The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-07-29


restored" And he argued to Mr.. Lin
coin against requiring a previous
pledge, but Mr.. Lincoln replied that b
could entertain no proposition for ceas
ing active military operations which
was not based on a pledge first giver
for the ultimate restoration of the
Union.
The commissioners had no authority
to give any such pledge; and that
Seemed to put an end to the confer.
ence on the subject contemplated in
our mission" However, other matter.
were discussed.
Judge Campbell inquired how resto-
ration was to take place. supposing the
Confederate States were consenting to
it. Mr.. Lincoln replied: "By dis
| banding their armies and permitting
the national authorities to resume their
functions" Judge Campbell said that
the war had necessarily given rise to
questions which must, it seemed to
him, require stlpulations or agreement
of some sort, or assurances of some
sort, which ought to be adjusted un-
derstandingly before harmonious res
toratlon OF former relations could pro-
perly be made. He alluded to the dis
abandonment of the army; to the con-
fscatlon acts, etc. Mr.. Seward replied
that as to all questions involving rights
of property, the courts would deter
mine and that Congress would, no
doubt, be liberal, etc.
Mr.. Stephens asked Mr.. Lincoln what
effect his emancipation proclamation
was to have-would 1t be held to eman-
cipate all the negroes, or only those
who had become actually free under it?
Mr.. Lincoln said "that was a judicial
question. How the courts would decide
it, he did not know, and could give no
answers"
Mr.. Seward referred to the proposed
constitutional amendment prohibiting
slavery in the United States, and lett
the inference that if the Confederate
States were to abandon the war, they
could OF themselves defeat this amend
ment by voting it down as members of
the Union. II inquired" says Mr..
Stephens, chow this matter could be
adjusted, without some understanding
as to what position the Confederate
States would occupy towards the others,
it they were then to abandon the wal"
"Would they be admitted to represen-
tation in Congress?"
Mr.. Lincoln very promptly replied
that his own individual opinion was
that they ought to be. He also thought
that they would be, but he could not
enter into any stipulation upon that
subject"
"Upon my urging the importance of
some understanding on this point, even
in case the Confederate States should
entertain the proposition of a return
to the Union, he persisted in asserting
that he could not enter into any agree
ment upon this subject or upon any
other matters of that sort, with parties
in arms against the government"
After a good deal moro conversation
on such points, Mr.. Hunter went into
a sort of recapitulation of the subjects
talked over in the interview, and the
conclusions which seemed to be logical
ly deduclble from them, which amount
ed to nothing as a basis of peace, in his
Judgment, but an unconditional sur
render on the part OF the Confederate
States and their people. There could
be no agreement, no treaty nor even any
stipulations as to terms-nothing but
unconditional submission.
Mr.. Seward promptly replied that no
words like unconditional submission
had been used, etc.
Mr.. Hunter repeated his view of the
subject. "What else could be made
out of it," No treaty, no stipulation,
no agreement either with the Confeder-
ate States Jointly, or with them sepa-
rately, as to their future position or
security. What was this but uncondi-
tional submission to the mercy of the
conquerors?"
Mr.. Seward said: "The Southern
people and the Southern States would
be under the constitution OF the United
States, with all their rights secured
thereby, In the same way and through
the same instrumentalities, as the
similar rights of the people of the other
States were"
Mr.. Hunter said: "But you make
no agreement that these rights will be
so held and secured"
Now from this account it will be seen
that while Mr.. Seward asserted that
the Southern people would have the
same rights IN the Union as the North
ern people, he and Mr.. Lincoln were
unwilling to enter into an agreement