The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-28
Communicated
LINCOLN AND THE SLAVES.
A Reply TO the Criticism OF Rev r. How
ison on the Speech of Hon John Goode.

In your issue Of January Dist. atten
| ton is called editorially to n communi-
, cation in the same paper from the pen
of Rev. K. X. HOwson, which inveighs
| severely against the statement made in
a recent address by Hon. John GOOde to
| the effect that in the memorable Hamp-
ton Roads conference, MIR. Lincoln had
not offered "to pay for the liberation OF
the slaves The editorial endorsement
of the above criticism says-"lt is re.
pIete with history. and Mr.. HowisOn's
article assures us that history always
apeaks the truth As TO each OF these
statements am humbly and respectfully
skeptical. and as to the contention that
any valid or bona ide offer was made
by either Mr.. Lincoln or Mr.. Seward In
the conference of February 3, 1860, to
remunerate the Southern States for the
liberated slaves, am equally disposed
to call in question.
With reference to this matter, Mr..
Goode had exceptionally good opportu-
nifty for ascertaining the facts in the case
and at first hand from the lips of the
commissioners themselves. His opinion
on the subject il entitled to great weight.
He SAWS. as TO the outcome OF the Hamp-
ton Roads Conference. that Lincoln "of-
Tered no terms" Mr.. HOwison says,
Terms were assuredly presented by both
Lincoln and Seward by accepting which
the war could have been ended. Mr.. II.
also states that both Lincoln and Sew
ard approved and expressed a willing
ness to aid plan OF paying S4OO,OO0,-
600, to be fairly appOrtioned among the
Southern shareholders. The authority
for these statements is given as Hon. A.
n. Stephens, in a paper in the appendix OF
his Pictorial History of the United
States" in which are recorded his recol-
Iections of what occurred between the
Confederate Commissioners and Messrs.
Lincoln and Seward.
With respect to what Mr.. HOwison
here adduces in contradiction OF Mr..
Goodies language, it is proper to state
that the conference above mentioned was
strictly informal, and its very first argee-
ment was that there should he no writ
ing or record OF anything that was said,
so resolved were both Lincoln and Sew
ard that no propositions should come
from them pending hostilities against
the Government, and with special refer
ence TO the alleged offers AZ to compen-
sation for slaves. Mr.. Stephens expressly
declares with regard to Mr.. Liucoln's
utterances, ale could give no assurance,
enter into no stipulation. Up. lOO9)
The fact il. throughout the interview
between the Confederate Commissioners
and Nessrs. Lincoln and Seward. the
President persisted in asserting that he
could not enter into any agreement upon
this subject, or upon any other matters
OF that sort, with parties in arms
against the government" (Stephens.) lie
(Mr. Lncoln), in no instance, receded In
the least degree from his own previous
abatement that no terms whatever could
be proposed except upon these condl-
tions "lsf, The restOra i'm OF the Ma
tional authority throughout all the
States. and Sd, no cessation OF
hostilities short of an end OF the war
and the disbanding of all forces hostile
To the Government" OF these humiliat-
ing and impossible conditions, Mr.. Hum
ter truly said during the interview
"There could be no agreement, no treaty,
nor even any stipulations as to terms.
nothing but unconditional submission.
Mr.. Howison says: 1.-The three able
and honorable men who went to the con-
ference as commissioners could have
made peace if their hands had not been
tied behind their backs before they went.
Jefferson Davis and his cabinet had done
that binding" Now. Mr.. Stephens, OF
whose account Mr.. Howison says, mo
man competent to deal with it has ever
attempted to impeach its truthfulness,'
has this to say OF the above conference:
"Most of the reports about it are utterly
unworthy of notice 1t was not intended
nits origin or objects to bring about di-
rect negotiations for Peace On this
point very erroneous ideas existed at the
time and do yet. perhaps
TheIvague:and indefinite intimation OF
Mr.. Lincoln's private opinion as to
what might or might not be done with
respect to the liberated slaves in the
event the Southern armies laid down
their arms Internationally, received its
proper response when the Confederate
Congress asked an expression oil senti-
ment among tie soldiers, and they, vot-
ing by regiments, rejected it with manly
scorn. No popular vote the present
writer has ever known was so nearly
,,or;uoua q. w B.