The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-23

NO better course could be TAKEN, Cne.
pleaded. eastern and Western Texas ar
wholly different. The former is q %countr.
fitted for cotton and other tropical pro
ductions, the latter is adapted to stool
raising. Divide the State at the Colorado
or the San Antonio river, and call the ne,
one Bexar. Hold the FLYER line with a SUI
ficient force, let all the Union men tax
refuge Yves tot that line and the thing
done"
Mr.. Lincoln was pleased with this idea
ut is a much better plan chan that Yves
Virginia one," said he; but Mr.. Stanton
energies were concentrated nearer hom'
and he declared tn It the forces could nj
b. spared. The loyal Texans, least dow
but not discouraged "took their departul
from Washington and bided their time.
THE MOVEMENT oF SLOW
. At intervals they saw the President again
and it was doubtless in consequence OF wha
they told him, and his reflection thereupo1
that Banks expedition was sent. After it
withdrawal things in Texas went from ba
to worse. During the occupation OF Corpu
Christi and IndianOla the inhabitants ma
been requested to take the oath OF alley
ance; then again they were left to the tende
mercies OF the Confederates. Anarchy gre
apace. A man named Black managed t
secure from Banks a commission as CAP
tain. He raised q company OF U me1
assembled the river, crossed it a Eagl
pass or Laredo, and became the terror q
the border. How many lives he took, hoy
many cotton trains he captured, none ca
tell. He was but one OF many. People Il
Texas became more and more discontente'
and restless. The past history OF thei
State vas that of a grand struggle 10
freedom. Men who had fought with Hous
b.. o-J Eoup;p md CrocEoft on6 SteuhpI
Austin, chafed at military rule and forced
~levies. Qui Bono: They beganto ask them
selves and each other. Just then from tn
Federal flint and steel at Brazos Santiago
there went out sparks which reached thii
ready finder in the State. With wonderful
skill, care and discretion, communication
and overtures were conveyed to willing re
| cipients; and at last one of the most prom
inent loyal Texans appeared at the White
House with news OF the greatest impor
lance for the President.
Mr.. Lincoln ardently longed for peace
Day and night the horrors OF fratricida
! strife weighed on his mind. Under the sur
face he was Il profoundly melancholy man:
with each year of the war the sombel
shadow deepened on lis weary spirit. With
stop the shedding of blood. What the
Texan told brought him a ray OF hope, and
his mind fertile in resources, grasped the
situation in an instant, and suggested the
thing to be donae
''The Confederacy," said he. lis like a
bunch OF matches tightly tied together with
a string. Pull out M and the rest willfol
low"
TEXAS DOUBLE SECESSION.
There were earnest conferences at the
White House and, when they were con
cluded, the loyal Texans again departed
charged with the details OF a striking and
original plan, as follows:
Texas had once seeded from Mexico; let
her now secede from the Confederacy. Let
the question of her re-entry into the Union
await the dealings of the Federal Govern
ment with the other seeded States. All Mr..
Lincoln asked, for the present, was that
he should own and hold the ew former
United States posts which he needed. This
arranged, he would keep 'hands off" Not
only would he interfere in no way with the
interior economy OF this free n independ-
emit commonwealth, but he would raise the
blockade. From Sabin's Pass to Point
Isabel ingress and egress should be free as
air. The crops, cotton, sugar n all,
should 60 out to the world, supplies OF all
kinds would be poured in, State courts and
officials should make and administer the
laws, and peace and prosperity would once
more prevail. Even if the Richmond gov
eminent wished to coerce the ''errins sis
ter" land how would this comport with
the cardinal principles Of the secession
movement?) they could not do it. They
had fe navy, and, as for troops, they had
already begun, as General Grant tersely
put it, to rob the cradle and the gr, ve' to
resist the power of the Federal armies.
Such was Mr.. Lincoln's ingenious states
manlike and beneficent programme, and
this proposition met with a ready re-
spouse. One again the Jealous negotiator
appeared in Washington. His message was
brief: LET officers of high rank" hesaid,
''be sent to treat"
GREAT MAINTAINED.
With what care and skill the final steps
OF this remarkable movement were man
aged, one may learn from the fact that to
day, after twenty-One years have elapsed,
nothingis generally known oft. On a certain
day, early in 1865, a party consisting OF a
Federal ma~jor-general, a brigadier.General,
other military officers and the loyal Texan
hose services had been SO useful, left New
Orleans on the steamer ''Clinton" for
Brazos Santiago. After a few preliminaries
they started in boats rowed by United
States sailors. and took their course up
III Adku1d NC l1 A1uuICs OLCy ANN
covered nine or ten miles they approached
a bluff; they stopped and made a signal,
after a time it was answered. "How for.
tunate!!" they said in the hearing Of the
sailors. "We shall at last be able to ar
range as we nave long desired, for the ex-
change OF prisoners"
They landed and mounted the bluff. It
was a lonely spot, the nearest ranch being
twenty or thirty miles away. On the
level in a beautiful grove OF mesquits were
pitched some tents, and near them were a
group OF ~well-known and distinguished Con-
federate officers and some fifty soldiers.
The meeting was hearty and cordial. Old
comrades, thinking only OF past days and
forgetfuf Of intervening estrangement, joy
fully clasped hands. The commissariat
was abundant and varied, and conyiviality
preceded business. Ere long, while the Of
ficers were exchanging "reminiscences over
beakers of champagne, the Federal sailors
and Confederate soldiers fraternized over
transformations whisky; and, as the former
horses, the latter made just as bad work
in attempting to row the boats.
THE CONFERENCE.
The party arrived in the afternoon. All
the next day and during the next night the
ranking officers were in earnest conference.
while their juniors still fingered over the
flowing bowl. It took a long time, thought
the soldiers and sailors to arrange such a
simple matter as the exchange OF prisoners.
In fact, all was going well. But a few hours
and the party would have separated; re-
ports would have been made to principals
on both sides; the action taken would have
been the confirmation OF the remarkable
scheme. In the bright morning of the third
day, however, a boat was seen approach
ing, a signal was made, a courier had ar
rived with a. %peremptory message from
Washington. General Sherman had taken
Savannah and was marching northward,
sweeping all before him. All negotiations
must be stopped.
There were regrets on both sides; then a
friendly parting. All was arranged, the
sailors and soldiers heard, and the prison.
ers would be exchanged.
AS the Federal party entered the boats
one Of them sententiously remarked, ave
have lost the greatest chance for distinc-
ton OF our whole lives"
With rare success was the secret kept.
OF course there were suspicious, and, in
some Texas papers hints of treason and
the like, but they came to naught, for on
May 26, 1865, fifteen days after Appomat-
tox, General Kirby Smith surrendered the
last Confederate army, and the war was at
an end.
Since that time, Texas has made wonder
full strides in material prosperity. Her
population has immensely increased; her
products 60, in large. to foreign lands; the
once desert plains, over which the cot