The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-05


dramatic incident between Mr.. Lincoln
and Mr.. stephens Judge Campbell made
several efforts to get a statement from
Mcssrs. Lincoln and Seward as 10 what
would be done, and what guarantee the
Southern states would have II they
should agree TO end the war then. He
was uniformly met with the answer that
nothing would be promised; no guar
antees would be given. The South must
cease hosiiltios and trust 10 clemency.'
lie says nothing whatever as to any in
tcrview between President Lincoln and
Mr.. stephens private or aside from 'he
other commissioners.
Tho only difference between the state
monts OF Judge Campbell and Mr. Ste
phcns IS in tho greater clearness and de-
nnitcnoss Of detail. with which the form
or destroys the rumor that Mr. Lincoln
made any proposition 10 pay for the
slaves or 10 settle the war upon any
other terms than absolute submission on
the part Of the Confedcracy.
The diary OF Governor Fitzpatrick, the
preserved files Of "The Land We Love"
Osopt in Louisville by the way. and the
open records Of the Virginia Historical
Society are waiting 10 emphasize to the
interested reader Judge Campbells over
whclming testimony against this lately
revived canard.
10 is proper that should acknowledge
here my debt for great deal OF yalua-
BILE direction and information on these
points 30 Honorable Frank II. Sexton OF
El Paso. Tex a member Of the Confer
crate Congress. a close friend OF Mr. Davis
and his Cabinet and at present one Of
the most honored and respected men Of
tho great empire Of tho Southwest. Mr.
Sexton has investigated thoroughly the
charges Of Mr. Watterson and answered
them himself in articles 10 which l shall
refer as / 20 along.
AIIXAyDER STEPHENS - A wITNRss.
Thlrd-As to Mr. Stephens. When we
remember that the great cOmmoner
Of Georgia WAS not on cordial terms with
The President Of the COnfederacy-ih
he was "a Union man and an Unwilling
convert - secession, and that although
he went into the war earnestly ana 10Y
ably. DO soon lost hope of its favorable
issue 10 the Confederate cause, and as
earnestly desired Ieace-it does not seem
probable that he would have failed 10
eagerly receive and advocate any propo-
sitiOn so cnticing as the alleged ohcr OF
Mr.. Lincoln. or that. if such proposition
had been made and rejected, lac would
have failed 10 record 81 in his book, Tor
his own vindication and for the truth
OF history.
But Mr. stephens is. perhfIs, the high
ost and strongest witness 1n nefauon.
ON the night OF the return OF the Con-
felorato commissioners to Richmond,
Mr. stcr hens told his personal friend.
Senator James J.. orr of South Carroll
ma. that "the conference was utterly
fuitloss. that MI Lincoln offered the
Confederate States nothing but uneOn-
difon8l submission. and that the Con-
fcdcracv had no alternatives but 10 re-
aist 90 the last. or surrender al disfre-
tiOn." This statement is Of published and
unc0ntradictod record.
con February s. lSo5." writes COnfedcr-
ate Congressman Sexton from his diary,
"Mr. stephens. i'm conversation with Hon.
clifford Anderson. of Georgia, and my
self. iu the chamber of representatives
of the Confederate states. said that Mr.
Lincoln offered tho Southern States Moth
ing but unconditional submission that
81 was utterly impossible 20 effect any
peaceful NEGOTIATION with him, that ~
offered the Confederate States no terms
nt all. but laying down our arms ana
trusting entirely TO his clcmcncy and
that of the United states. Mr.. Anderson
and ] both said we could only reach
those terms I'm any event. and we saw
nothing 90 Doe accomIt she'd 10y anticipat-
ing Them Mr. stephens did not dissent
from our expression
Some time after the war. between 1850
and 1870 "a somewhat heated controversy
sroso between two gentlemen in san
Augustine county. Tex. as 10 the para
graphs above quoted from Colonel Wat
torson's address. ono Of them averred
fn the most unqualified terms that The
administration and Congress on the Con-
Tolerate states were alone 20 blame for
the loss of the negroes as slaves. be-
cause Mr. Iincoln offered 500 10000 FOR
.ncm at the Monroe conference. and his
Offer was fatty refused The other as
warmly contradictcd this averment The
latter was Colonel $. W. Blount. one of
the sieners of tho declaration of indie
poulcnce Of Texas. deceased only a few
wears since. Colonel Blount. who ~
hls hOyhOod. had been a schO0lmato OF
SIR Stephens rotc 10 him ON the sub
jcct. AIR stephens promptly replied in
published letter. that 10 was not true
that AIR. Lincoln had ever offered to
pay any sum for the negroes of the
South, and added, chat the only ele-
mcnt of truth i'm the reference to the
slaves If the South was so much mixed
up and infused with falschoOd as TO
make the entire assertion false
I'm his book "The War Between the
St8fes,' Mr. stephens, of course, gives
am account of the Monroe conference"
In the following passage VIII be found
the conversation ON which this strange
rumOr is probably based furnishing at
once the true settlement Of Mr.. Lincoln's
merely personal feeling ana expressions,
and at the same time the historic rcfu-
tation of the idea that any official propo-
sition was ever made along the lines of
this discussion. ! quote In substance
from THIS work:
after Mr.. Lincoln had repeatedly de-
clared that Dee had no Otter to make
that the South must lay down their
arms. etc.. Mr. Hunter, in an animated
manner declared thct nothing but sub
mission was offered by Mc.srs. Lincoln
aud Seward; they refused any treaty
refused 90 ma he any stipulation or agree
mcnt. Mr.. Seward tried to explain away
the Unconditional submission" as the
words seemed unpleasant 10 him vol .,
page 60 lie CNr. Seward ondeavored
Co explain what were the rights OF the
South. and now they would Doe secured
by The Constitution Mr. Hunter replied
sharply But you make no agreement
that these rights viii bc so held and re-
spcctcl' Then Air. Lincoln said That
go far as iha conhscatiOn acts and other
penal acts were concerned. their enforce
mcut was left entirely tn him. and on
that point DEE was perfectly willing 10 be
fan AND explicit and on his assurance
perfect reliance might De placed he
should exercise the power Of the cNecu-
tive with the utmost liberality. He went
en- 90 say that ho personally would he
willing TO be taxed TO rent neratc the
southern people for their SLAVES. lie be-