The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-04-05
Austin. Texas, April 8, 1901.

Austin, Texas, AprlI o. lbOl.
Some one whose name Is not given, In
q communication dated the 18th of March
has lnciosed to me, from Atlnntn, what
purports to be an account written by DR.
X. j. Massey Of nm Interview between him
self and Vice President stephens during
the month OF April, 1865. In which express.
sions are attributed to Mr.. stephens OF
80 extraordinary a character as TO make q
statement as to the real facts, about which
be is made 10 speak, necessary, for two
reasons, one In vlndcation OF the truth
OF history, and the other to protect the
good name aud character for truth OF
Vice President stephens.
The person who seut me DR.. Massey's
paper speaks OF him as physician OF
about forty years standing and an elegant
old gentleman" Ills high character and
standing makes 1t the more important that
the errors to which he gives publicity
should be corrected.
on the 10Th day Of January, 1865, Presi-
dent Davis appointed Vice President ste
Iphens, Il, NJ, r. Hunter, Confederate
senator, and Judge john A. Campbell as
sistant secretary Of war, as commission
crs for all informal conference with the
Federal authorities. They met Presdens
Lincoln and Secretary Seward, acting for
the United States. In conferences at llamp
ion Roads, on the 3rd day Of February,
1865.
la DR.. Massey's paper Mr.. Stephens Is
made TO speak as follows.
After the usual salutHtlons. and n few
compliments. We went TO business. Mr.
Lincoln drew from his pocket a sheet OF
paper about two feet long and held Il up
10 the wall and said! 'GentlCmon. let me
write the word reunion. The Onion must
tl. l,at
hncc OF this sheet with your own terms.
Several points were then discussed Ile
proposed that all men In arms might re
turn nome uhm0lcsted, ana every SUntu.
lcrncr shalt have full ana unconditional
pardon for any aud every crime that he
may have comlnittcd against the United
states, all rights shall be restored to
everybody; no trials for treason, at any
other crimc anu tuut all slaves at that
tlme In bondage shall remain 80, shall
remain free, hut a bill will be Immediately
introduced In congress for the gradual
emancipation, and every Shareholder shall
have ielr and liberal compensation for
every slave so cmancipatCd."
Did President Lincoln make such n
statement AT the Hampton Roads confer.
cnee whed occurred on the 3rd OF Feb
runry, 1865? Let Va see IL Il is possible
that he could have mnde such a state.
nent.
In his annual message 10 congress on Do.
ccmbet o 1864. President Lincoln said:
AT The last session Of congress pro
posed amendment Of the constitution ahni
lshlpg slavery throughout lhc United Statcs
paSsed the senate but failed FOR dck
OF me requisite twOthlrds vote In the
mouse OF representatives. Although th6
present Is the same congress, and nearly
the same members. ana without question
ing lhe wisdom or patriotism of those who
stoou IN opposition, | venture To- recon-
mend the reconsideration aud passage OF
rhe measure az she present session OF
course me abstract question Is not
changed, but an intervening election shows, |
WIN pass the measure II this does not. !
Hence there IL only question of time as |
90 when me proposed amendment VIII SO |
TO the States for their action. And as |
not agree thna the sooner the bctcf?"
lie thas favored ahollshlng slavery
throughout the Union, without compeusa- /
tlon. loss than two months before Tue
Hampton Roads conference.
In tho same message he said:
I'm presenting the abandonment Of armed .
reblstence 10 Inc National authority ON the |
part OF the Insurgents, as ghc only indis. .
hcnslhe condition SO ending che war on |
inc pau Of the goysnmcnt rctraci noth
peat The declaration made Il wear ago that |
while ! remain IN my present. pasliion .
shal not nttcmpt TO rctract mr. modify the
emancipation proclamation, nor shall I re-
turn 10 slavery any person who IS free by
The terms OF that proclamation, or By any
Of the acts of congress IL the people
should. by whatever mode OF means mike
Il an executive duty 80 rr.cuslayc scn
persons, another aud not l. must be their
INSTRUMENT 10 perform IT,"
Nothing Is here said about cpmpensa'
tlou.
In his emancipation proclamation Of sen
tember %. 1862, President Lincoln said:
That on the lst day az January. Ia the
year of our Lord 1851, all persons held M
slaves within amy State or designated part
OF state, the people whereof shall then
he In rebellion against the United States
shall be then, theuceforward ana forever
FREQ and the executive government of the
United states including the military nnd
naval authority thereof win recognize and
maintain tho freedom Of such persons aud
WIN do no act or nets to renress such per
sohs, or any OF them, IN amy efforts they
may make for their actual freedom"
This OF course. covered the whole South
aud nothing Is said here about compensa.
tion.
In his emancipation proclamation of
january |, 1863 he said:
by virtue OF the power In me
vested ms commander In chief Of the army
and navy of the United states In Time Of
actual nrmed rebellion against the author.
ily aud government OF the United states
ana as NJ and necessary wnr mensure for
tnpprcssing said Rebellion, 10, ON this. the
lM DAY of January. In the yeur Of our
Lord 1853 ana In accordance With my pnr.
nose TO do 50, publicly proclaimed Tor the
fun period Of loo DAYS from the day first
nboye mentioned order aud designate a.
people thereof, respectively, are thls dny
y, ,n,, rebellion againsl the United States, tho
iNlioNlug, tn-Mit.
AnG 10y Virtue of the power mud for tho
purpose aforesaid, | 10 order and declare
thni all persons held as slaves Within said
designnted States and parts ot states are,
ma hencefnrwnrd shall he free, ana thai
we executive government Of the (nitod
states Including the military ana naval
authorities thereof win recognize ANA
maintain the freedom of said persons
TINS covered the whole south and MOTH
rug Is SAID In this about compensation
---- III III 2lsI nl fehrnAry, 1865, two days