, 1870-04-21
UNPUBLISHED HISTORY.

q l. nuis occupy positiou tnat ne! locaaoa'
Wes1th md number cf nhabltants enule
ler To.
. UNPUBLISHED HISTORY.
mr. g.incoln1s Isuals OF Restoring tho
Union.
In the Editor ef the ytc Fork ForM:
Sn Now that Texas is reconstructed nc.
cording 10 modern Congressional ideas, and
N the States but Georgls are permitted rep
Tho caee before since tho Rsdical party az
gnmed control OF the government, and as the
cfrmpIotion Of The work that has for 10 mauy
yeals troubled Congress, it lnay be veil to
Glance at the initiato1y steps IN th1a pro*zaeted
iabcr Of luilty.
Wh+n Richmond wsa evAcuAttd by the Con-
fetierase forces, Presidant Lincoln was 1t City
Point, He made haste to visit TIM fallen capa-
tai where he was the guest OF MR5oF Geners!
Weitzel, then commanding the old army cn
General Dntlez, ana in oeeupsnss IT o. ~ ths sty,
arrival, April i, 1865, he Vas waited upon by
Hon, John A, Campbell, then Aasistatst Secre-
tnrr OF War for ths Contederacy. and one Of
The Hampton Roads Peace Commissioners.
Admiral Porter md General Weitzel weEa
then with the President, but rose at once to
them, retnarking tAat it might be better 10
bare Witnesses to what might pass between
hi u,self and the Confederate Commissioner
The Judge greeted the President with ths
most studied poGtencHs and respect. The
President rose, ebook hands cordially with his
visitcr. inquired after his health, and then in
t1oducpd Admiral Por.er. After fow orlinA-
n commonplace remarks, Mr. Lincoln said:
"Geners1 Weitzel informs me that you have
been particularly desirous Of seeing me Z"
al have remained in Richmond" replied
the Judge, '1nainlf for the purpose Of exert
IN end. Ibeliese that il sour views aa to the
terms upon which peace can be had were made
clear to the Southern people, an adjustment
OF al our diMcultles could be effected and the
var ended
!" Are sou authorized to speak for Mr.
Lincoln.
~ have no authority to speak for any
one but myself. and appeas here wholly in
my individual character" was tho reply.
Have you any propositions to nala:"
"Not formally. I have thought Of tho diff
cultiea Of the present situation = great deal.
and have considered Here1al plans that seemed
feasible for et1ecting reconciliation think
understau the desperation Of tho Southern
cause. nm not prepared to say that tbs Con-
ing to admit that it mnst now necessarily col
lapse. But think Lsoay SAY that, in view OF
the reTcrsea it has recently met withr an Ap-
peal to the armies, made in the right spirit
and under auspicioua circumstances, Epuld be
most influential for good You will remainder,
conference suggested and urged tr7lco or
atmistice for = specified time. That sugges+
ton wa6 not accepted. II you would allow
me I would urge it again now. II a truco could
now be proclaimed for six mouths or year,
The armies be withdrawn and permitted teu-
roTafIqC IN s}IakhrA and to Hair
and the Inhabitants Of tbs two sections Of the
country allowed to visit AID communicate with
each other, and Interchange sentiments, be-
lieye il would be virtually the end Of The WAL.
