The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-20
SPOILS PRETTY ROMANCE
Which Takes It's Place With Story Of
Barbara Fritchie.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER ASKED.
After The Laying Down Of Arms the Power Of
Executive CIemency, Lincoln Said Would
be Literally Exercised, No
More Than This.
(Richmond Dispatch.)

(Rlchmond D1Spatch.)
There are a number of romances about
the great "War Between the States"
which, refute them as often as you
may, will again bob up serenely," and
find many to believe and circulate them.
The story of the surrender under 1.-THE
historic apple tree at Appomattox"
Grants magnanimity in returning Lees
sword" Barbara Fritchie waving the
Stars and Stripes in the face of Stone
wall Jackson and other myths appear
periodically in newspapers, magazines
and books. and will not down at our
bidding
But, perhaps, the most persistent of
all of these romances is the story that
at the Hampton Roads Conference" Mr.
Lincoln offered liberal terms to the
Confederate commissioners-pay for
slaves, etc.-which were refused by 'the
obstinacy of jeff. Davis" Now this ro-
nance has been again and again exposed
and it has been shown by the most in
controvertible proofs that Mr.. Lincoln
made no such offer, and, indeed, proposed
no terms, but insisted that he could dis
should lay down their arms, making an
indefinite intimation that in that case
his power of executive clemency would
be literally exercised" The commission
ers reported to President Davis that "un-
conditional surrender" was the best they
could get from the Washington gov
eminent.
These facts were most clearly brought
in pt,h In bo &c
torical Society papers in 1872. The ad-
dress of Hon. John H. Reagan, the last
surviving member of the Confederate
Cabinet. before the United Confederate
Veterans Associations, when it met in
Nashville, was a clear and conclusive
statement of the matter, and when Mr..
Henry Watterson, whose gush and slush,
about Abraham Lincoln have been eX-
plotted on so many lecture platforms,
undertook to controvert Mr.. Reagan's
statements, the old Cabinet officer made
a most triumphant reply, and thoroughly.
established the truth of his contention
that no terms save unconditional SUR
render were offered the Confederates at
Hampton Roads. and that there was no
offer of compensation for the slaves
whom, despite the Constitution of
the United States, Southern masters were
to be robbed.
The United Confederate Veterans AS
ISOLATION, at its meeting in Louisville.
unanimously adopted an able paper pre-
pared by Judge Talley, of Tennessee, and
presented by the history committee, in
which all of the facts concerning the
Hampton Roads Conference were clearly
set forth and these myths concerning il
fully exploded.
The papers you have published from
Gen. Bradley T. Johnson and Hon. John
Goode are strong combinations OF this.
PRESIDENT DAVIS STATEMENT.
But / am sure that it will be of great
interest and historic value if | shall
add to these statements a hitherto un-
published letter of President Davis,
which l received from him in Septem-
Der, 1885, and which 1 copy verbatim
from the autograph letter now in my
possession, only emitting single SEN
tence of a personal nature And as ne
says in the beginning of the letter. In
the Rise and Fall of the Confederate
government I believe / have stated al
most all for which / had any official
authority in regard to the Hampton
Roads Conference" it may be we'll to
recall the substance of his clear state
mont of the matter as given in Vol. H.
PIP. 60S-625
He shows the several efforts at peace
negotiations made by the Confederate
government, and their failure because
Lincoln and his advisers. under the
pretence of serving tho Union were
determined on the complete subjuga-
tion of the South, and thus strongly
ruts the matter:
when Major Pitcairn marched the
British soldiers upon the common al
Lexington, in Massachusetts, on April
10, 1775, and drawing his sword, rushed
uron the little line of Continentals. ex-
claiming, 'Disperse, We Rebels! throw
down your arms and dispersed he eX-
pressed the same conditions that were
offered to us in all of our negotiations
with the president of the United States
and his generals. Does any one doubt
that Major Pitcairn meant subjugation,
or that Great Britain meant subjuga-
ton? Let them as dispassionately con-
strue the government of the United
States in its declaration to u.s."
He then details the efforts of the Con
federate commissioners before the wal
actually began-the letter he sent Presi-
dent Lincoln Dy IL MILITARY OIHcer VINO
was not allowed to see the president OF
to deliver the letter-the effort of Vice
President Stephens, who offered to &c
to Washington for peace negotiations
but was stopped before he reached For
tress Monroe-his Daviso interview
with Col. James F. Jacques and James
r. Gilmore-and the attempt of Con-
federate commissioners. Clay. Hol
colmbe. and Thompson Through Hor-
ace Greeley to have an interview witt
Mr.. Lincoln-and showed that all OF
these efforts failed because the Federal
authorities would consent to nothing
short of the Confederacy, and the alb
solute subjugation of the South.
He then gives a detailed and very
interesting account of the visit to Hon
Francis Preston Blair to Richmond
nd full IL, nf interview