Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-03-27
THE CONFERENCE AT HAMPTON ROADS.

i
John Tomple Graves controvorting GER
tain statements mado by Hon. Henry
Watterson on the lecture platform in the
North concerning the celebrated confer
ence at Hampton Roads on February Sd,
1883, between President Lincoln and
Secretary of State w. H. Seward on tho
ono side, and Alexander III. Stephens, II.
M. Il. Hunter and j. A. Campbell, Com
missioners of the Confederate Statos, on
the other. The conference was had for
tho purpose of ascertaining upon what
terms, If any, hostilities could cease and
the war bo terminated without further
conflict of arms. Tho five gentlemen
above named wero the only persons pres
ent and tho communications between
them were entirely verbal, nothing being
committed to writing between them
But it was afterwards rumored that
President Lincoln had offered to pay tho
Southern people for their slaves if they
would then lay down their arms. But
like many idle rumors that frequently
gain currency, thoro appears to have
been little foundation in fact. Facts.
not fancy, mako truthful history. The
fats relative to this conference are
strongly stated by Mr.. Graves, and they
ought to be sufficient to set at rest this
mootcd question. Certain it is President
Lincoln mado no proposition that tho
South should DO indemniiicd for it's
slaves, for he was clothed with no power
to make any such binding offer, and even
if ho should have had tho powor it is
doubtful what he would have done.' In
the recent publication by tho Govern
mcnt of tho Messages and Papers of tho
Presidents wo find that on February
10th, 1865, President Lincoln sent spe-
cal message to Congress in answer to a
resolution of the Senate, requesting in
formation concerning recent convcrsa-
tions or communications with insurgents
under executive sanction" In this mos
structions issued by both tho War and
the Executive Departments leading up to
tho conference. Among them is tho fol-
lowing communication by tho President t
to w. II. Seward, Secretary of State,
under date of January 81, 1865:
"You will proceed to Fortress Monroe,
| Va, thcro to meet and informally confer
with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell on tho basis of my letter to f.
p. Blair, Esq, of January lS, 1865, n
copy of which you have.
you will mako known to them that
three things arc Indispensable, to-wit:
81. The restoration Of tho national
authority throughout all tho States.
~. No rcccding by tho Executive of
tho United States on tho slavery Ques-
tion from tho position assumed thereon
III the late annual message to Congress
and i'll preceding documents.
50. No cessation of hostilities short of
an end of tho war and tho diSbandng of
all forces hostile to tho government.
You will inform them that all propo-
sitions of theirs not inconsistent with
the above will be considered and passed
upon in spirit of sincere libcrality.
You will hear all they may choose to
say and report it to mo.
"Iou will not assume to definitely
| consummato anything. Yours, etc.,
! Abraham Lincoln"
On February 2, 1865, tho Confederate
commissioners wrote to Major Thomas
Il. Eckcrt from City Point, Va, tho fol.
lowing letter, which is also incorporated
in the MESSAGE:
"Major: In reply to your verbal state
mcnt that your instructions did not allow
you to alter the conditions upon which a
passport could bo given to us, we say
| that we arc willing to proceed to Fortress
Monroe, and there have an informal con
terence with any person or persons that
President Lincoln may appoint on the
basis of his letter to Francis p. Blair of
the 18th of January ultimo, or upon any
other terms or conditions that he may
hereafter propose not inconsistent with
the essential principles of self. govern
mcnt and popular rights, upon which
our institutions are founded
1T is onr earnest wish to ascertain,
after free interchange of ideas and in
formation, upon what principles and
terms, if any, just and honorable peace
can DO established without the further
cilusion of blood, and to contribute our
utmost efforts to accomplish such a
result.
"Wc think it better to add that in ac-
ccpting your passport we are not to be
understood as committing ourselves to
any thing but to carry to this informal
conference the views and feelings above
expressed.
Very respectfully, yours, etc.,
ALEXANDER II. Stephens,
%. A. Campbell,
''R. Nj. r.. Ilunter.''
President Lincoln then writes and con
cludcs his message as follows:
"On the morning of the 3D. the three
gentlemen, Mcssrs. Stephens, Hunter
and Campbell, came aboard of our
steamer and had an interview with the
Secretary of State and myself of several
hours duration. No question of pre-
liminaries to tho meeting was then and
there made or mentioned; no other per
son was present; no papers were cX-
changed or produced; and it was in adj
vance agreed that the conversation was
to be informal aud verbal merely On
our part the whole substance of the in
st"nctions to the Secretary of State
hcreinbcfOre rccited was stated and in
sisted upon, and nothing was said incon.
sistcnt thcrcwith; while by tho other
party it was not said that i'm any event
or on any condition they ever would con
sent to reunion, and yet they equally
omitted to declare that they never would
so consent They seemed to desire n
poStponcmcnt of that question and the
adoption of some other course first,
which, as some of them seemed to argue,
might or might not lead to reunion, but
which course we thought would amount
to an indefinite poStpOncmcnt The con
ference ended without result.
The foregoing, containing, as is be-
licvcd, all the information sought, is
respectfully submitted.
'Abraham Lincoln"
In the slate annual message to Con
grcss" referred to in tho instructions to
the Secretary Of State, President Lincoln
on December 9, 1864, says:
81, ,l n