The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-11-27
HAMPTON ROADS CONFERENCE.


BAITnGoRE, Aug. 8, 1874.
My DEAR SR-The inclosed papers
will serve to explain a portion of the
history of the Confederate States, and
ore sent to You for that purpose. The
Memoranda of the conversation at the
conference in Hampton Roads" was
made shortly after my return from that
place, with the expectation that Messrs.
Hunter and Stephens would prepare one
similar. This does not profess to he
full or particular.
In reference to the origin of that
commission l have no special information.
Mr.. Benjamin requested me to go with
him to the house of the president (Mr
Davis, and, in going, told me of the
commission and the names Of its mem
beTs. At the presidents house we
heard from him detailed, well-consid,
cred statement of the objects of the
mission, and that we must leave forth
with. My conjecture was that the ar.
rangements had all been made through
Francis 2. Blair. We were furnished
with letter from President Lincoln to
Mr.. Blair, stating that he was willing to
receive overtures of psace from any
person in authority in the Confederate
common country" This letter was fur
nished to us as the passport to be-re-
cOgnized, and as adequate to take us
through the federal military lines and
to the federal capital. But cur own
commission was to make peace between
two countries" and our instructions
we're to make no agreement or treaty
providing for the reconstruction of the
federal union. Mr.. Benjamin, in his
speech at the African church at Rich
mond after our return, stated the fact of
the prohibition correctly. "
The commissioners did not find their
passport available. At Petersburg there
was detention so at City Point, at the
headquarters of Gen. Grant, the mill
tary authorities denying all knowledge
Of the matter and awaiting instructions
from Washington. Finally there came
an officer from the war department of
the United States, bearing a copy of
the same letter of President Lincoln to
F. p. Blair, which was handed to us as
a passport to Washington, and we were
inquired of whether we were going Oh
the mission that letter contemplated.
In answer we produced the commission
which authorized us to make "peace
between two countries" The general
commanding Grant and the officer de-
cided that the discrepancy was fatal,
and that We cOuld not go. In this con-
dition Gen. Grant sent telegram to
the president advising a reception to
the confederate commissioners, and on
the following day we were sent to
Hampton Roads where we found Pres
ident Lincoln and Secretary Seward.
There are some facts in relation to
this delay which came to our know
ledge afterwards. The commission was
appointed and announced the 9th day
OF January, 1865; on the 81 day of
February, 1865, the conference took
place. In that interval the thirteenth
amendment to the constitution of the
United States passed through congress
by the requisite vote. In one of the
papers of the time pennsylvania In
quirer, think it was stated that. Sacre-
tary Seward and Chief Justice Chase
were on the floor of the house of repre-.
sentatives of the United States urging
the adoption of the measure, and that
the secretary said he desired to use it
at conference with the commission
ers also that he took the amendment
to Annapolis, procured the governor to
submit 1t to the legislature, and caused
it to be adopted within an hour, and
then took passage to Hampton Roads to
meet the commissioners.
1t will be seen from "the memo \
randa" that President Lincoln disa-
vowed all knowledge of the object
of Mr.. Blair's mission to Rich
mond, and all connection with that
mission in any form. My information
from other sources is in direct contra
diction of this statement.
The second paper l inclose is a letter
written by me to VIM. A. Graham, of
the confederate senate. There were a
number of the members of the senate
and house of representatives who de-
sired to open neg citations for peace in
February, 1866. The answer to them
was President Lincoln offers no
terms save only the restoration of the
national authority and the abolition of
slavery. There is nothing besides to
negotiate about. Senator Graham re-
quested me to address him letter in
answer to that precise objection. 1
prepared the letter, of which a copy is
inclose6, and this letter and these mem |
oranda of the conference were examined |
by senators and representatives.
There was a sort of hesitation, timid. |
ity, and dread of responsibility preva-
lent which resulted in inaction. Ny
opinion was that there was enough dis
closed in the conference to warrant the !
that terms of peace could |
Re settled which would avoid some of |
the evils of conquest and subiugation. |
NV opinion was that there were no re-
sources for another campaign, aud that
without the settlement of terms OF
peace there would be conquest and sub
iugation. The grounds of this opirion
we're submitted to Gen. Breckenridge
secretary of war, few days after, when
I was advised by Senator Graham that
the president would not Send another
to negotiate for peace.
Very respectfully and truly yours,
JOHN A. CAMPBELL.
G. W. Mumford, Esq, Secretary South
ern Historical Society, Richmond, Va.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. "a, 1865.
Hon. William 4. Graham, Senate of
the c. s.:
/ understand the position of Mr..
Lincoln to be that he will not make any
treaty or agreement with the Confeder-
ate States, but only that he will treat or
confer with individuals resisting the
national authority, and will declare to
them the terms on which he will make
an adjustment. 1 do not consider that
this position of his will prevent the
settlement of the conditions.
In any event the action of congress
United States) might be required to
carry into effect the stipulations, and
these are informally agreed to
or are formally made, it is presumed,
Will not make a wide difference in the
final result.
The stipulations that the president
can settle under his powers as president
it is material to consider. He is the
clmmander-in-chief of the army, and
has exercised a large share of power as
such. He has the power of pardon by
the constitution, and the acts of confis-
cation provide that "the presidency
may by proclamation extend to persons
who may have participated in the exist
ing re bellion, in any state or part there
Of, pardon and amnesty, with such ex-
,eptions and on such conditions as he
may deem expedient for the public well
ARE"
The act of CONGRESS- of the United
States of the 16sh of July, 1862, en-
bodies the principal of the provisions