The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-17
LINCOLN AND THE SLAVES.
Contemplated Payment for Them Under
Certain Condition, Says Mr.. Watterson.


Louisville, July 14.-Henry Watterson
publishes in the Courier Journal" an
elaborate reply to Judge Reagan's denial
that Mr.. Lincoln contemplated payment
for the slaves under certain conditions,
and that he said to Mr.. Stephens: "Let
me write Union at the top OF this page
and you may write below it whatever you
please
Mr.. Watterson sustains his position by
profuse documentary evidence. He quotes
Mr.. Stephens's account of the Fortress
Monroe conference, and produces joint
resolution prepared by Mr.. Lincoln to
prove that indemnity for the slaves was
contemplated. He cites several credible
witnesses, all Of whom declare, as Mr..
Watterson declares himself, that Mr.. Ste
phens did make the statement ascribed to
him.
GAS far as Mr.. Watterson is con-
cerned," says the Courier journal, "he
has made no statement that admits of any
controversy whatever. The suggestion
which he did make cannot be truthfully
denied; that Mr.. Lincoln did not merely
contemplate, but proposed plan to ap-
propriate $500, 900, 600 to pay the Southern
States for the slaves as late as February.
1865; that he did intimate this to the
Confederate commissioners during the
official interview, ..and that at least Mr..
Stephens knew that, union and peace be
ing conceded, Mr.. Lincoln was willing
that he (Stephens) should write whatever
details he pleased, Mr.. Lincoln feeling
that Mr.. Stephens was wise, Just states
man, who could be trusted to insert moth
ing unreasonable or ill-advised.
with the South refusing to treat ex-
cept upon the recognition of the indepen-
dence Of the Confederacy, and Mr.. Lin
OF union, there could not be any progress
made at the Fortress Monroe conference. ("
In conclusion Mr. Watterson says:
Mr.. WattersOn regrets that Judge
Reagan has seen fit to recur to a question
he thought was settled He was surprised
tby the passage in Judge Reagan's Nash
vile address; but he concluded not to re.
yive an issue which, aside from seeming
ungracious to fraternal occasion, can
not in the nature of the case be very
| agreeable as retrospection or profitable
as a subject Of present discussion. The
| insistence of Judge Reagan in keeping
1t alive and in urging a view which Is
contradicted by the best and amplest tes-
timony, leaves him no alternative. He is
| Jusu as IIee from any JUST accusation OF q
purpose to misreport any Southern aspect
of the history Of the war as Judge Reagan
is himself But he has no personal mo-
tive, as Judge Reagan has, for making
any special plea in behalf of any particu.
lar view. 1t is fact that within less
than sixty days Of it's total collapse the
Confederacy might have made honorable
and advantageous terms Of peace on the
basis of the restoration Of the Union, and
it is fact that the commissioners sent te
Fortress Monroe were authorized to treat
on no other terms than the recognition Of
the independence of the Confedearcy.
Whether it was best to let the collapse
come is another matter. That 1t was
coming, was in point of fact imminent,
was perfectly well known in official cir.
cles at Richmond. That within less than
sixty days it actually came, Is history,
Whether it was best for the Confederate
President and authorities to take time by
the forelock, and, with full knowledge
of the impending disaster before theil
eyes. to seek some other settlement than
that Of the impossible recognition Of the
independence of the Confederacy, or to
leave the bottom literally to drop from
the tub, the Confederate armies at the
mercy Of Grant and Sherman, the Confed
crate government in flight, belongs to g
chapter of speculative philosophy, and
which we do not care at present to *
pIOreo