Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-03-30
LINCOLN'S ONE WORD.
THE MAGNANIMOUS TERMS OF.
FERED THE REBELS.


FERED THE REBELS.
A Secret OF the Famous Peace Con-
ference ut Hampton Roads-A Sad
Mistake for the South.
Atlanta Letter in the New York
Herald: No man in Atlanta has a
greater fund of incident than Judge
Samuel B. Herit, who is now serious.
ly i'll at Suwanee Springs, Fla. The
Judge was born in Blant 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 a most remarkable era OF city build
ing.
While reclining upon his sick-bed
Judge Herit spoke of conversation
he had with the late Jefferson Davis.
"In that conversation Mr.. Davis
lamented the fate which deprived the
Confederate States of recognition by
European powers.
"'To the last moment said Mr..
Davis. Il was confident that this
recognition would come to us. The
landing OF the French in Mexico was
then in 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 Herit, "this
was all dreaming. 1t was like follow
ing q rainbow. How different all
might have been if the less brilliant
but more practical mind of Alexander
II. Stephens had dominated the coun-
ellis Of the nation. Almost with tears
in his eyes Mr.. Stephens once told
me OF the inner history of the Hamp-
ton Roads conference.
When the intimation came to
u.s. said Mr.. Stephens, that the FEEDER.
ais desired conference, it was well
known that Mr.. Davis was opposed to
it. The majority of the Confederate
Senate took its cue from the Presi.
dent, and therefore the subject could
not be directly broached then. AS q
consequence We were forced to strategy
1t was proposed that General Lee
should appear before the Senate in
executive session. and. under the cloak
OF secrecy, to be removed only for the
personal information of the President
give an exact statement of the real
position of the two armies.
With great reluctance, Gen. Lee con-
sented to answer questions, the result
being to show that the Confederate
army had been reduced to a mere
shell, with neither defenses, refuge,
nor supplies to fall back upon. With
this plain statement the Senate con.
sented to the appointment of Peace
Commissioners. But when q resolu-
ton was offered and passed that these
Commissioners should act under in
structions passed by Mr.. Davis all
hope in my heart failed. Only the
conviction that 1 should lose no
chance to bring about peace induced
me to withhold my resignation
"After describing the meeting with
President Lincoln and associates -
continued Judge Herit. "Mr. Steph-
ems went on to say: Finally, all
preliminaries over, Mr.. Lincoln said
d" So anxious am I for peace that I will
offer terms which am sure will sur.
prise you all. On this sheet of paper
I will write but one word, while / will
leave to your own judgment every
other condition and requirement"
Writing, Mr.. Lincoln passed the sheet
over to me. and / found written upon
it the one word, "Union." "All
other terms" continued Mr.. Lincoln,
"may be OF your own dictation."
My neart sank within me- said
Mr.. Stephens. Here, on simply &C.
cepting the Union, we could dictate
our own terms of peace, preserve our
State autonomies, maintain our for
tunes, gain recompense for our slave
property, and all the consequences
following defeat could be averted.
But our instructions from Mr.. Davis,
the cornerstone of which was the
recognition OF the Confederate States,
forbade the acceptance of this most
magnanimous and generous offer.
When l so informed Mr.. Lincoln he
sank back in his chair with q look
OF utter disappointment. We all felt
the gravity OF the situation, and it
was recognized that one of the great
mistakes of history was being enacted.
With an army whose defeat was
already acknowledged by General
Lee, President Davis insisted upon
annihilation.'
Herit, ait 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"
COXeyss Crusade.
Coxey, the crank who is organizing
the army of the UNEMPLOYED for an