The herald., 1897-10-17
IH[ R[ACAN-NATT[RSON Controversy
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY vINDICATED---REA-
GAN STANDS SOLITARY AND
ALONE

Stephens, Campbell and Hunter at the
Hampton Road conference in February,
1865, had not A. H. Stephens, as the i'm
mediate representative of Jefferson
Davis, frankly stated at the outset that
he was Instructed not to entertain or
discuss any proposition that did not
recognize the perpetuity Of the confed-
eracy."
Brooks and Baxter war in Arkansas,
says: Mr.. Lincoln, sustained, by Mr..
Seward, first stated his mands, which,
among others, were that he would, be
willing to be taxed to remunerate
| southern people for their slaves He be-
lieved the people of the north were as
responsible for slavery as the people of
the south, and If the war should cease
with the voluntary abolition Of slavery
| by the states, he should be in favor HIM
self of paying fair indemnity to the
owners. He could mention per-
sorss whose names (Horace Greely
was one) would cause astonsh-
ment, who were willing to do
| this, If the war should now cease
with the abolition of slavery, and were
in favor of an appropriate ton of four hun
dred millions for that purpose.
But on this subject he spoke his own
mind merely-could give no assurance"
, What does ex-Attorney- General Gar
land say in his letter to the L. r. Ga
zette as to what was said at the Hamp-
| ton roads conference? "Mr. Lincoln re-
marked q he would be willing to be taxed
TO remun crate the southern people for
! their slaves; he was satisfied the people
Of the north were as much responsible
| for the institution as the south, and if
| the war would then end with slavery
abolished and restoration of the union,
he would favor. as an individual, the
government paying fair price for them
and he thought this feeling was strong
in the north. He knew some who IA
vored $400 100000 to pay for the slaves,
and persons whose names you would not
suppose would indorse this if the war
would then cease, with slavery abolished
and the union restored"
| General Garland omitted several i'm
portant facts in his letter to the L. R.
Gazette, which evidently escaped his
memory, but which made SO deep an
impression on the writer's mind that
they can never be effaced.
|
Hampton Roads conference, at the writ.
er's house, said that Stephens told him
before accepting the commission that
he lid not want to go to the Roads" be-
cause he knew that President Davis
would tie the hands of the commits
sioners 30 they could do nothing, and
after his return from the Roads he stated
that President Lincoln had spoken free
ly to him about the payment for the
slaves, if the union could only be saved
by it.
What does Judge Usher, a member OF
Lincoln's cabinet, say in his "Reminis-
cences of Lincoln? He says that Lin
coin, for the restoration of peace and the
union, was willing to have the govern
ment issue bonds to the amount CT $400, =
100000 to pay for the freedom of the
slaves" etc. This was written shortly
after the assassination of President
Lincoln, and there was no motive, nor
the opportunity. for the Ratification OF
history. ---@
All these writers agree on all the
points involved:
1st. That President Davis made it i'm
possible for the commissioners to ac-
complish anything.
I'd. That the conference did nothing
in an official way
Sd. That President Lincoln and Sec
retary Seward expressed a willingness
and a desire to pay for the voluntary
liberation of the slaves
Further, Horace Greedy, Gerret Smith
and many others favored and even ad-
vocated the liberation of the slaves by
purchase. What President Lincoln said
at the Hampton Roads conference about
compe emancipation was not a
new thing. Whether Davis or Reagan
had heard of it" or not, is not the ques-
ton. The proof shows that Mcclure,
Harrell, Stephens, Garland. Waterman
Usher and many others had heard of it
and remembered it. Confederates and
| Federals agree that Lincoln used his
| great name and influence, for the sake
of peace and the union, in favoring and
encouraging compensatory emancipa~
ton. Seward indorsed him.
| No rational person holds that Lincoln
had power to bind the United States
in the premises. The authority to act
on the proposition was lodged in the
United States congress. Neither the
confederate commissioners nor Pres-
dent Davis. had power to accept any
proposition relating to slavery. The
whole subject matter rested in the con-
federate congress There was no au-
thoritative offer to pay for the slaves
There could be none undhr the circum-
stances. 1t was an informal meeting,
inasmuch as the conference agreed at
the outset. The life and character of
Lincoln indicate that he did use his per-
sonal offices in behalf of peace and the
union at this meeting. All contempo-
rary writer's and intimate friends and
political opponents say so with one
voice. Judge Reagan stands alone
Not an author or writer living or dead
sustans him. What a commentary on
the treachery of human memory!
| A. A. C. ROGERS.
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