Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-12
INDEMNITY FOR SLAVES.
Henry WattersOn Reiterates His
stfJement That 1t Was Of
fe<ed by Lincoln.

| Louisville. Ky. July u.-Henry Waiter
son Will publish in the Courler-Journal to-
morrow morning 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 document
airy evidence. He quotes Mr.. Stephens ac-
count Of the Fortress Monroe conference
and produces a joint resolution prepared
by Mr.. Lincoln TO prove that indemnity for
the slaves was contemplated. He cites sew
eral credible witnesses, all of whom de-
clare. as Mr.. Watterson declares himself,
that Mr.. Stephens did make the statement
aScribed TO him.
AS far as Mr.. Watterson is concerned ="
says the Courier-Journal, he has made no
statement that admits of any controversy
whatever. The suggestion which he did
make cannot be truthfuIly denied; that
Mr.. Lincoln did not merely contemplate.
but proposed. plan to appropriate $4O0-
Vo,WO to pay the Southern states for the
slaves as late as February 1866; that he
cid intimate this to the Confederate COM
mIsslonerS at Fortress Monroe during the
ofhcial Interview; and that at least Mr.
stephens knew that union and peace being
conceded, Mr.. Lincoln was willing that he
ever details he pleased, Mr. Lincoln feel
ing that Mr.. Stephens was a wise fust
statesman who could be trusted to insert
nothlng unreasonable or ill-advised
With the South refusing to treat except
upon the recognition of the independence
or the Confederacy and Mr.. Lincoln refus-
ing TO treat except on the basis of union
there could not Well be any progress made
al the Fortress Monroe conference"
IN closing, Mr.. Watterson SAYS: MIR
Natterson regrets that Judge Reagan has
a ha hon
was settled. He was surprised by the pas-
sage in Judge Reagan's Nashville address.
D9t ne eoncluded not to revive an issue
which aside from seeming unRratious to
a frsternal occasion. cannot in the nature
or the case be very agreeable as a retro
spectlon, or profitable as a subject of pres
ent discussion. The insistance of Judge
Reagan in keeping il alive and in urging
a view which is contradicted by the best
ana 1tb amplest testimony. leaves him no
other alternative He Is just as free from
any just accusation of a purpose to mis-
report any Southern aspect of the history
OF the war as Judge Reagan is himself.
But he has no personal motive. as Judge
Reagan has, for making any special plea
In behaf OF any particular view II is a
Iact 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 resto-
ration OF the Union. and Il is a fact that,
the commissioners sent TO Fortress Mon
roe were authorized to treat on no other
terms than the recognition of the inde-
penGence of the Confederacy
Whether it was best to let the collapse
come Is another matter. That IL was com |
ing was in point of fact imminent: was
perfectly well known in official circles al
Richmond. That within less than sixty |
days II actually came is history Whether |
II was best for the Confederate president |
and authorities to take time by the fore |
lock and. with a fun knowledge of the |
impending disaster. before their ewes. to |
seek some other settlement than that of |
the impossible recognition OF the independ- |
o nr In 90 h.
bottom literally to drop from the tub the |
Confederate armies at the mercy of Grant |
and Sherman, the Confederate capital |
abandoned and the Confederate govern
ment I'm fight. belongs to a chapter of /
speculative philosophy and which we do
not care at present to explore"