The age-herald., 1899-04-21
GEN. LEES DESPAIR.
Before Hampton Roads Conference Said
 the South Could Not Continue War.

Colonel A. S. Colyar, in his address giving his personal recollection of the confederate congress, delivered before the University club in Nashville, Tenn, said:
 Tn the latter part of January 1865, John B. Baldwin, of Virginia after night ses- sion, asked me to walk with him. He had served the first year of the war as colonel under General Lee and was the general s confdant in congress, if he had any. Walk ing out, MT. Baldwin said he had never before hesitated in the discharge of pub lie duty That General Lee had that day informed him that the war must end, giv- ing the reasons. General Lee had made no suggestions, but MT. Baldwin did not be- lieve MT. Davis would agree to any set clement.
 "In pursuance of an agreement entered into, MT. Baldwin, the next night, in secret session, offered a resolution to create committee to inquire into our ability to car ry on the war This resolution was prompt ly adopted, and the committee was ap- pointed. MT. Baldwin was put at the head of the committee. I was also put on it. The committee examined as witnesses many general officers; but the main purpose was to get in an authentic way the opinion of General Lee, (with his reasons), so that if congress took any step it would be backed up by the generals opinion.
 General Lee, when examined by the com mitte, in the most positive language said he would not carry on the war; that his army was daily weakened by death and de- sertion; that General Grants army was daily strengthened that he would soon have to give up Richmond, and then his army would have to disband for the want of supplies. In answer to direct ques- tion, he said he could make no suggestion for carrying on the war, and that it was too late 10 think of putting the negroes in the army, even if it were feasible.
 'Whether the committee, backed by this evidence, made direct appeal to Presi- dent Davis, I cannot now state, but If so I was not present. It was well known that MT. Davis was unwilling to take any steps looking to settlement on any basis but independence. A majority of congress looked upon independence as now impos- sible, and took the ground that no more blood should be shed.
 "Thereupon, after a conference with many members, and after a visit to Alex ander, H. Stephens, the vice president, in company with General J. D. c. Atkins, and a-conference with him, introduced in secret session a resolution looking to the appointment of commissioners to go and see Mir. Lincoln with view of ending the war.
 "whne MT. Stephens did not agree to re one of the commissioners, the resolution named Campbell, Hunter and Stephens. Mir. Stephens had just reached Richmond, , and 1 had never seen him until that visit with General Atkins; but General Atkins and he had served In the United States congress together and were old friends.
 "The resolution led to an angry debate, but at perhaps the end of a week. it was proposed by Mr. Davis friends that the discussion stop withot passing the res olu- tion, or even voting on it; and this was agreed to, with the understanding that the men named should be appointed. They had been named on account of their great ability and well-known conservative views"