Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-22
The Hsmpton-noads Peace Confer.
enPp.

To the Editor u the Dispatch:
The recent discussion Of the "terms
offered y by Nj Lincoln in the famous
"peace conference (which was held
on the Sd Of February, 1865, between
Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Seward, on the
part Of the Federal Government, and
Mr.. Stephens. Judge Campbell, AMI
Mr.. Hunter, on the part Of the C0nfcd-
eracy) reminds one Of the saying of a
distinguished professor of history 81
would not give five lines written on the
spot at the time for cart-loads of recol-
lections after the lapse Of years"
Il seems really strange that gentle
men will rely on their memory of what
they heard twenty years ago, when the
official message of the Confederate Pre-
sident, the report of the commissioners,
and the full statement of the individual
commissioners have all been published
and are so easily accessible.
The Southern Historical Society has
published the statements of Judge
Campbell, Mr.. Hunter, President Davis.
and Mr.. Benjamin, the original instruc-
tons to the commissioners, and their
report Of the conference, and Mr.. Ste
Phens has published a full account of II
in his "War Between the States"
have just carefully read these
documents, and they all agree upon this
point Mr.. Lincoln offered no terms
whatever, but demanded the absolute
and unconditional surrender Of the Con-
federacy, only promising that if 1.-THE
rebels" would lay down their arms
and submit to the laws of the United
States Including the abolition of slavery.
without any provision whatever for
paying for slaves he would promise to
deal as leniently as he could with those
who had been in rebellion"
Full quotations might be given from
all Of these documents. but two ex-
tracts will suffice. President Davis in
his message TO Congress transmitting
the report Of the commissioners SAYS
- herewith submit for the inlorms-
ton of Congress the report Of the emf
nent citizens above named, showing
that the enemy refuse to enter into ne
gOtiations with the Confederate States.
CT any of them separately, or to give
our people any other terms or guaran-
tees than those which conqueror NAV
grant, or permit us to have peace on
any other basis than our unconditional
submission to their rule, coupled with
the acceptance Of their recent legisla-
ton, including an amendment to the
Constitution for the emancipation of
negro slaves. and with I've right On the
part Of he Federal Congress % legis-
late on the subject Of the relations be-
tween the white and black population
Of each State"
The report Of tho commissioners
(signed A. II. Stephens. r. NJ. T. Hum |
ter, and j. a. CampbelD contained the
following statement Of the result Of the
conference:
1--WE learned from them that the
message Of President Lincoln to the
Congress Of the United States, in De-
cember last, explains clearly and dis
hnctly his sentiments as to terms.
conditions, and method of proceeding
by which peace can be secured 10 the |
people, and we were not informed that
they would be modified or altered 10
obtain that end. We understood from
him that no terms or proposals Of any
treaty or agreement looking 20 an
ultimate settlement would be enter
tanned or made by him with the autbori-
ties of the Confederate States. because
that would DE recognition Of their ex-
stence as a separate power. which
under no circumstances would be done:
md for like reasons, that no such terms
would be entertained by him from
states separately; that no extended
ruce or armistice, as at present adj
Used. would be granted or allowed
without satisfactory assurances in adj
ance of complete restoration of the
uthority of the Constitution and laws
4 the United States over all places
vlthin the States c. the Confederacv.
hat whatever consequences may follow
rom the reestablishment ofthat authori-
y must be accepted, but the individuals
uolect to pains and penalties under
he laws of the United States might
ely upon a very liberal use of the
over contided to him TO remit those
aims and penalties, if peace be re.
tored. During the conference the
roposed amendments to the Con-
Iitution Of the United Stated adopted
y Congress on the 3lst ultimo were
rought to our notice. These amend
tents provide that neither slavery nor
voluntary servitude, except for crime.
Mould exist within the United States
any place within their Jurisdiction
Id that Congress should have the
over to enforce this amendment bv
'propriate legislation
The detailed statements Of the gentle v
en- engaged in this conference only 8
nilrm this report and show that abso- a
teiy no terms were offered, and that o
Q question which the Confederate au- u
ori'les had to face was unconditional il