Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-19
TIE REVERSE TRUE.

be required to be given"
THE REVERSE TRUE.
As regards the statement OF the Phila-
delphIa Times that Mr.. Lincoln would
have proposed 10 pay the South SDo'V",-
900 for slaves but for Mr. Stephens's posi-
ton taken AT the outset that he could
entertain no proposition that did not
embrace the perpetuIty Of the Confede-
racy the facts are the reverse OF this.
Mr.. Lincoln, at the outset stated tnat
there was no way for peace but for the
South. as a preliminary. to cease her re-
sistance to the national authority. Lay
down your arms" ne said chat Is, submit
TO his dctation). "and then talk about the
terms OF peace with your hands ued).
Mr.. Stephens then said: is there no other
question that might divert the attcntloh
OF both parties for a time from the ques-
tions involved in the present strife?
Is there no continental question when
might thus temporarily engage their at
tentionT' Mr. Lincoln understood the al
fusion at once. For the conference Was
really held at the suggestion OF r. L.
Blair. Sr, for the ostenslble purpose oil
securing a secret military convention OF
treaty between the belligerents for the
maintenance OF the Monroe doctrine In
Mexico. This Il was argued by Mr.. ste
phens before Mr.. Lincoln, would result IN
the ultimate restoration OF the Union, Out
with or without authority he was OF
course, unable, from the nature OF tne
case. to give a pledge 10 that erect. MT;
Lincoln. however repeated that he could
not treat with men who had arms In their
hands. and he repudiated Mr.. Blair 8 au-
thority, though Mr.. Blair had said that
he was fully possessed Of Mr.. Lincoln's
views Mr. Stephens said that there was
historical authority for such military
convention as Mr.. Blair had proposed, ana
instanced Charles l.. who had entered into
4 military convention with protessed
rebels against his royal authority. TO this
Mr.. Lincoln answered that all he knew
| about Charles was that he had lost ms
! head. Mr.. Davis was much disappointed
at the result OF the conference, and,
thinking Mr. Lincoln had acted In bad
faith. or changed his mind. attributed the
change to the fall Of Fort Fisher, which
| had occurred on January b. 1859
PAYING FOR SLAVES.
But so far from Mr.. I.incoln's being de-
TERED by any position Of Mr. Stephenss
from making his 100000 proposition.
Mr.. Stephens says that Mr.. Lincoln
stated, In THE course Of the confer
| ence that he knew some people at the
| North who were in favor OF paying the
| South as high as Si00-0OO0O0 for their
| slaves. But on this subject" he said, he
|
| stipulation. He merely expressed his own
| feelings and views" individually. which
were in favor Of paying the South an In
| demnity for the loss Of her slaves. (Ste-
| phens's United States" Appendix r, page
| 1000.
Mr.. Lincoln considered 5000 900 high
| indemnity, but what was that to tl,to.-
! 000O00-the lowest estimate in 1850 Of the
value OF the negro property at the South
4 h.. tWfN n
| the laws Of England, the Colonies, the
| several States, and the United States.
When slavery was abolished in the Dis
| trict OF Columbia, upon paying the slave
| holders a nominal sum for their slave pro-
| perty, Mr.. Crittenden I'm Congress de-
| nounced Il an act OF cOnfiscation And In
| 1853. when emancipation with nominal COM
! pensation in United States bonds was pro-
| posed TO the border slave States that had
not seeded, the most OF their representa-
| tives in the Federal Congress Indignantly
| rejected the proposition. being determined
| come what might. not TO occupy the po-
| sltlon OF particeDs criminis. Mr.. Lincoln
| IN person urged It's acceptance on MI
| Crittenden, SAYING: Nothing IL more I'M
certain now than two-Iegged property and
| bonds viii soon be more valuable than
| bondsmen." Blaine's Twenty Years. ,
But the dignihed Crittenden stood firm.
and said that the measure was not only
one Of confiscaton, but was destructive
OF the political and social fabrics OF the
South.
VERY LITTLE HOPE.
In the beginning OF the year 1865 there
was but little hope for the Confederacy'
except through the Intervention Of France,
| whose position in relation 10 Mexico rem
dered her favorable to the South. But
instead OF regarding this "a the hand or
| Providence extended TO its aid, anu
making an alliance with France, as the
! sagacious Washington would have Done
the Confederate Administration agreed 20
the Hampton Roads conference upon the
basis OF the independence or the SCUM,
4 coupled with an alliance with the CHl'SI
states to enforce the Monroe doctrine 1T
| Mexico. This was done, as we have salu
at the instigation of +. p. Blair, Sr, VINO
had very improperly been allowed TO WISH
| Richmond, where he not only became cog
| infant of the weakness OF the South pu'
| where he used all his art 70 increase
| among prominent men the then GROWING
| disaffectlon to the cause. In MS inter
| views with Mr. Davis. Mr.. BAR SAID tna'
| perhaps his plan Of a secret treaty pe
| tween the United States and the Con
| federacv TO enforce the Monroe doctrine
| In Mexico was only the dream OF an Ole
| man. and expressed a fear that ther'
| might be existing engagements between
| European Powers and the Confederate
| states which would render treaty IN
| nossihle This he repeated twice in ms
| insinuating manner 0or he and Dir. DAVIS
were old acQuaintances) before MT. Dawn
| took any notice Of II. Mr. DAVIS thei
| said that we had no such complications
were free to act as 10 VA should seen
| host and desired 10 keep State policy anc
| foreign
| Davis's Rise and Fall" H., 5n) Inn
was all MIR. Blair wanted TO know-Mr
! Davis bit al the bait. and was hooked
| Mr. stephens says that Mr. Blair was th'
| master-spirt-the real Warwlck-oI IN.
| party then in power at Washington. IN,
| RIairs were evidently the betes noires Of
| the Confederacy.
FOR THE COURTS.
When MIR Stephens, at the confer enSe
| ,,orired what would be the status OF th'
slaves OF the South under Mt. Lincoln
emancipation proclamation. X the Souli
| laid down her arms In order 10 IeStO
ration OF peace, as Mr.. Lincoln proposed
the latter said that this woulu De
matter for the courts to decide-'hat ~
would not alter the proclamauon-out ina
- ,vas simnIv a war measure, and ONLY
| 900 600 negroes had then been actualll
enancipated under Il. These, he SAID
| he would never return 10 slavery bu
whether the rest would be liberated unde
| the proclamation was a question "hlci
must be determined by the courts.
The conference, therefore, ehected no
thing but 20 destroy all hope OF reeos
milton by France, and this was proDaoll
All that Messrs. Blair and Seward eN
pected or desired For the French I'm
peror being Immediately informed by Mr.
seward through the United States Minis
| ter al Paris that Mr.. Davis had pro
pOsed. through Nice-President stephen
and the other commissioners, TO ENFORCE
the Monroe doctrine against France II
Mexico. as the price OF peace was III
stantly converted from staunch trleh'
TO a determined enemy. Coniederat
diplomacy, instead OF SELLING prompti.
upon the relations Of France TO Mckee
as a divine interposition IN behalf o
the South, used the opportunity 10 max
another enemy and reduce the SCUM q
the condition Of standing alone IN IN
world. without A friend or ally. while sur
rounded on every side by foes In over
whelmIng numbers. Mr.. Davis had sue
ceeded admirably in achieving his objec'
as avowed to Mr.. Blair, Of keeping stat
policy and institutions free from Tor
, eign complicatonsv'
D. II. PANNILL-