Evening star., 1902-05-09
HAMPTON CONFERENCE
SENATOR VEST SPEAKS OF A HIS
ToRIcAL WAR SCENE.
Denies the often-Repeated Lincoln
Episode-Last Survivor of the
Confederate Senate.

| No more dramatic scene has ever oc-
CURED than that which held the Senate IN
| rapt silence yesterday after when Senator
Vest of Missouri gave. from his personal
| knowledge, statement OF what did occur
between the commissioners of the United
| States and those of the confcderacy In
| Hampton Roads in 1854. when an effort
was being made TO end the war Mr. Vest
arose Immediately upon the close of Scna-
| tor Burtons speech and said that he felt
impelled at this time to say something N
regard to the statement of Senator Tillman
yesterday In relation to this incident He
did not hear Senator Tilman. but had read
his remarks in the Record. and had not 'ced
that he had repeated the statements
often made In the newspapers during the
last two or three years that at that MEM
orable meeting in Hampton Roads President
| Lincoln took white sheet of paper and
wrote at its top the words: Save the
Cnion,' and then handing II to the con-
| federate' commissioners told them to fill in
the terms on which, peace would be re-es-
| tablished.
AS Mr.. Vest began his remarks there
was intense silence I'm the chamber. His
| trail form has so long been seen in tho
Senate chamber that his grelt feebl, n, So
OF body attracted no unusual attention. lie
arose slowly. and he began his address
steadied himself by having one or both
hands on the desk before him. tie spoke
with that same firmness and strength,
showing vigor of mind and briliancv OF
intellect in odd contrast to his physical
weakness. AS ne proceeded the Senate
chamber gradually became well filed with
senator's, but so quietly did they enter and
resume their places about him that not n
disturbing sound was made.
The unique character Of the senator from
Missouri added wonderfully in giving force
to his statement. The only living m. rnbsr
OF the confederate senate, and at all times
in the confidence of the confederate gov
ernment he seemed the best prepared by In
formation and talents to give a true ex-
PLANTATION of that memora BILE meeting in
Hampton Roads. He recalled the vartaus
members OF the commissions on both sides
on that occasion. President Lincoln WAS
at the head Of the commissioners repre-
senting the United States. while Alexander
H Stevens, vice president of the coufcd-
eracy, and r. NJ. T. Hunter. president pro
tenn. of the confederate senate, were among
the southern representatives. Recounttng
! the statement Of Mr.. Tillman, he said that
| If this were true the members Of the south
| ern commission would have been placed in
most remarkable position. They could
| have written into that paper thGir right to
| continue to hold slaves and the right OF Sc
cesson. But former Senator Regan, who
was the last surviving member of the con-
federate cabinet, having been postmaster
general of the confederacy for four years,
had denied, over his own signature, that
story.
Il know personally" said Senator Vest,
without having been present at this c.le-
brated interview. that the incident is with
out the slightest foundation"
After that interview r. NJ. T. Hunter had
told him of what had taken place there.
He told him that Lincoln was the first to
speak at the meeting and said that what
he desired to know what the instruc-
tions and powers Were of the commissioners
from the Richmond government" II was
particularly noticed that Mr.. Lincoln did
not refer to the confederate government
but only TO the Richmond government"