The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-09
Match inspectors fer tWoraiIroad>
G. G. O., and S. A. L.

j. {. Allen s. Co.,
JEWELERS..
18th and Main Streets.
was to be held except upon that basis
After a short pause In the conversation
Mr.. Stephens continued t. urge the adopt
H 9n OF an hs c ni p0 h It Wod "
probably result in restoration ot@tee
Union without further bloodshed- Amont
other things he said that the principles o.
the Monroe Doctrine were directly in.
voved in the contest then going on III
Mexico; that the Administration at Wash.
ington, according to all accounts, wa:
an Empire in Mexico by, France anc
wished to maintain the right Of self-gov-
eminent to all peoples on this continent
against the dominion or control OF any
Seward concurred in the statement tina,
such was the feeling of q, majority OF the
northern people. Then. said Mr.. Stephens
could not both parties in our contes.
como to an understanding and agreement.
to postpone their present strife by sus-
pension of hostilities between themselves
until this principle is maintained IN be-
half of Mexico; and might it not whel
successfully sustained there, naturally ant
would it not almost inevitably LEAD TO Z
| peaceful and harmonious solution OF theii
given make q. permanent restoration O.
reorganiza ton Of the Union more prooapie
or even so probable as such result
| would ?' Mr. Lincoln replied with earn
estness that he could entertain 10 propo-
sition for ceasing active military opera.
7 tons which was not based upon please
! first given for the ultimate RESTORATION o.
the Union. He had considered the ques,
ton OF an armiStice fully and couid no
give his consent to any proposition OF that
sort on the basis suggested. me settle'
ment of existing dl1tlcuitles was q q n,si,
ton of supreme importance. and the only
basis on which he would entertain pro
| position for a settlement was the recogn
! ton and re-estab lishments OF the natlona
authority throughout the: land. AS the
| commissioners had no authority to give
any such pledge, the conference seemed 10
| DO at an end.
| According to an understanding between
the commissioners before entering into
| the conference that if they failed in secur-
| ing the arrnistice, they would then endea-
vor to ascertain upon what terms ..iS AZ ~
+, willing to end the wdr..t Judge Camper.
! Inquired in what way the settlement lo1
| a restoration of the Union was TO pe
made. He wished to know something OF
| the details. Mr.. Seward then said n de-
| sired that any answer to Judge Camp,
bells inquiry might be postponed untl'
| tho general ideas advanced by Mr. S 1Its
! ems might be more fully developed Ihere
| was {. general acquiescence IN TINS Sus-
| gestion and Mr.. Stephens proceeded to
| elaborate his views more fully. Iney We're
| substantially as follows:
THE TERMS DISCUSSED.
That the Monroe Doctrine assumed the
! position that no European Power Shoulc
| impose governments upon any peoples OF,
| this continent against their will; that the
! principle Of the sovereign right OF iocal
+! self-government was peculiarly sacred 70
| the people Of the United States, as wei
as to the people OF the Gonleaeraee 5'd tjes
| time attempting to viola:ei TINS gfeat prih-
+, ciple in Mexico; that the SUSPENSION o.
! hostilities and allowance OF tune ior the
| blood of our people on both sides TO coo;
| towards each other would probably lead
| the public mind to a <-earer uadefStallu-
| ing Of those principles which ought 70
constitute the basis OF me sett.etene eu ~
| Of the Mexican question in this way
would necessarily lead to peaceiul SET,
| Element of our own; tnat whenever 1t
| should be determined that TINS righs o.
local self-government is the principle on
which all American institutions rest, a,
| the States might reasonably be expected
| 70 return of their own accord TO tneli
| former relations to the Union just as they
came together at first by. their own con-
sent and for their mutual interests; ina.
we might become indeed ana IN truth an
oceanbound Federal Republic, under the
0neration of this continental regulator, the
ultimate. absolute sovereignty OF ea ;t:
state. IIe concluded by saying that TINS
Mexican question mlghs anpru q very yo np
so,ntinT Of our own troubles without any
I further effusion of fra,ernal blood. MT.
Seward. while admitting t NJ, !, tne views ~
specious about them In theory. argued at
Considerable length to show that pract1,
ally no system of government founded
apG thai the Union could never be re-
stored or maintained on that basis. He
| hen inquired of Mr.. stephens as TO the
1etails of the. plan he had IN view fo 1 si-
cd :
, se! repl led that he had noinxed plan, but
here were several which might be sug-
| yested. The whole matter might be easily
| arranged by a military convention known
sn1v to the authorities at Washington and
| Richmond. This convention could be
made to embrace not only a SUSPENSION
If actual hostilities on al the frontier
ines. but also other matters involving
| he execution Of the laws in States nav,
:nr two sets of authorities. one recognized
| nv the Confederate States and the otner
| ,dherine to the National Government. All
| hese matters of detail might be easily
,dilsted if they should first determine
mon an armistice for that purpose. Mr..
-Iunter said that there waS.not uaanimi.s
N the South unon the subject of under
.aline the maintenance of the Monroe
ooctrine and it was not probable that any
| arrangement could be made by, which the
Confederate would agree to Join In sendine
nv norton of their army into Mexico
N that view his colleasues on the com
| -,issions fully concurred, Mr.. Lincoln While
:, DIM ting that&SaSj STeSiiSUt. ile lili- u
| ,rnnariv enter into military convention
or some Of the purpose proposed. rep,eat,--
u his determinaton to doznothing which
GOULD suspend military opera tons unless
was first AGREED that the national au-
soritY waste be restored throughout the
.ountrv. That was the first question to
,e settled. He could enter into no treaty
convention or stimulation with the confed;
hat or any other subject but upon the
asis first settled that the ra19a was
stimulation would Ebe quasi recognition
If the States than in array against the
National Government as a SEPARATE pow;
Sal, then renewed his inquiry as to how
estoraton was to take s1 place &c snpposins
| -enfinFs to it, Mr.. Lincoln replied: by
sbsnding thsir aTHss and pspgt1' a,
i e,,nctinnss - Mr. Seward then said that Mr.
express ssfer s,mse IS thar
i ,,.est;on thai he had done In his message
10 Congress in December. 1854. and pro