The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-29
reagan VS.. NATTERSON
ANOTHER LETTER FROM JUDGE
REAGAN ANENT THE HAMP-
TON ROADS CONFERENCE.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER WAS ALL
No Proposition Made to Pay For
slaves BY President Lincoln.
Facts AbOat the Matter by
One Who Was There.
Austin, Tex, July 20, 1897.

Austin, Tex, July 20, 1897.
In the address, delivered by me at the
annual reunion of Confederate Veterans
at Nashville. Tenn. on the 22d of June
discussing the question as to why the war
was not brought to an end sooner than it
Mas by compromise, it became neces-
Ne for me to refer to story often told
lt President Lincoln at the Hampton
Roads conference. February 3, 1865, Of
A fered to pay S40O00O,O00 for the slaves
of the South to secure peace and preser-
walton of the Union. This statement has
been often made for the purpose of show
ing that the southern people might have
been paid that sum for their slaves, and
that the war might have been terminated
and its sacrifices avoided, if President
Davis and the Confederate authorities had
accepted this offer from President Lin
coin ] felt that it was due the COnfed-
crate authorities. due to truth and neces-
sary as a historic facr. that | should de-
clare. on that great occasion, that no
such an offer in any form was made.
The Nashville American, newspaper, of
the 26th of June. 1897, published a COM
munication from Mr.. X. II. Baker. of
Watertown, Tenn, under the headlines,
"Judge Reagan In Error" in which he
took issues with me on that question,
thereby necessarily assuming that Presi-
dent Lincoln had made such an offer.
The day on which Mr.. Bakers article
was published l sent note to the Amerl-
can, stating that on my return home l
would send to that paper statement OF
the authorities on which made the denial
that any such offer had been made.
M Pursuant to that promise. on the itf
day of July, 1897, sent my letter OF that
date to the American, giving some OF the
authorities on which l based my denlal
that President Lincoln had offered $780,
400 600 to pay for the loss of the slaves.
/ quoted what was said by the five mem
~. OF the Hampton Roads conference
Nv persons who were present anu
Mat was said in that conference
hem showed that no such offer was
md that no terms were offered the
Rederates but unconditional submission
sk'ederal authority. | will not go over
Ntbe presentation of facts again, but VIII
add 10 il two more statements, one d!
president Davis and one by President
Lincoln. ,e.,o., cor.
In submitting to the Confederate Lon
press the report of our commissioners 10
the Hampton Roads Conference, fresiueh'
Davis said:
of concress the report of the eminent cit,
cons above named (Stephens. Hunter aho
ComnhelN showing that the enemy re-
fused 10 enter into negotiations WIN the
Confoderate States, or any one OF theh
senorataly. or to give to our people an.
other terms or guarantees thah tios'
which the conqueror may grant. vi " pe;
nit us to have peace on any o'her p is;,
than an unconditional submission 10 .,e !,
rule coupled with the acceptance Vi 'ii tIl
recent legislation on the supJec. Vi ~. li
relations between the Whi'e nnH u os
nominations of each state. Such u, "s
nnderstand it, the effect of the allieliu
ment +o the constitution which mas peel
3 adonted by the congress of the h''eo
In resnonse to a resolution adopted ps
+bn Congress of the United States on .l'
Sth of February, 1868. requesting ihlor,
nation from President Lincoln Ill reiu ,,n,t
70 what occurred in the conference ne''
ot Hampton Roads. Mr.. Lincoln SUI az +,,,
"on nv mart the whole substance Oh .n'
;Sstmctions TO the secretary or Stal'
hnro;nbefore recited was stated anu l.i
}S;sted mon. and nothing was SAID ihcoh
\sistent herewith. :. ,do +o fin.
IN tho above reference it maze 10 lilt
IL given by President ihhooll
~ Secretary of State Seward on tne DIS
~. oe January. 1865, as to what he Mu wa, Az
thorizad to do in the conference VIZ; ;no 1
Gonfederatc commissioners MI i"'e''
said: -, ,,rou.p to them that
~" .bo restoration of the national a9
tns ,;,,, throughout all the states; Seconu
oracading by the executive OF the uhl ts,
re- an the slavery question from ln'
1a;.;on assumed thereon in the late al,
posi- osiil'u ,nessoge TO congress and the preteeu
hu", dacnments; third, no cessation ol nJ }
my ; uo hort of an end of the war ana .ns
dtishanding of all the forces hos'''e ~ '">
government. - +ho second of the above
Inc i,;ans was to Mr.. Lincoln's ANNA no,
propos,+o congress of December, lopf
hleSs, ,;s refarence to documents Is W III,
anu ncinatiOn proclamation OF SeP'en'''
eiii"h 900 and of January ]. 300 .,.,
lo" g.. the policy Indicated III the >
IL naotions and in this message WIZ,
= ;ntnrmed the confederate coinihiH'''
a , ha would not recede from. ..;o, o,r
and are not these two authori'. III III,
elusive proof, independently VI ,o tn o.
other proofs presented IN III! made h,
.,HiE T ;ncoln to the confederate comlll,s
Mr, Ms r 70 nav S4OO,0O0,OOO for the sla'e'
.o SECURE peace and union! rsop,
10 will add that of all the person,
N ~" in that conference no one VI
VINO has ever said that such an one
tle,ii made, AIDE but all of them show sta az,
va" focts absolutely inconsistent wlun ,mI
Di i Of such offer H t6o s%eS
any any 1 was made, must do SO in the face OF OF
oifer va Ia6ance of. al! the facts connected
anu ~ tbat conference. The only lnteresi
WIZ ibis matter is to see TO IL that tl'
feel N 'n snots connected with that con
hlstorac shall hall not be perverted ana mis-
Ier else so as to throw on Presoide i
TePrt; and the confederate authorities the
Ni@aE nns dTH of having rejected such
osi HON Henry Watterson, editor O.
' fconr;er- Journal. gave to the pu9li'
ottu naner. on the 10Th Of July. under
l d;snIav heading 'The Truth OF HIS
eisp o~sr four columns criticism ano
y, 70 INV letter of the 9TH OF July.
y oo ~ not 1f descend from the considera
e If an important historical questioi
. % TO what he says about my We
anae:. and ..yolubility," and mum