The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-10-17
LINCOLN WISHED
TO STOP BLOODSHBD.
The Offer He Did Not Ma ke,
ANXIOUS 70 HAVE THE WAR
CEASE.

ANXIOUS 70 HAVE THE WAR
CEASE.
News and Observer.
To the Editor: Referring to an ar
| ticle I recently wrote showing that at
the Hampton Roads Conference, Mr..
Lincoln made no offer of any terms to
the South except unconditional SUBJ
mission, I wish to add word which
doubtless will be of interest to some of
your readers. Although Mr.. Lincoln
offered no terms at the conference, yet
he took the subject under considera-
ton, and as far as Mr.. Lincoln was
personally concerned, President Davis
purpose in proposing and having that
conference was not without effect.
Mr.. Lincoln returned to Washington
animated by the purpose to close the
war, if possible, without further blood
shed, and to save tho millions of dollars
expended in carrying it on. He spent
whole day In considering the subject
and on the evening OF February 5th,
called his cabinet together to lay his
ideas before them. He submitted to
his cabinet message to Congress-in
which he asked Congress to pass res
olution authorizing hum to offer to the
South four hundred millions OF dollars !;
one-half to be paid when the Confeder-
ate armies were disbanded, if done by
April LIST, and the other half to be paid
when the constitutional amendment
abolishing slavery was adopted, if done
by July LIST.
The cabinet however unanimously
objected. The subject was then dropped
and never afterwards brought up. In
an article published in the New York
Tribune, September 18th, 1885, Secre-
tary Usher first made this matter
known to the public. He said: The
members of the cabinet we're all oppo-
ed to it. Mr.. Lincoln seemed some
what surprised at that and asked,
"Icy -oas viii the war last ?" No
one answered, but he soon said, IA
hundred days. We are spending now
in carrying on the war three millions
a day, which will amount to all this
money, besides all the lives" With
deep sigh, he added, "But you are all
opposed to me and will not send the
message"
Secretary Wells in his diary said
"The scheme did not meet with favor
but was dropped. In tho present tenn
per of Congress, the proposed measure,
if a wise one, would not be carried
through successfully"
The matter never was brought up
again. It was meyer communicated to
any Confederate. II was not made
public. John Hay says in his history,
"Few cabinet secrets were better kept
than this proposal Of the President and
its discussion"
I make these quotations from the
History of Abraham Lincoln, written
by John G. Nicholey and John Hay,
private secretaries to the President
and this chapter is published in the
November number of The Century,
1889.
This narration shows that Mr.. Lin
coin never made any offer of terms at
Hampton Roads; but that he was led
to consider the subject; that be was
anxious to have Congress to authorize
him to make this offer of four hun
dred millions tor Immediate peace
that the malignants objected that sor-
rowfu.ly he allowed himself to be
overruled that the matter was kept
cabinet secret that it was never COM
municated to any Confederate that 1t
was only made public years afterwards.
It also shows that Mr.. Lincoln was
dominated by the malignants. He did
not dare to antagonize them. He knew
them and submitted to them.
Andrew johnson did, after slavery
was abolished, after the South had sub
mitted Internationally, and had come
back into the Union, dare to oppose
them and they impeached him.
Some people are in the habit OF say
ing, "Had Mr.. Lincoln lived, thus and
So" The truth is If Mr.. Lincoln had
lived, the malignants would have DOM
mated him as they always dominated
him. He never antagonlzed them.
His kindliness of heart led him one
way, the malignants compelled him
another way. D. A. AoA
Raleigh, N. c., Aug. 16.