The Southern army. am satisfied, could never
agaip be assembled. The men arc sick Of the
war. disheartened with defeats. worn down
with hunger and ptivatons, and anxious to get
ont Of the army to better then condition. Onco
cut, they wonld never return, provided any
reasonable Inducements were offered them 70
remain out. I am persuaded, sir, that tho
most gratifying results would dow from such q
truce"
Nj. Lincoln heard tho Judge through with
ont interruption, though listening atteutiveiy
and respectfully to nil he said. When he had
concluded, tho President simply aalel, Rave
~ have another suggestion" he replied
Ut relates mainly to Virgins and her quota
in the Southern army, II has occurred to mo
that, even should my first suggestion be un-
acceptable, eomething may yet be done
through individual State action. The YirGinia
troops were enlisted only for the defence OF
Virginia: They arc not satisied with being
marched out OF the State; but there is no au-
thorits at present that they can recognize to
call them hack. II the gentlemen composing
the Virginia Legislature could be assembled,
I have no doubt they would pass an act recall
ing their quota from the Confederate armies
This authority the Virginia troops would recog-
nize, and il they were not discharged at
once. they would desert md come home. Tho
Legislature would, I think, also repeal the
get Of secession, and put the State back in the
Union. It would be cminently fitting that tho
same authority that put the State out Of tic
Union should pnt it back. Such course
| would avoid many legal complications that
must elsewise ensuc, and retain uubrnken the
| succession Of tho government may add,
Mr. PRESIDENT, that to avoid tho ombauaas-
ment thst might arise from the seni-recogni-
tion Of the existing government Of this State,
| implied in the permission to ita Legislature 10
assemble aud carry out these specific objects,
tue members might obGgate themselves to re
sign 50 soon 81 there objects are effected, and
e. tatea ise g sses nsT .s ned to be elected under
'A Arc thcTo D any DS other Southern gentlemen
of influence now in the city :" aaked the rrcai.
| dent
II don't think thero are any Of prominence
throughout the Confcdc1acy now here 10
pHsG 9 aenla ai H. to have You c.,l on me again
in the morning, said the President '' In the
meantime. II you know OF any Influential
citizens who VII accompany you. I would he
shall le eandidly considered, and my answel
will 10 given you to-moErow.'
And ro the interview ended
It was then announced that the Malvern haf
reached the city, whereupon the President AMI
Admiral Porter repaired on board, the vesse
hniF, tt,S S1,aa atrn os,ff
Rockets.
| On the morning Of the 5sh Of April, soos
after breakfast. "Judge Campbell and ,
friend were announced to The President i,
the cabin OF tho Malvern. They were at onci
admitted Judge Campbell introduced hi
neEt merchant, formerly Mayor Of Richmond
and at that time u member Of the Stat.
Legislature, who, ho remarked, in tho liIaitet
timo Afforded him, and in consequence of IT,,
unsettled stase Of the city, was the enly gen
tlcman Of sufficient standing he had been abl,
to find to accompany him. The prcsiden
check hands with aIF, Meye1s, md then in
vited hia visitors to seats, Offering them clair
near tie long dining-taG1e in the cabin, which
was a!so used a. = writing table. NJ uncol1
frn1n the door, The Admiral, who had bee.
smoking and chatting with the President uher
the visitors rived, made n1oyerl ent Al il II
leave the cabin, but Taa invited by his diatin
EultneA guest TO remain. t1e excused hlluB2l
Tor . moment, and went ont. but BOOB re
turned, and. though taking no part in the in
'teEyiew. Wis present during the greater pa1t o
its continuance
When the company were fully dspoeed anG
At their eAse from few interrhanFes OF OF
dnaxy remarks about tile weather, tho condi
ton Of the city, and other uauM generalides
tho President introduced the subject matter o
the interview By addressing judge Campbell
substantially a. followa;
referring to the suggestions you offere'
yesterday on tho occasion Of yoar cali upol
ne. have giren the matter my most careful
consideration. As 70 the htat suggestion,
deem it one Of great importance, but fraugh
with manJ embatTassmcnts. The question 0
truce was fully considered ut the Hampton
Roads conference, and / then became satiAhe.
that could not entertain it. It would pecex
sarifr involve the recognition OF separat
goyenmaut within tbs jurisdiction Of th
| United States. For tbxt rea8pu. II ia
no other, it could not then
entertained. And If not then, ce1tAinl
not now. Il the matter Of recognitio
could he overcome, Ahoud still deem it in
polite to entertain the suggestion. It strike
me that it would only tend to ptulong the dii
dcu1ty. Even II, Us you now urge, tie resu
should BE- tbs diebaudment OF t6e armies, An
an inability TO rrassc,nblc the Southern nrm,
such an ending Of the contest would settl
| | nothing. The questions In dispute would :,
main undecided. to breed trouble in the Il
t1uc- But il Your people arc BipcareIr Anxioua
terminate the war, the government will llrecei,