The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-03-08
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ONE WORD

No man in Atlanta has a greater
fund Of incidents than Judge Samuel
b. Hertz, who is now seriously Ill at
Suanee Springs, Fla. The Judge was
born in Bluut county in 1928, and,
coming to Atlanta before the woods
were cleared away for the coming
city, grew up with it, and carries IN
his memory the full details of most
remarkable era of city building.
While reclining upon his sick bed
to-day Judge Hertz spoke of a CONVEX
sation he had with the late Jefferson
Davis.
In that conversation Mr.. Davis la
mented the fate which deprived the
Confederate States of RECOGNITION by
European powers.
ITO the last moment said Mr..
Davis. I was confident that this re-
cognition would come to Us. The
landing of the French in Mexico was
then our interest. If we could have
consolidated our forces down in Texas
under Kirby Smith, the alliance could
have become effective
And.yet," said Judge Hertz, "this
was all dreaming. It was like follow
ing rainbow. How different it
might have been if the less brilliant
but more practical mind of Alexander
H. Stephens dominated the councils
of the nation. Almost with tears IL
his eyes Mr.. Stephens told me of the
inner history of the Hampton Roads
conference.
"'When the intimation came to us,
said Mr.. Stephens, that the Federals
desired a conference it was well known
Mr. Davis was opposed to it. The
majority of the Confederate senate
took its cue from the president, anc
therefore the subject could not be
directly preached then. As a conse
quence we were forced to strategy. L
was supposed that Gen. Lee should APP
| pear before the senate IN executive ses
sion. and, under the cloak of secrecy, t.
be removed only for the personal in
formation of the president,glve an exac
statement of the real position Of thu
| two armies.
With great reluctance Gen. Lee
consented to answer questions, the re
suit being to show that the COnfeder
ate army had been reduced to mere
she'll with neither defenseS, refug'
nor supplies to fall back upon. Witt
this plain statement the senate con
sented to the appointment of peac
commissioners. But when resolution
was offered and passed that these com
missioners should act under instruc
tons passed by Mr. Davis all hope il
my heart failed Only the conviction
that [ should lose no chance to brins
about peace induced me to withhold
my resignation
After describing the meeting will
President Lincoln and associates,
continued Judge Herit, "Mr. Stephens
went on to say: Finally, all prelim
inaries over, Mr. Lincoln said: '!St
anxious am | for peace that | vii
offer terms which | am sure will sur
prise you all. On this sheet of pape1
| will write but one word, while
leave to your own Judgment ever,
other condition and requirement.
Writing, Mr.. Lincoln passed the shee
over to me, and [ found written upoI
| it one word, Union" "All othe
terms" continued Mr.. Lincoln, may
| be of your own dictation"
My heart sank within me- sale
Mr.. Stephens. Here, on simply &C
cepting the union, we could dictate
our own terms of peace, preserve GU
state autonomles. maintain our for
tunes, gain recOmpense for our slave
property, and all the consequence
following defeat could be averted
But our instructions from Mr.. Davis
the cornerstone of which was the rec
OgnitiOn of the Confederate States
forbade the acceptance of this most
magnanlmOus and generous offer
When l SO informed Mr.. Lincoln be
sank back in his chair with look OF
utter disappointment. We all felt
the gravity of the situation, and ii was
recognized that one of the great mis-
takes of history was being enacted.
With an army whose defeatwas already
acknowledged by Gen. Lee, President
Davis insisted upon annihilation.'
These facts continued Judge
Hertz, 1T was agreed should be kept
secret until the death of the principals.
That time having arrived there is no
good reason why they should not be
made known"