The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-07-29
AT HAMPTON ROADS.
THE NOTABLE CONFERENCE.
What Lincoln Said.

S. A. Ashe IN Charlotte Observer.
1t is undoubtedly true that divergen
views obtain in regard to the Hampton
Roads Conference, and with your pei
mission, I will give succinct statemen
OF the view entertained by the Alex
ander Stephens, as far as know tn
only person present who has given al
elaborate statement of the proceedings
Mr.. Frank P. Blair, ST., bad had two
interviews with President Davis il
which he had suggested that there
might be an armistice; that there era
and Confederate armies might be en-
ployed in enforcing the Monroe doc
trine as to Mexico that after that Oh
ject was accomplished, the Southern
States left to themselves would probably
return to the Union. Mr.. Davis com.
municated this suggestion of Mr.. Blair's
to Mr.. Stephens, who states: "Mr
Davis stated that Mr.. Blair had given
it as his opinion that the result of what
he proposed would be the ultimate re-
storation OF the Union" "What Mr..
Davis wished to confer with me about
was, whether or not it was advisable to
enter into the arrangement at all, under
the circumstances, and especially in
view Of the contingency of such re-
suit as that contemplated by Mr.. Blair !;
and if were OF opinion that it was
proper to do so, then who would be the
most suitable persons to whom the
matter should be commltted?''
Translating this, Mr.. Davis told Mr.
Stephens that Blair thought if they
could have an armistice, when peace
came the Southern States of their own
accord would return to the Union,
therefore, Blair wanted the armistice !;
and in view of that possibility, Mr..
Davis asked Mr.. Stephens if he thought
it proper to have an armistice; and if
so, who were the best men to bring it
about?
Mr.. Stephens promptly replied that
che thought the programme suggested
by Mr.. Blair should be acceded to, at
least so far as to obtain a conference
upon the subject proposed" whether
Mr.. Blair was right in his ideas as to
the ultimate result or not, was, of
course, uncertain but this result to
which he was looking was not neces-
sarily involved in it. Moreover, if such
a result should ensue, it would be by
the voluntary assent of the Confederate
States, and this would secure the
success of the principles for which we
we're struggling"
Mr.. Stephens thus agreeing, he was
called upon to recommend the proper
persons to take the matter IN hand and
he urged that President Davis himself
was the proper person on the Confeder-
ate side. Against his own inclinatfOns,
the President prevailed on him to be
one OF the commissioners. Now-what
may be the object of the conference?
To arrange terms of peace? Why, no.
But to secure an armistice-durlng
which, hostllities being ceased, Mr..
Blair thought the Southern States
would return to the Union and that
possibility was considered by Mr.. Davis
and by Mr.. Stephens, and they were
content if the Southern States, after
breathing spell, should determine to re-
turn to the Union voluntarily.
On December 28th, 1864, President
Lincoln assented to Mr.. Blair's coming
to Richmond to lay this project before
Mr.. Davis.
On January 28th, Mr.. Davis appoint
ed the commissioners, Mr.. Stephens,
Mr.. Hunter and Judge Campbell. The
greatest secrecy was preserved. They
reached Grants headquarters January
31st, and after some delay, Mr.. Lincoln
Welded to Gen. Grants solicitation to
grant them an interview. In December,
Ft. Fisher still protector the Cape Fear
and the Confederacy had that import
ant outlet still open to its ships but in
January, Ft. Fisher had fallen and the
situation was greatly changed. II Mr.
Lincoln was ever party to Blair's pro-
;ect. he now saw no need for it.
The meeting took place on steamer
In Hampton Roads, on February End.
In reply to a question, Mr.. Lincoln
said that he knew of but one way OF
bringing about general good feeling and
harmony between the different States
and sections, "and that was for those
who we're resisting laws OF the Union to
oooso that resistance. All the trouble
came from armed resistance against the
national authority" "The restoration
Of the Union is sine qua non with
ma. and hence my instructions that no
conference was to be held except upon
that basis.
Mr.. Stephens says that he inferred
from that that Mr.. Lincoln meant that