The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-13
PAY FOR SLAVES
What Was President Lincoln's Atti-
tude on the Subject.
SAID AT HAMPTON ROADS
An Interesting Bit of Unwritten
History OF the Late War
Told BY Col. Evan
p. Howell.

Atlanta, Ca. May 12.-Col. Evan T.
Howell of the Atlanta Constitution
adds an Interesting chapter to the COM
troversy over what occurred at the
Hampton Roads conference between
President Lincoln and Hon. Alexander
Stephens. vice president of the confed-
eracy.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Wat
terson recently stated that at that con-
ference President Lincoln presented a
sheet of paper TO Mr.. Stephens. saying:
II will write the word Union at the
top and you may write what you please
on the other" A statement which is
taken as meaning that Mr.. Lincoln
was ready and willing to pay the
South for the slaves.
In the Constitution John Temple
Graves endeavored to show that Mr..
Lincoln made no such proposition. and
he quotes from Messrs. Stephens. Rea-
gan, Hunter and Campbell to sustain
him in the issue.
The Philadelphia Times. in an edi-
torial. written presumably by Colonel
Mcclure. shows additional light on the
subject. claiming that Mr.. Lincoln
would have proposed to pay the South
s4o0, 600, 900 for her slaves. but did not
make the proposition. simply because
Mr.. Stephens had stated at the outset
that he could not entertain any propo-
sition that did not embrace the perpet-
uality of the confederacy.
Colonel Howell's letter gives the de-
tails of conversation he had with AL
exander II. Stephens on the subject
under discussion. Shortly after Mr..
stephens was inaugurated governor
of Georgia, in 1882. Colonel Howell
asked him IL he had ever had any hope
that the confederacy would turn out
differently from what IL did. Mr..
stephens said:
II had great hopes when the question
was first agitated about the confer
ence. I was always In favor or set
Ting the war and preventing further
bloodshed. and when the conference
was suggested by Mr.. Blair and others
/ took very active part in pushing
IL. There was very bitter opposition
TO II on the part of friends of President
Davis in the congress.
FINALLY / was authorized and COM
missioners were selected to attend the
conference. Much to my regret these
commissioners were given specific In
structions which prevented them nego-
tiating for peace on anyother basis
than that which guaranteed the indie
pendence and autonomy of the confed-
crate states"
Mr.. Stephens went on to tell of his
conferences with Mr.. Davis. in which
he urged that the commission be not
hampered with instructions, but he
got no encouragement; on the other
hand the day the commissioners left
they were pointedly informed that no
settlement could be considered that
did not recognize the independence OF
the confederate government.
Mr.. stephens told of the meeting
with Mr.. Lincoln and his associate
and the cordially OF Mr.. Lincoln's
confederacy.
After we had returned TO the salon
OF the steamer" continued Mr.. Ste
phens, "Mr Lincoln was very talka-
tive, and pleasant with all of the COM
msssioners. He seemed to be In splen-
did humor and was in excellent spir-
Its. After awhile / joined him and we
went apart from the others and sat
down TO a small table where there was
writing material This was before any
formal discussion had commenced. He
preached the subject OF the conference
and expressed special pleasure at the
fact that was one OF the commission
ers.
"He said TO me with great earnest
ness: 4 believe you and can settle
this matter. know you and you know
me. j have confidence I'm your integri-
~ and 1 believe you have in mine.
don't think you would ask me to do
anything improper and / would not re-
quest your consent TO anything which
i believed unjust
Picking up a piece OF paper and
pushing IL toward me. he said: L will
write one word at the top OF this sheet
OF paper. and that word will be
may write out the terms OF settlement.