The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-08
LINCOLN HELD OUT FOR UNION
Why the Now famous Hampton Roads
Conference Came to NOusht.
PRESIDENT DLVIS' INSTRUCTIONS,
In which He demanded tho Perpetaity
Of the Confederacy, Prevented
Lincoln Frsm Making
Proposition.

ATLANTA. GA, May 7.-Colonel Evan
T. Howell of the Atlanta Constitution,
adds an interesting chapter to the con-
troversy over what occurred at the Hamp-
ton Roads conference between President
lincoln. and Hon Alexander stephens.
<.ce-President of the Confederacy. 1t will
be remembered that MIR. Watterson re-
Gently stated that at that conference
President Lincoln presented sheet oil
paper to Mr.. Stephens, saying; Il will
write the word Union at the top, and
you may write what you please on the
other end"
This statement Is taken as meaning that
Mr.. Lincoln was ready and willing to
pay the South for the slaves. In last
sundays Constitution. John Iempie
Graves endeavored TO show that MIR. Lin
coin made no such proposition, and he
quotes from Messrs. stephens, Reagan,
Hunter, and Campbell to sustain him in
the issue thus made. The Philadelphia
| Times, in an editorial written. presuma-
bly by Colonel Mcclure, throws addi-
tional light on the subject. claiming that
Mr. Lincoln would have proposed to pay
! the South four hundred million dollars
for her slaves. but did not make the
| proposition, simply because Mr. stephens
| had stated at the outset that he could not
| entertain any proposition that did not
embrace the perpetuity of the Confedera-
| cy.
DETAILS OF THE CONVERSATION.
Colonel Howelrs letter gives the de-
| tails OF the conversation he had WIN
Alexander Il. stephens on the subject
| under discussion. Shortly after Mr:
| stephens was inaugurated Governor OF
| Georgia, in the year loo2, ne spent as
! the guest of Colonel Howell. day AT
| Howell's home. After dinner the talk
| turned to the Hampton Roads confer
| ence, and Mr. Howell asked Mr.. stephens
| if he ever had any hope that the con-
ference would turn out Inherently ifOH
| the way II did
| Mr.. Stephens said:
Il had great hope when the question
! was first agitated about the conference.
| was always in favor of settling the
] war and preventing further bloodshsd,
| and when the conference was suggested
| by Mr.. Blair and others, | took very
| active part I'm pushing it, There WAS
very bitter opposition to IL on the part
| of the friends OF President Davis In the
| Congress, but finally Il was authorized,
! and commissioners were selected TO at
| tend the conference. Much TO my re-
| gret these commissioners were given
| specific instructions, which prevented
| them negotiating for peace on any other
| basis than that which guaranteed the
| independence and autonomy OF the Con-
| federate states.
| Mr.. Stephens went on to tell of his
! conference with Mr. Davis, I'm which he
1
\ pered with instructions, but he got no
| announcement; on the other hand. the
| day the commissioners left they were IN
| formed that no settlement could be con-
sidered that did not recc gniZe the inde-
! pendence of the Confederate government
| Mr.. Stephens told Of the meeting with
] Mr. Lincoln and his associates, ana the
cordiality Of Mr.. Lncoln's greeting OF
! the representatives Of the Confederacy
WHAT LINCOLN SAID.
| AFTER we had returned TO tho saloon
| OF the steamer" continued Mr.. stephens,
"Mr Lincoln was very taihatiVe anu anu
| pleasant with all OF the commis'lOheIs,
] He seemed to be I'm splendld nunor
| and excellent spirits. After whAie
| ioined him and We went apart from the
| others and sat down at smaH taa3ie,
where there was writing mlasSsldi,; dl5nSslin, had
| &C nrmenced. He broached the subject OF
] tho conference and expressed speciai
plasure at the fac; ihat I was one me ., win iir9
| Great earncstness: II believe you anu !
| can settle this matter. KNOW YOU an, "mr
| Won know me, | have conildehce III Sr"i
| Integrity. and believe you nave III iilinS,
! = do NOT think you would ask me 20 90
anything Improper and | woud not re-
! auire your consent to anything WIN"
| believed unjust. - .a,,or and nush-
| ,r, a. towards r1e, he said; 4 VIII WIlt'
| one word at the top OF thls .5s 5nsS. - arnd
| Der. and that word will be hnlon; an n,'i
| With that as "A basis, you may WIZ wy
! he terms of settlement, and on ihat l
will use all my influence TO nave Oon-
! gress settle as we agree. ,...,..,lo,s
81 then teld flm TnSl opr and wv when did
| " cIcud came over his face. ana MS chlii
| ddronned to his breast. and for, several
| minutes he did not say a NOR, S,s scat tN and
| n pausc. he raised up out 81 MS seat ""N
| ssid TO me with hands uplltfu'
| COULD EE NO SETTLEMENT.
| ma, =, on, not resuonsihle for any
| further bloodshed ! had hoped tne War
| would end with this conference. pu' m',,h m ~
! imnossible to make any settieheh, WI VIZ
1nv rms, ,sS Won viii consider confidential what
] has occurred between W. .l, 70 ,,.go-
| tiate a settlement Win tne p,,b rorid
| of the Union as a bas.' the South Hop.n 20
| nave been paid for us slaves, ana anu NE
wouid have got any just ana reasoiapIle .,inaIp
recoenition at the hands OF MI. n.nSo,. In, ,s
] ~ eo,irse our Instructions DindihS US
| then 10 recognize only the indepel,,aSSn,Oe
| - The South. prevented our accoihphs't,nns tns
, anvthing. for at the threehoid OF MI Ar.
| Tincoln's desire for peace was ni3 ',non
mination that 1t must De '"''"
These are the words as near as can can
remember. which Mr.. stephens 'on sponne
] 81 nv residence says Colonel ho".l.
| "a HSvs,,h the exception of my family, the
| oniv nerson present was the late MARX
| ,Iohnson. an intimate friend OF MI'
| stephens since Doyhoo1' ana,vt.S an go, 20
| nor Of mine whom | had invited over 10
'e" asked Mr.. stephens at that time 10
hermit me 10 publish the conversation,
but he expressed his preisren.S ~ ferance enc,
| nothing said about H. as the cohlefeneS
| was A matter OF unwritten history, anu
| he did not feel even then authorizeu u
| make II public: ..o hos
| come up for newspaper discussion. !
ttSStnk IL but Justice TO all concerned that