Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-25
The Hampton Roads Conference md
the Nonroc Doctrine.


To thu Editor Of the Dispatch:
The Hampton Roads Conference,
which took place early in February, 1866,
excited intense interest at the time.
It's failure in all that vas hopeI from
it produ,od profound tIpc.nia-n- IN
millions Of The noblast and hnye: 1
hearts. South and Nor,h with 'ts aute-
cedouts and sequel fl has now Iassfd
into history. and that history - Known
now. 1t was not known a. the time.
It's philosophy and teachings are now te
heritage OF us and orr cnllren, and
nothing i'm all the sad history or the
century just drawing 10 is close is
more impressive and instructive. ard
as warning, than that conference
aboard the steamer I'm the wt.ers on
Fort Monroe.
II IS fortunate that We have accounts
Of it's origin and Incidents and c0nse-
quenccs from different minds ~ high
power and influence including Presi-
dent jefferson Davis. Alexander n.
Stephens i. NJ. r. Hunter. Judge John
A. Campbell and others. which are so
full that by Goliath. and comparing
them We are now able TO learn the truth
az u the whole subject We can safe
~ declare that some statements which
have been made concerning Ii are true
and others are false.
Among the false statements Is the Ola
story that President Abraham Lincoln
wrote on blank sheet the word
Union" and then invited the southern
commissioners 10 write any other terms
which their instructions or power would
dictate AMI ,hat he would approve the
whole. ia the very mature OF tie
case II was always impossible that
this could be- true. Therefore % has
been properly rejected as a. mere effort
Of human Wit. founded on the we'll
known passionate desire which Presi-
dent Lincoln cherished for the rest0rl-
tlon o. the Union.
But this is not the only unfoundad
statement made about this conference
and it, environments. In the weekly
Dispatch. OF May %. 1889. appears a
ole.V-iy written article signed d. II.
Pannil. OF Chatham. Va. II contains
statements which call for prompt chal-
leuge and denial. as being not entirely
just 20 the memory OF President Davis,
and as being also very far from repre-
sentative OF the true democratic and
American idea.
II is true that all - t6e documentar,
evidence tends 10 prove that. IN The
mysterious visits OF Francis T. Blair. Sr
% Richmond. in January. 1865. and in
his secret interviews with President
Davis tho maintenance OF the Monroe
doctrine by a suspension Of war move
ments between the Fedorals ana CON
federatcs. and the employment Of the
forces Of both 70 drive out the invading
French troops % the aiventurer. Louis
Napoleon, and overthrow the usurpiug
pretence OF empire boy the Austrian
Archduke Maximilliau ~as courteous
" but earnestly urged by MI Blair
upon President Davis.
hut ~ - not true. as stated by Mr
Pannlu. that mir. Davis bit ct the
bait and was hooked" II is rot true
that President Davis gave % Mr. Blair
any encouragement 70 believe that he
would unite in the plan suggested
that he would favor the march OF Con-
federate troops into Mexico. there 70
join Federal troops and aid Juarcz, the
President of the Mexican republic. In
driving the French and the usurper.
MAMMALIAN. out OF the country. To
draw an this as IN inference from the
plain declaration Of President Davis to
Mr.. Blair-tO wit. that the Confederate
States had then no entanciing compllca-
tons with foreign powers. and were free 10
act as seemed best. and that ne desired
to keep state policy ana influence free
from foreign coutroi"-is Wild breach
Of logic.
We know the truth on this subject
from the document printed as an apprn-
dix 10 his comprehensive history OF the
United States by \. H. Stephens. This
is by far the most complete and reliable
narrative as 20 the Hampton Roads
conference now In print.
on page 1907. after giving what Air
Hunter said concerning the maintenance
OF the Monroe doctrine Vice President
stephens makes the following statement:
I'm this view h. expressed the Joint
opinion OF the commissioner. Indeed.
We had determined not TO enter into
any agreement that would require the
Confederate armies 70 join Ia any in
vasion OF Mexico"
Now, as IL Is certain that the commits
sioners were appointed and commission
ed by President Davis and his Cabinet.
and acted after fun conference with and
Instructions from them II is equally GER
tain from the above passage that Mr.. Da-
VIZ had given no encouragement 20 any
practical enforcement OF the Monroe doc
trine by the southern forces lie had not
''b.t at the bait" nor had he been hooked
But we have a further protest TO enter
against the views expressed In Ma Pan
niiis letter. He charges President Davl.
with a grievous political blunder In not
In failing 10 make ian alliance with
France, as the sagacious Washington
would have done This is Ia suggested
accusation deeply Injurious 10 the mem
Qry ot pet DAVIS and Washington, and