Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-25
HAMPTON ROADS CONFERENCE.
Cant. Ashc Reviews Aier'
.,n..s.. Account of Conference

Capt. Ashc Reviews Aet
,hc,x.. Account of Conference
co,,ai, q A Ashe writes In ChaI'o'''
IN. c. Observer: 1t Is undoup'eo'y
that divergent views obtain In resa'u -
the Hampton Roads conference
.,,,,h ,our permission ] will give sue
oI,c, statement Of the views enter'alne-
bv Alexander stephens, as FAR as 49,
ne only person present who mas go
- elaborate statement OF the prOceeu
e., His account of the conleI
ro,,ld occupy about three pages o. tne
observer. / shall give only the ie"''"s
points: - nod two
MT Frank p. Blair. ST.. had hau wv
interviews with President DAVIS IN %'''a,,
ne had suggested that there mlsn, y
arnlsiice; that the Federal ana SVn' -
rate armies might be employed IN en-
forcing the Monroe doctrine as TO Mex
On. that after that object was accom-
nl,shed the Southern States. LETT 10 tnei,'-
eeIves. would probably return 10 o
I-n,on Mr. Davis communicates thlS
sugeestion OF Mr.. BARS to Mr. Stepheh''
who states: u,.i- had
"ur Davis stated that NJ. Blair haI
,,,,.o, &, as his opinion that the result VI
THAT he o;od would be the ui'lfna.e
roetorafion OF the Union. what MI
nevis wished 20 confer with me ABOUT
us whether or not Il was advisape 10
enter into the arrangement ~ an. ""uo.
the circumstances. and especially III 'ie"
Of the contingency OF such result a. a.
that contemplated by Mr.. BAR anu IL
I were of opinion that II was PrOpe'
do so then who would be the most SUI,
able persons 10 Whom tic Hio''''
be committed| 80, ~.
Translating this. Mr. Davis told MI
etepbens that Blair thought II they
could have an armstice. when pcdCe
came the Southern States. of their own
accord. would return to the Union; theIe-
fore blair wanted tine armistice; ana IN
Wow OF that possibility, Mr.. Davis asNeu
Mr. stephens # he thought it proper 10
have an armistice and # so, who were
the best men TO bring it about
Mr.. stephens promptly replied tnat
"he thought the programme suggested
bv Mr.. Blair should be acceded TO- at
least. so far as to obtain conference
upon the subject proposed "Whether
Mr. blair was right in his ideas as 10
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 such
a result should ensue, IL would he by
the voluntary assent Of the Confederate
states. and this would secure the sue
cess OF the principles for which we were
struggling
Mr.. stephens thus agreeing, he was
calied upon to recommend the proper
nersons to take the matter In hand'
and ne urged that President Davis him.
confederate side Against his own IN
citations. the President prevailed on
him 10 be one OF the commissioners.
w what may be the object Of the
conference? To arrange terms OF peace!
WV no But to secure a armistlce-
during which. hostilities being ceased,
Mr. Blair thought tha Southern states
would return TO 20 Union; and that
nossibilitv was cons dered by Nh. Davis
and bv Mr.. Stephens. and they were con-
tent II the Southern states, after
breathing spell should determine to re-
t,~n 70 the Union voluntarily.
on December %. 1854, President Lin
colin ossented to Mr. Blairs coming 70
Richmond TO lay this project before
Mr.. Davis.
ON January 2Sth Mr.. Davis appointed
the commissioners-M Stephens. Mr
Hunter. and Judge Campbell. The great
est secrecy was preserved. Ihey
reached Grants headquarters January
9,et and after some delay Mr.. Lincoln
Welded 10 General Grants solicitation
10 Grant them an interview. In Deem
Der. Fort Fisher still protected the
CAPE Fear, and the Confederacy had
mat important outlet still open TO its
ships: but in January Fort Fisher
had fallen. and the situation was great
" changed. II Mr.. Lincoln was ever
party 10 Blairs project, he now saw no
need for H.
The meeting took place on a steamer
in Hampton Roads. on February ID.
In reply 70 "A question, Mr.. Lincoln
said that he knew Of but one way Of
bringing about neral good FEELING
and harmony between the different
state and sections. "and that was for
those who were resisting laws Of the
Union to cease that resistance. All the
trouble came from armed resistance
against the national authority THE
restoration Of the Union is a sine qua
non with me. and hence my instructions
that no conference was TO be held ex-
cept upon that basis
Mr.. Stephens says that he inferred
from that that Mr.. Lincoln meant that
no arrangement could be made on the
line suggested by Mr.. Blair without a
previous pledge or assurance being given
that the Union was to be ultimately re-
stored. And he argued TO Mr.. Lincoln
against requiring a previous pledge, ou'
Mr.. Lincoln replied that he could enter
! tail. no proposition for ceasing active
mi itary operations which was not based
on a pledge first given for the ultimate
restoration Of the Union
The commissioners had no authority
| TO give any such pledge, and thal
seemed TO put an end TO the conference
on the subject contemplated in our mis-
sion" However, other matters were dis
clssed.
Judge Campbell inquired how restora
ton was TO take place, supposng tbs
Confederate States were consenting to II
Mr.. Lincoln replied: by disbanding theil
armies and permitting the national au
| thorites TO resume their functions.
Judge Campbell said that the war haC
| necessarily given rise to questions which
! must. il seemed 10 him, require stipula
tons or agreement of some sort. or as
surances OF some sort, which ought to b
adjusted Understandingly before a har
monious restoration Of former relation!
could properly be made. He alluded q
the dlsbandment Of the army. 10 th'
| conhscation acts, etc Mr. Seward re
piled that as to all questions involving
rights Of property the courts would DE-
termine, and that Congress would, NJ
doubt, be liberal, etc.
Mr.. Stephens asked Mr. Lincoln wha
effect his emancipation proclamation
vas TO have would IL be held to eman
cipate all the negroes. or only thOs
who had become actually free unde