The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-09
WORDS OF LINCOLN TOLD
TO THE SENATE BY VEST
Venerable MiSSOurian the Only Surviving Member
of ConfederacyS Upper House.
Feels His Duty to Set History Right Before He Des-Camack
Uses Strong Language.

( hope Of the most extreme partisans OF
tnat cause if they would only return
to the Union"
A deep silence had fallen upon the
/ chamber, and every senator on the
floor listened to him with rapt atten-
ton
With great deliberateness he contiu-
ued: If true. it would mean that the
Confederates could have placed on that
sheet of paper the perpetual estab lish-
ment Of slavery and the right Of Sc
cession, the most extreme demand that
had ever taken shape. even in the
dream Of any Confederate"
From the lips Of Stephens and Hunter
had come to him, he said. the details Of
what took place Upon the return Of
the commissioners of the COnfederacy
he heard their official report as Mr..
Reagan heard 1t, the latter being a
member Of the cabinet. and the speaker
(Mr VesD member Of the Confed-
crate senate.
Il am today the only surviving mem
Der Of the tWenty-siX gentlemen who
acted as Confederate senators" he
said.
Mr.. Vest then stated that what did
happen at Hampton Roads. beyond
question, was this "That when the
president and Secretary Seward met
the commissioners of the COnfederacy,
Mr.. Lincoln, addressing himself to Adr.
Hunter, whom he knew well said: In
the first place, gentlemen, I desire to
know what are your powers and in
structious from the Richmond govern
ment,' avoiding" said Mr. Vest, as Mr..
Hunter told him himself, "the words
Confederate states
Mr.. Hunter to whom the inquiry was
{ addressed. said:
"Mr. President, we are instructed 70
| consider no proposition that does not
/ involve the independence Of the con-
! federate states Of America"
Then" said Lincoln. the interview
/ had as we'll terminate now, for I must
say to you gentlemen, frankly and
/ honestly, that nothing will be accepted
/ from the government at Richmond ex-
cept absolute and unconditional sur
render"
Lincoln's Demand Unequivocal.
Mr.. Vest said that this terminated
Z the interview and as the confederate
/ commissioners retired. President Lin
/ coin, addressing Stephens, who was the
/ last to 90 out, said:
! Stephens, you are making a great
I mistake. Your government IS a failure
and when the crash comes, as it soon
must come, there viii be chaos and
I disaster. which we cannot now foresee,
which must come to your people"
This account Of that interview"
/ continued Mr.. Vest. substantially and
/ almost word for word as 7 have given
/ it, came to me from Mr.. Stephens and
/ Mr.. Hunter"
Nj Vest said that he considered It
[ his duty to make this statement sn or
| der that history may not be falsifed;
/ in order that the men who were said
to have refused this offer at the hands
I Of President Lincoln should not be
made 70 sin their graves, adding: For
I If they had refused what was said to
/ have been rendered them by the pres
/ ident they would have been accessories
/ TO the murder of every man who fell
+ from that time in defense Of the COM
( federate cause. and they should have
given the lie to their intentions which
/ they professed when they risked every
| thing that IS held dear amongst men. in
/ defense Of the confederate cause
i While the deep silence still reigned
Continued on page p