The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-08
PRECIPITATION OF THE WAR.
THE MEETING BETWEEN LINCOLN
AND 4. II. STEPHENS.

=AND - H
Mr.. stephens Under Instructions Q,
Consider no Terms of COmpromfs,
which Did Not Recognize the indie
pendence Of the COnfederacs-Lin,
coin willing That the slave
should Be Paid FOR. But UnaIter.
ably Opposed To Disruption of ths
Union.
Atlanta. Ga. May col. Evan p. How
ell Of the Atlanta Constitution. adds au in
teresting chapter TO the controversy over
what occurred al the Hampton Roads con.
ference between President Lincoln and
Hon. Alexander H. Stephens vice presi-
dent OF the confederacy. II viii De re-
membered that Mr.. Watterson recently
stated that al that conference. President
Lincoln presented a sheet of paper 10 Mt
steDhens. saying. II viii write the word
Union at the TOP and you may write
what you please IN the other end" a
statement which is taken as meaning that
Mr.. Lincoln was ready and willing 10
pay the south for the slaves.
In last Sundays Constitution John Tenn
pie Graves endeavored to show that Mr..
A4lANuAAA AAlaAN no EAl-AA AlNAls anu 4AH
quotes from Messrs. Stephens. Reapon.
Hunter and Campbell TO sustain him in
the issue thus made. The Philadelphia
Times. in an editorial written presumably
by Col. Mcclure, throws additional light
on the subject claiming that Mr.. Lincoln
would have proposed to pay the south
$500 600 000 for her slaves. but did not make
the proposition simpy because Alr. Ste
phens had stated at the outset that he
could not entertain any proposition that
Ia HHr.- rrfH . O.
federacy
Col. Howelrs letter gives the details Of
a conversation he had with Alexander II.
Stehphens on the subject under discus
augurated governor Of Georgia, in the year
1852. he spent a day as the guest of Col.
Howell al his home After dinner the talk
turned to the Hampton Roads confer
ence, and Mr.. Howell asked Mr.. Stephens
81 he ever had any hope that the confer
ence would turn out differently from the
way IL 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
bloodshed, and when the conference was
suggested by Mr.. Blair and others, j took
very active part in pushing IL. There
was very bitter opposition TO It on the
part OF the friends of President Davis i'm
the congress, but finally 10 was authorized
and commissioners were selected 10 at
tend the conference. Much to my regret,
AutEE commissioners were gwen EneGilr
instructions, which prevented them from
negotiating for peace on any other basis
than that which guaranteed the indepen-
dence and autonomy Of the confederate
states"
Mr.. Stephens went on to tell OF his con-
ference with Mr.. Davis in which he urged
that the commission be not hampered with
instructions, but he got no encourage
ment; on the other hand the day the com
missioners left they were pointedly in
formed that no settlement could be consid-
ence or the confederate government. Mr..
Stephnes told of IN meeting with Mr.
Lincoln and his associates, and the cor
diality OF Mr.. Lincoln's greeting of the
Of the confederacy.
after we had returned to the saloon
OF the steamer" continued Mr.. Stephens
Mr.. Lincoln was very laxative and
pleasant with all of the commissioners
He seemed 10 be in a splendid humor and
was in excellent spirits. After a while
] Joined him and we went apart from the
others and sat down at a small table
where there were writing materials. This
was before any formal discussion had
commenced. He preached the subject of
The conference and expressed special
pleasure at the fact that j was one of me
commissioners. He said to me with great
earnestness: L believe you and / can
settle this matter. know you and you
know me. have confidence in your in
Iegrity and believe you have In mine. I
do not think you would ask me to do any
thing improper and / would not require
~@- NN-eNA~ ~ eAAAs AAA~AA6 0AAANu DG-
lieved unjust.
Picking up piece of paper and push
ing Il toward me he said: ] viii write
one word at the top of this sheet OF paper
and that word viii be Union and with
that as basis, you may write out the
terms OF settlement and on that I will
use my influence to have congress set
tie as we agree.
Il then told him what our instructions
were from President Davis, and when |
did a cloud came over his face. his chin
drained LET mr. for q
ltes he did not say a word. After a pause
ne raised out of his seat and said TO me
with hands uplifted; Then l am not re-
sponsible for any further bloodshed | had
hoped the war would end with this con-
ference, but Il is impossible to make anv
settlement with the instructions bv which
you are pound. l trust you will consider
confidential what has occurred between
us
If we had been empowered to negotiate
settlement with the preservation of the
union as basis, the south would have
been paid for its slaves and we would
nave got any just and reasonable recog-
milton at the hands of Mr.. Lincoln OF
course, our instructions binding nc n
recognize only the Independence of the
south, prevented our accomplishing any
thing, for at the threshold of Mr. Iincoln's
neslre Tor peace was his determination that
II must be based upon union"
These are the words, as near as 7 can
remember which Mr. Stephens spoke al
my residence" says Col. Howell. with
- N4NN0PeAoh VI my ldully, the only per-
son present was the late Mark Johnston.
an intimate friend of Mr.. stephens since
poyhood and neighbor of mine. whom /
had invited over to take dinner with us.
asked Mr. stephens at that time 10
permit me to publish the conversation. hut
ne expressed his preference TO have moth
ing SAID about IL, as the conference was a
matter OF unwritten history, and he ala
not feel even then authorized 10 make II
pubic Since, however, the matter has
g come ne up Ior newspaper discussion. think
~ put justice to all concerned that the
puonc be given the benefit of this state
Inent from one of the most important
characters IN that noted conference"
BROTHERS ON TRIAL FOR MURDER