The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1869-05-07
Che sslarietta 9ollrnal.
Marietta. Georgia,
Friday Morn. May 2, 1869.
THE FORTRESS MONROE CONFER
ENCE

The Augusta OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES COPIES
the following statement from Virginia
paper, and says Glad the BLAIR Propo-
sition been permanently accepted by
Mr.. DAVIS and carried out in good faith
ON both sides how different might have
been the fate of the South :"
ssWhiIc in Marion, Smyth county, a
few days, had the pleasure of several
lengthy chats with Hon. Fayette Nc
Mullin. Mr.. McMullin says that since
the war he was one day in the Presi-.
dents house, Washington, conversing
with Hon. F. Blair, Sr. Mr.. Blair told
him that soon after McMullin's peace
resolutions, had been introduced into
tho Confederate Congress Mr.. Lincoln,
being extremely anxious to bring about
a peace honorable alike to both sections
of the country, and foreseeing, and
wishing to avoid the political conse-
quences of the military subjugation of
the South, sent him (Mr. Blair) to Rich
mond to confer with Mr.. Davis and
learn what arrangement of the difficult
ties could be made. He was passed
through the lines Of the contending
armies and conducted to Mr.. Davis
house in Richmond. After long con-
versation with Mr.. Davis and other
prominent gentlemen for whom Mr..
Davis sent, and for whom Mr.. Blair in-
quired, Mr.. Davis said that he had no
proposition to make. Mr.. Blair then
proposed that General Lees army be
marched into Mexico against the
French that Gen. Grant would follow
and support the movements that the
united armies would drive ont Maximil-
ian and then the Southern States
should name their own terms of recon-
struction, everything short of indepen-
dence being guaranteed. AT Mr.. Davis
request this proposition was made in
writing and after some consultation and
reflection, scaS signed and accepted By
him. Mr.. Blair returned to Washing
ton, and Mr.. Lincoln was highly delight
cd with the success of the negotiation.
1t was in the hope of concentrating
this arrangement that Mr.. Lincoln and
Mr.. Seward met the peace commission
ers.' Hons. Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell, at Fortress Monroe; but
there, to Mr.. Lincoln's chargin, the
committee declared that they had been
instructed by Mr.. Davis to insist upon
the independence of the South, and
would listen to no other proposal. And
thus the whole affair came to a 'most
lame and impotcnt conclusion
''Such is the substance of the account
related to Gov. McMulin by Mr.. Blair,
Mr.. McMullin says that he asked and
obtained Mr.. Blair's permission to make
the statement public, but he had re-
Trained from giving it publicly pending
Mr.. Davis trial, fearing lest it might in
some way prejudice his case"
The facts connected with this matter
will all be developed sooner or later and
the parties engaged will have that justice
meted out to them which comes from
well-founded public opinion. In our
opinion Mr.. Davis had motive for the
acceptance, in the first instance, of the
BLAIR proposition, and for its rejection
afterwards. A year previously, a
movement had been set on foot in Geor-
gia, to negotiate peace through "a Con-
vention ofthe States" it being understood
that the Executives North and South
could NOT negotiate on any other basis
than the preliminary recognition of the
independence Of the Southern govern
mcnt. AT 6rst Mr.. Stephens opposed
the movement, but year later he and
majority, perhaps, of the Confederate
Congress, favored it. Dir. Davis found
it necessary to suppress this movement.
Whether he sent for Blair we know not.
We know he came and to be used
in an effort at negotiation that
might be subsequently made abortive.
Mr.. Davis agreed to waive Southern
independence" The Conference was
agreed upon. The trap was set and
Mr.. Stephens and other peace men COM
missioned to walk into it, and walk into
itthey did, whether blindfoldod or not we
do not know, but We know they got out
of it shorn of all power even of utter
ance in behalf of peace. Mr.. Blair saws
after abandoning Southern Indepen-
dence" Mr.. Davis insisted upon it when
the conference met and thus defeated all
hope of negotiation.
The whole matter of the war seems
Providential to us. 1t seems to have
been ordered that the South was to be
relieved of the incubus of slavery and
that to accomplish the purpose VIC chose
that blind dcmagogues should lead a
blind people to war and that having
chosen this mode of accomplishment, ii