The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-11-01
HAMPTON ROADS CONFERENCE.
Facts Conc ming the Course Pre- 81
dent Davis Took.

the Courier Journal, giving a report of
IN address of DR.. Green of Danville,
Ky, who presented what purported
20 he some facts concerning the cele-
brated peace conference between Presi-
dent Lincoln and Secretary Seward,
representing the Federal Government,
and Alexander H. Stephens, r. NJ. 7.
Hunter and John A. Campbell, the
commissioners appointed by President
Davis to represent the Confederate
Government, held at Hampton Roads
in 1865
Or. GREEN'S address was in the main
a narration of conversation between
him and Judge Campbell, one of the
Confederate commissioners, in Mobile
in July, 1869, nearly four years after
the peace conference Upon an in
yestigation of the history of the case.
it appears that DIR. Green's memory
WAS defective as to several points, and
the article does Presi dent Davis an
injustice.
The Rise and Fall of the Con-
tederate Government " most cOmpre-
heRsiye volume from President Davis
own pen, gives some very interesting
facts in this connection. That Mr..
Davis was DESTROYS of obtaining peace,
is shown by the following quotation
from his book:
Several efforts were made by us to
communicate with the authorities at
Washington, without success. Com
misSiOners were sent before hOstilities
were begun, and the Government of
the United States refused to receive
them, or hear what they had to say.
A second time | sent military officer
with a communication addressed by
myself to President Lincoln. The
letter was received by General Scott,
who did not permit the officer to see
Mr.. Lincoln, but promised that an
answer would be sent No answer was
ever received. The third time a gen
tleman was sent whose position,
character and reputation were such as
to insure his reception, if the enemy
haa not been determined to receive no
proposals whatever from our Govern
ment VicePresident Stephens made
patriotic tender of his services, in
the hope Of being able to promote the
cause of humanity; and, although
little belief was entertained of his sue
Tess | cheerfully yielded to his sugges-
ton, that the experiment should be
tried. The enemy refused to let him
pass through their lines or to hold any
conference with him. He was stopped
before he reached Fortress Monroe. -
But that Mr.. Davis was opposed to
any terms that carried with them the
sUbiugation of the Southern people, is
clearly evinced All of the terms and
conditions ever offered the Southern
people, he says ''were comprehended
IN one word, and that was subjugation.
ii the purpose had been an honorable
and fraternal restoration Of the Union
as was avowed, =. a way would
have been opened for mutual and
friendly intercourse.
Mr.. Davis explains very fully how
al informal conference between repre-
Seutatives of the two Governments was
finally arranged, through the instru-
mentality of Mr.. Francis P. Blair, of
Maryland. A commission of three
WAS appointed by President Davis, as
named above, and each was given a
certificate as follows:
Richmond, January 90, 1865. In
conformity with the letter of Mr.. Lin
com, E. you are requested to pro
coed to Washington City for an informal
conference with him upon the issues in
VOWED in the existing war, and for the
purpose of securing peace to the tive
countries. -
Dr. Green, in his lecture, is reported
a. saying that President Davis gave
the commission or certificate, sealed,
aud with the Endorsement: MOT
to he opened until you reach Hampton
Roads. - The doctor memory seems
10 6e especially defective on this point,
rs both Mr.. Davis and the com
mi@i0ners were under the impression
at the time that the conference was
20 be held in Washington, and they
had no idea that the commissioners
woald not be allowed to proceed any
further than Hampton Roads, where
Mr. Lincoln, accompanied by Mr.
Seward, met them Mr.. Davis, in his
Volume, says nothing about any Other
Instructions given the commissioners
From the report of the commissioners
0aied February ). 1865, we quote al
follows:
We understand from him Mr.
Lincoln that no terms or proposals o.
any treaty or agreement looking To al
-'h'Hldl' settlement, WOulu Dt tilOSl
tuned or made by him with the au
horities of the Confederate States be
taRse that would be recognition o
mer existence as a separate powe
which under no circumstances woulC
~ done; that no EXTENDED
Uuee or armistice as at present adj
Ned would be granted or allowed
without a satisfactory assurance II
G'ince of the complete restoration
F" p" authority of the Constitution
aud l.ws of the United States over al
1ae Iiaces within the States of the
lgntederacy
NJ. Davis quotes from Judge Camp
veil memoranda
In conclusion, Mr. Hunter summe'
w what seemed to he the result of tn
interview that there could be no ar
Iansements by treaty between the Con
A"tTate States and the United States
N' any agreements between; that Their
v a. nothing left for them but uncondi
A.ual submission.
br Green also says that Mr.
EHI-Ihens after reaching Hampto
hlads, remarked TO his companions
Gentlemen, we are ON a FOOLS 81
.AAa. Mr. Davis book has nOthin
say IN regard to this. but we hav
u 70 good authority that Mr.. Stephen
.tIF the remark n Mr. Davis viii