Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-08
LIGHT ON HISTORY.
II Is Afforded BY Colonel Howell, Of
Atlanta.
HAMPTON ROADS CONFERENCE.
stephens and LincOln-Whnt the
Last-Named Really Said About
"tnion" mt the Top Of the Page
and Anything Else After II.

ATLANTA, GA. May 7.-Colonel Evan
L. Howell, of the Atlanta Constitution.
adds an interesting chapter to the contro-
versy over what occurred at the Hampton
coin and Hon. Alexander Stephens, Vice.
President,of the Comederacy.
1t will be remembered that Mr. Waiter
son recently stated that at that confer
ence President Lincoln presented sheet
OF paper to Mr. Stephens, saying. IL VIII
write the word union at the top. and
you may write what you please on the
rest OF it'-a statement which is taken as
meaning that Mr.. Lincoln was ready
and willing to pay the South for It's
slaves In last Sundays Constitution
John Temple Graves endeavored 10 show
that MIR. Lincoln made no such PROPOSE
ton. 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 presumably by Colonel Mcclure.
throws additional light on the subject
claiming that Mr.. Lincoln would have
piopOscu 10 pay lnt 'Ohi
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 PROPOSE
ton that did not embrace the perpetuity
OF the COnfederacy.
Colonel Howelrs letter gives the details
Of conversation he had with Alex
ander III. Stephens on the subject under
discussion. Shortly after Mr.. stephens
was inaugurated Governor Of Georgia,
in the year 1SS2 he spent a day as the
guest OF Colonel Howell. at HoweiFs
home. After dinner the talk turned
10 the Hampton Roads conference, and
Mr.. Howell asked Mr.. stephens If he ever
had hope that the conference would turn
out differently from what ii did
Mr.. stephens said: II had great nope
when the question was first agitateu
about a conference. | was always III
favor of settling the war and preventing
further bloodshed and when the CON
ference was suggested by Mr.. BAR an"
others ] took d very active part IN push
ing IL. There was very bitter opposition
To IL on the part Of the friends of Presi-
dent Davis in the Congress, but fnaliy
it was authorized ana commissioners
were selected 10 attend il. Much 10 my
regret these commissioners were given
specific instructions, which prevented
them from negotiating for peace on any
other basis than that which guaranteed
the independence and autonomy oil the
Confederate States"
STEPHENS AND DAVIS.
Mr.. Stephens went on 10 tell OF MS
conference with Mr.. Davis, In when III
urged that the commission be not nam
pered with instructions, but he got nc
encoura cement. on the other Manu. the
day the commissioners LETT they were
Informed that no settlement could De
considered that did not recognize the IN
dependence of the Confederate Govern
ment.
MIR. stephens told Of the meeting with
Mr.. Lincoln and his associates. and the
cordiality of Mr.. Lincoln's greeting of the
representatives Of the Confederacy.
after we had returned 10 the saloon
of the steamer" continued Mr.. stephens,
MIR. Lincoln was very laxative ana
plcasant with all Of the commissioners.
lie seemed 10 be in splendid humor ana
excellent spirits. After awhile l joined
him. and we went apart from the others
and sat down at small table, where
there was writing material. This was De-
fore any formal discussion had com
menced. He preached the subject OF the
conference, and expressed special plea
sure at the fact that ! was one OF the
commissioners. lie said To me with
great earnestness: L believe you and |
can settle this matter ] know you ana
and you know me. ! have confidence In
your integrity, and believe you have in
mine. ! do not think you would ask me
TO do anything improper, and would not
require your consent 10 anything which
| believed unjust"
Picking up "A piece of paper and push
f,.r, 1. IL. hn g.t
one word at the top of this sheet of paper.
and that word will be union. and with
that sa basis you may write out the
terms of settlement and on that | will
use all my influence TO have Congress
settle as we agree
Il then told him what our instructions
were from President Davis, and when .
did cloud came over his face, his chin
dropped 10 his breast, and for several
minutes he did not say a word. After a
pause he rose from his seat and said 10
me. with hands uplfted:
LINCOLN'S DISAVOWAL.
Then l am not responsible for any
further bloodshed. | had hoped the war
would end with this conference, but ii is
impossible 10 make any settlement with
the Instructions by which you are bound.
| trust you will consider confidential
what has occurred between us
IF we had been empowered to negot-
ate settlement with the preservation
of the Union as basis. the South would
have been paid for its slaves and We
would have got any just and reasonable
recognition at the hands of Mr.. Lincoln.
OF course our instructions binding us
then to recognize only the independ n e
of the South. prevented our accomplish
ing anything. for at the threshold OF Mr..
Lincoln's desire for peace was his deter
mination that IL must be based upon
Union. These are the words, as near as
| can remember them, which Mr. Ste
phens spoke a, my residence" says Colo
mel Howell. with the exception of my
family the only person present was the
late Mark Johnson. an intimate friend of
Mr.. Stephens's since boyhood, and neigh
Dor of mine. whom l had invited over to
take dinner.
Il asked Mr.. Stephens at that time to
permit me to publish the conversation
hut N expressed his preference 10 hays
nothing said about II. as the conference
was a matter Of unwritten history. and
he did not feel even then authorized TO
make it public.
Since then. however, the matter has
come up for newspaper discussion. and
think IL but justice to all concerned that
the public be given the benefit OF this
statement from one Of the most impor-
tant characters in that noted confer