 20
through the work Of the Convention, hast
ened to enter tho army, fearing that
they did not get in quick they would los
the opportunity Of making some capita
for the futurcr' u
: "Mr. Davis he went on to say, sob
served to me soon after We got establishe,
at Montgomery. that 'it would now be
question Of brains who should win an.
the remark was so just that though
there must be great deal where that cam,
from. But there was manifested from th,
start q wonderful lack of statesmanship
and even Of mere ordinary COED sense
j FATE OF A PEACE MISSIONARY.
In connection with the peace question
and the reluctance Of the Richmond au
thorities to give any countenancc to eff
forts looking in that direction, Mr.. Ste
phens told me strange story, which
believe has never been published, Of the
fate OF an unfortunate peace cmissary
from the North. 1t appears that in the
spring OF 1861 q person named Caball,
from one of the Western States, was tax.
en- prisoner at the battle Of OIustee or Is.
land Pond, in Florida, whittier he had
gone for the purpose Of being taken pris-
oncr and thus gaining admittance within
the Confederate lines. On his capture
Caball was taken to Andersonville, from
which place he wrote a letter TO Stephens.
who was then at his home here, setting
forth that thelwriter had come, after con.
sutation with the lending peace men in
the West and in Washington, with Che
view Of opening negotiations for cessu.
ton Of tho war, and that no desired TO be
allowed to visit Mr.. Stephens. "I got
this letter in April, and Immediately
wrote to Richmond, asked that he should
bo permitted TO come up and see me. In
reply, l received word that an officer
would be sent to ascertain what Caball
bad to say. But this was never done, and
IN juno | received another letter from
Caball, stating that hc was dying, and
begging intorcossion on his behalf. / sent
an Indignant protest TO Richmond, but
heard nothing further Of tho matter iil
July, whom got word from the command.
ant OF the post at AnderSonyille that Ca.
ball was deadl"
hLANha AND FREEDMEN,
Mr.. Stephens freely admits tha. negro
suifrage IL a necessary result of freedom
"To take them from under the protection
of their masters and leave tnem witho ut
tho protection Of law would be most un.
just" "But will tho System work?u ~
slneerely hope so: and IL ID doas-I shall
believe the long expected millennium has
arrived" Thereupon, no got down DE
Tocquoville from tho library, read the
views of that distinguished political phi.
losopher touching the fate Of tho negro
on this continent, and agreed with him
that the blacks were destined TO 90 down
before tho Saxon race After this he di. |
verged TO a disquisition on slavery which
had always been grossly misunderstood, |
aud which he regarded as misnomer for |
the Southern institution. sour system,'
he remarked, twas not atall of the char
acter Of Roman slavery; Il was tho natur.
al subordination Of an inferior race.
should have certainly been an Abolition.
ist, had l believed in the equality of the
black species" and thereanont he entered
into long chronological disquisiton. at
is true our system needed many improve
ments and ameliorations, and those would
have come. For example, tho year before
the war tho Georgia Legislature came
within one vote Of removing from tho no.
grocs tho disability in regard to reading.
Ii was only outside interference that ra-
tardod the necessary ameliorations, for
when there is foroign iptcrmeddling n
social changes tho friends Of reform are
always put IN tho attitude Of sympathi.
zors with tho enemy.
"Then the corner stone speech, which
always seemed TO mo gigantic piece Of
irony, truly expressed your views on sla.
yery2'
"Surcly; but that speech too has been
misunderstood. | did not regard our sys.
tom as establishing any new Government;
tho Government remained exactly MS Il
was under tho Consultation, and all that
did was 10 define tho form Of our social
Then he added; "lhe world
however, would have given Us bad name;
there was q great deal Of talk al Mont. |
gomcry about what name We should give
the new Government; but | told them
you need not trouble yourselves about
that--tho world will give us ust tho name
you call your enemies; they will call us
tho Black Republic"
AN EpIsoDE.
While wc were sitting on the porch
during the afternoon. the negro member
of tho Board Of liegistaation came up to
500 Mr.. stephens. lie Is a bright fellow,
named Ned who lives In the adjoining
county, aud Is we'll acquainted with Mr.,
Stephens. lilo gave US the statistics Of
tho days work, In the registration Of
Taliaferro county, which Is going on at
the Court House here. The rcsul, show
ed that i60 persons had registered, and
that tho blacks had a majority of 40.
"Massa Aleck,' said Ned, ~ was look
ing TO you TO como down TO tho registra-
tion, aud was waiting to help you up the
steps"
''Would you have let mo register, Nedy'
"I would have done my best, Massa
Aleck
"Wcll, Ned" said Mr.. Stephens, 81
have never voted since | voted against SO.
cession." Then to the correspondent: II
never voted during tho Conicderaoy.'
Mr.. Stephens to-day made all his no.
groe, 20 and register. "Byand-bye,"
said he, ''thcy will come and ask mo how
to vote. What can l tell them but TO go
with their raceg" h
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