Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-26
Allen ,. Masrudsr in the Atlantic for Jauu-

crate, with many eminent and sIlbsta
"a tial citizens, had followed in the som
}" what general exodus. or course mar
remained in the Virginia metropolis b
Ii cause they could not get away, al
i. many more from a generous and mani
care for and sympathy with the weal
v- the timid, and the unhappy, who feare
n violence or ill-ueRtment from a rue
sOldiery, flushed with the triumph
-, victory and conquest, and scarcely cap
y bic OF restraint.
Among the latter was the calm
pstlent, self possessed and veuerate
. John A. Campbell, of Alabama, fdrme
IL iy one Of the judges of the suprem
court Of the United States, and but n
es Gently assistant secretary Of war OF th
II southern Confederacy. Regardless {
his own personal safety, but full of syn
q psthy with the citizens OF Riehnhon
"a and the people of Virginia, and right
interpreting the duties and responsfbili
tles OF the hour, he went forward cours
: Lincoln. This was readily accorded
Judge Campbell said in substance
. 1.-THE war is over. The southern peopl
). have lost their cause, without any hope
suppose, or redemption. This /
e neither the time nor the occasion to con
s slider the right or wrong of tb
!. conflict, or the merits of tn
q questions involved in it. Yol
: are here In triumph, and are Ger
. tainly the victorious master of the siiua
ton. No resistance will be attempted
further by those who remain in thi
! city. 1t would be frultless il it wer,
l designed or intended, but it is not ever
desired by any Of the people of Rich
mond. I have felt myself at liberty
3 indeed impelled, in the interest OF
3 peace and humanity, to seek this inter.
, view and acquaint you with the spiri
and temper OF the people here, and tc
venture to remind you OF what l am sure
you will not forget, that with really great
and good men the hour of victory and
triumph, is also the hour Of moderation
and magnanimity. Though not Vir-
ginlsn myself, know the people of
Virginia to be brave and honorable, and
they will scrupulously respect any pledge
or promise they may make. They &C.
cept the result of the war without sullep
resentment on the one hand or unmanly
despair on the other, and will abide In
good faith by any fair and equitable
terms OF pacification and adjustment
that may be offered them.u He added
that he had sought the interview in
srder to lesrn the Presidents views az
to his course, and that OF the govern
ment, toward the people Of the States
lately at war with the Federal govern
ment, aud particularly in respect to the
people OF Virginia, now that the war on
her territory had ceased.
President Lincoln (Who had Iistsned
with interest and earnestnees) replied
that he was SO much impressed with
the words of Judge Campbell, that, in
order TO consider his reply maturely, he
would relinquish his intcatioE OF return.
ing by steamer that evening to City
Point, on James river, and give the sub
jsct full night's reflection.
Accordingly, another and final inter
view took place the next morning on
board the steamer Malvern, moored in
the river below Richmond, The pAr.
ticulaTs Of this meeting were preserved
10 paper written by Judge Campbell
very soon after the event, to which, by
his leave, the writer has had access.
AS the subject is one of such curious
interest and Importance, and possesses
rare historical value, in view of the
quickly succeeding tragedy of Pfesi.
dent Lincoln's death, and the events
both political and dsociA which followed,
II seems every wsy proper that Judge
Campbeifs narrative, hitherto unpub.
lished, should appear.
He says: "I had recommended that
he should sanction a meeting of the
prominent, Influential, leading men of
Virginia at Richmond, and have their
counsel and cooperation in reconstruct
ing Its political and social system so
ss to meet the new and extraordinary
nnnnftInFY1 nf fofrv Drxk
together OF the rebel legislature was the
suggestion of Mr.. LincoIn's own mind
he mentioned 1t for the first time in our
second interview as matter he was
considering, and that was desirable in
many points of view, which he specified,
adding that if he came to q satisfactory
conclusion he would make 1t known to
General Weitzel on his return to CITY
Point, by letter. The general principles
had expressed included such q propo.
sition, and l was grateful that the Presi- |
dent had been led to Its consideration:
but did not intimate such course in |
any Temarks Of mine before ne suggest.
ed it.
"At the interview On the Malvern /
President Lincoln produced a memo
rADdum in writing, which he read over,
and commented on the various clauses
az he read them. When he had con.
olnded, he gave me the paper. 1t ia not
dated, signed or addressed. The memo
rapdum Is:
'As to peace, have said before, and
now repeat, three things are indispen-
"'Fist-The restoration ofthe nation
al authority throughout all the States
'6scond-NO receding by the execu-
tive Of the United States on the slavery
question from the position assumed
thereon in the late annual message and
in preceding documents.
'Third-No cessation of hostiIities
short OF an end of the war and the dis.
banding Of all force hostile to the gov.
ernment.
That all propositions coming from
those now in hostility to the govern
ment, not inconsistent with the fore
gong, will be respectfully considered
ana AM passed upen in spirit of sincere
liberaIity.
"T now add that it seems useless for
me 10 % more specific with those who |
VII lot say they are ready for the in
oMpensaole terms even on conditions to I
be named by themselves. n there he |
any VINO le ready for the Indispensable {
terms on any condition whatever, let 1
them say so and state their conditions.
20 that the conditions can be distinctJy i
known and considered. 1t is further
ADDED that, the remission of confisca- {
non being within the executive power. I
u the war be now further persisted In
oy Inoee opposing the government, the g
making OF connscated property at the /
east to bear the additional cost will be c
INSISTED upon, but the cor fiscations Tex. (
'ept In case OF third-psrty intervening v
ntereste) Will bs remitted to the people
u any state which shall now PROMPTLY | c
md in good faith Withdraw its tr6ons | Y
Ind other support nom further resist.
moe to the government. What is now b
aid as to remission OF confiscation has !
10 reference to supposed property in v
'The President, after readiug and
ommenting upon the various passages
u this memorandum, noticed that he 4
lao said nothing en- the subject OF fines Z
'nd penalties as applicable to individ. b
ais. He said, In reference to this, that b
e supposed that he ought not to force q Ii
aruon upon any person who did not
Isnt 1t; that for instance, IF Mr.. Da- u
is, Whom we familiary call JEFF Davis, &
III not taAe pardon, we ought not to 8
ress one upon him. But to this he b
Touid say, that almost snybedy could "
ave anything Of that kind by asking o.
,r it, I
my intercourse with President Lin. II
Din, both here and at Hampton Roads, h
impressed me fsvorsbly toward him. a
eIeve that be felt a genuine sympathy L
'r the bereavement, destitution, i'm II
waste and overturn that p
ne war had occasioned st the south, 81
nd that he fully and exactly discrimi. el
ated the wide difference, both in reason
nd policy, between the mode of pro-
sediDg in reference to the disorderly or "
riminal acts OF individuals which dis a,
1rb the security Of the State, and the h,
ourse to be taken in regard to those NJ
ivn dissensions and connections which n
rise from the agitstion of great cues z,
IoDs involving the social and political II
onsutution Of great empire, composed "
I distinct, and in some respects, indie. n
endent communities, n
my direct Interview with President =.
dncoln terminated with nv visit to se
im on the Malvern. 1 never smoke IN NJ
im or wrote to him afterward. n n
The following day General We,tzeI 70
ept for me, 70 read the letter of Presi- Il