The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-09


/ bandment Of the army which would Re Re
on both sides, under which proper y . iaf1
been sold the title to which would De al
fected by the facts existing when tue .,a NE.
/ Mr.. Seward replied that as TO all questia,s
involving rights of property. cou. -
would determine and that Congress woula
no doubtsbe liberal in making restoration
Of contiscated property or providing IN.
demnity. Mr.. Stephens inquired Wnat
would be the status Of shat oprtion OF lne
slave population in the Confederate states
the Emancipation Proclamation, or in oth-
er words, what effect that proclamation
would have upon the entire re PACK . poP 3,-
sdiciaI question and he did not know now
the courts would decide IL. HIS own opln-
ion was that as the Proclamation was q
war measure and Would nave sn tSa 1 1.,ay
from it's being an exercise OF the wal wa,
power. as soon as the war ended 1t wot!d
Be imperative for the future It would
be held to apply only to such siaTes IA, as
In active exercise That was his indivi-
dual opinion, but the courts might decide
differently. Mr.. Seward said there were
only about two hundred thousand slaves
who up to that time had come under the
actual operation of the Proclamation anu
| who were then in the enjoyment OF tneiI
freedom under It. so If the war Snoula
[s,ortion of the slaves would be subject to
judicial construction. He also called at,
lstention to the proposed Constitutionas a.
abolition Of slavery throughout the United
States. He said that was done as Wa,
| measure and if the war were then to ceaSe
1t would probably not be adopted by a SUI
fcient number of States to make 1t part
Of the Constitution. In answer to an I'm IN
| quiry by Mr.. Stephens whether the con
| federate States would be admitted 70
representation IN Congress II Jnes ss Soi his
| own individual opinion was that tnes
| ought to be and he thought they would
be, but that he could not enter mtg any any
| stipulation on that subject. Mr.. Steph-s
| ems having urged the Importance OF CON- s11
! ing to some understanding as 70 tne
method of procedure in case the Conleus:-
| ton of a return to the Union, MI. LIN
coin repeated that he could not en l!ea1
Into any agreement on ,l1at subject win
parties in array against the Government
NOT POSTED ON HISTORY
/ Mr. Hunter is illustrating the proprlety
/ Of the Executive entering into agreements
! with persons in arms against the r1gnth "
/ ,ibic authority referred to instances OF
that character between charles L.. OF Eng
| and, and the people in arms against MN.
! Mr.. Lincoln said he did not profess 70 %
posted in history and would turn aT s ml
matters. ..All I distinctly recollect, sa nc
ne, about the case Of Charles l. is tnat ne
ost his head in the end" MI Lincoln sups o,
! Proclamation. He said it was not MS m
| tention in the beginning to interfere WIG
slavery in the States that ne never ven wGusd
/ by necessity to do it, to maintain the
| Union; that the subject presented many
| difficult and perplextng questions: that ne
lad hesitated for some time, and had re-
.orted to that measure only when driven yer,
% It by public necessity; that ne lad peer,
! N favor of the prohibition by the general
government Of the extension OF slavery r
r>ar hI1t n
/ Government possessed power over the
Il subject in the States except as wal
i measure and that he had always been II.
favor OF gradual emancipation Ar. Be
ward also spoke at length upon the pro
-ress of the anti-slavcry continent OF the
country, and said that what he had
.hought would require forty or MY ~,
4 years of agitation to accomplish would GER
! 'ainly be attained in much, shorter Tune
i other matters relating to the evlls OF I'M
mediate emancipation. especially me s ~
/ ferin2S which would necessarily atten0 the
/ old and infirm a S well as the women ailti
children were then referred TO: Ihe csc
were fully admitted BY Mr.. Lincoln. nus
rs to them he illustrated his position with
IN anecdote about the Illinois farmer and
/ his hogs An Illinois farmer was con-
graduating himself with a neighbor upon
great discovery he had made made oy w ylan
In gathering and taking care or the 1000
| crop for his hogs. as well as trouble IN
oong ate5 and fsedn H thf the d meigEoor
! Il.
plen lts Of potatoes and wnen they are ma
ure without either dgEhins ee OF no nd 1ai
them get their own food as they want wan It,
.But,'' said the neighbor. how Will they
when the winter eoes and and the ne sf fop
is hard frozen?' We'll, SAID the ia'i'i-
: AS 10 WEST VIRGINIA.
| Mr.. Hunter ENDURED OF MI; Lsnc o. Z
what, according to his idea would pc the
to West Virginia Mr.. Lincoln SAID ne
i could only give his individual opinI,
4 ion, which was that West Virginia would
continue to be recognized as a separate
State in tt Union. Mr.. Hunter then very
sorcibly summed up the conclusions Whith
/ seemed to him to be logically deducloie
from the conference. In MS judgment
they amounted to nothing as a basis OF o.
peace but an unconditional surrender on
the part of the Confederate States, ano
their people. Mr.. Seward INSISTED tla5
been used or any importing or justly I'M
/ plying degradation or humiliation to the
/ people of the Confederate tSates. he ald
not think that ylelding 70 Inc eaeoet -,
! United States with all its guarantees ano
/ securities for personal and poilt!eai rights
as they might be declared by the courts
could be properly considered as uncondl-
| tional submission to conquerors or as nav
1 ing anything hurniliating In it.. After con
| siderable discussion on that point between
Il Mr.. Hunter and Mr.. Seward. Mr.. Lincoln
| said that so far as the Confiscation Acts
and other penal acts were concerned their
enforcement would be left entirely 70 MN
| and he should exercise the power OF the
l Executive with the utmost liberality: he
/ said he would be willing to be taxed TO re
! nunerate the Southern people for then
slaves; that he believec the people or tnt
! North were as responsible for slavery as
the people of the South; that If the war
should then cease with the voluntary apo i'f
/ he in favor individually Of the payment
by the Government of a fair, indemnity
/ for the loss to the owners: that he be,
/ lieyed this feeling was very extensive az
i the North, but on this subject ne said ne
/ could give no assurance ana enter into nc
stipulation. The conference after ses.
l sion of about four hours then terminated
d sar,d the rarfieS took formal and friendly