The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-30

To the Editor: The other night Col
Watterson delivered his Grafton on Lin
coin in this city, and in your report of it,
you quoted: THAT Lincoln, at the
Hampton Roads Conference said, Let
me write Union and you may write any
thing else you choose under it" And in
Sundays issue you print the address OF
Clark Howell on Grant in which he re-
peats the same thing, saying that Mr..
Stephens told him so. There we're pres
ent at the Hampton Roads conference
Mr.. Lincoln Mr.. Seward, Mr.. Stephens
Judge Campbell and Mr.. r. NJ. T. Hunter.
AS far as l know it has never been
stated by any one authorized to speak
for Mr. Lincoln or Mr.. Seward that any
proposition like that was made. AS far
as l know, no written statement by either
Mr.. Stephens, Judge Campbell or Mr.
Hunter sustains it. Mr.. Hunter, as far
as | know, made no statement. Mr. Lin
coin, Judge Campbell and Mr.. Stephens
have put in print their account OF what
took place. Neither sustains this decla-
ration All by inference deny it.
| believe Mr.. Clark HowelPs memory
plays him a trick when he says that Mr.
Stephens told him of this alleged incident.
1t sometimes happens that public men In
private conversation at their homes say
things with a different color from their
public utterances. Had Mr. Stephens
done that in regard to the Hampton
Roads conference we would expect to
find some trace of it in that entertaining
volume-The Life of A. H. Stephens by
his brother Linton-where the converse
ton of his distinguished brother is given
on every subject with fullness. But while
Mr.. Stephens conversation about the
Conference is given, one finds no hint of
such an incident as Mr.. Clark Howell re-
lates. What is there stated is in keeping
with Mr.. Stephens public declarations
The question, however, is-What is the
truth?
Mr.. Lincoln on January 81, 1865, direct
ed Mr.. Seward to meet the Confederate
Commissioners and make known to them
that three things are indispensable:
THE restoration Of National authority;
no receding by the Executive OF the
United States on the slavery question
no cessation of hostilties short of dis
banding all forces hostile to the. Govern
ment You will inform them that all
propositions Of theirs not inconsistent
with the above will be considered and
passed upon in a spirit of sincere lib
crafty"
In his message to the House of Repre-
sentatives giving his account OF the con-
ference, Mr. Lincoln said: ION my part
the whole substance of the instructions
to the Secretary of State hereinbefore
noted, was stated and insisted upon and
4 IN nrauira -
It would have been inconsistent-if Mr..
Lincoln had offered: Let me write Union,
and you NAV write any other terms you
choose So we have an inferential denial
by Mr.. Lincoln himself.
To come to Mr. Stephens. He has pub
lished as an APPENDIX to his History OF
the United States an account OF the cons
ference that would cover about fifteen
columns of the News and Observer. He
SAYS: This is as full and accurate an
account as ! can now give of the origin,
the objects and conduct Of this conference
from it's beginning to its end"
According to his account Mr. Lincoln
and Mr. Seward quoted what Mr.. Lincoln
had said to the Federal Congress: In
stating a single condition of peace |
mean simply that the war will cease On
the part Of this Government whenever It
shall cease on the part of chose who be-
gan It,"
Certainly, unconditional submission,
without terms.
Mr.. Stephens says: Il asked Mr.. Linz
coin what would be the status OF that
portion of the slave population which had
not become free under his proclamation
Mr.. Lincoln said: THAT was judicial
question How the courts would decide 1t
he did not know. and could give no an
swer."
Also: 81 inquired would the Southern
States be admitted to representation IN
Congress. Mr.. Lincoln very promptly re
piled that his own individual opinion was
they ought to be. He also thought they
would be, but he could not enter into any
stipulation on that subject.
Upon my urging the Importance OF
some understanding on this point even
in case the Confederate States should en-