The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-13
TIE TRUTH OF HISTORY.


Washington May Especial Correspondence Of The
Post 1T has fallen the lot of the venerable Senator
George Vest Of Missouri again bring the truth about
historical in connection with the Concderacy truth
that has years warped and twisted that the
uutruc version the had be accepted the
truth by thousands Through chain OF odd circumstances
happens that the historical in question the last
important controversy about the Conederacy still remaining
oren among Souhcners and Senator Vest who closed it, IS
the last member OF the Confederate left in the land OF
the living.
The referred the Hampton Roads conference
of 1864 Colonel Henry Wattcrson in a lecture Abraham
Lincoln has frequently within the past few related
how at that conference Lincoln wrote Save the Union on
blank sheet paper which he then handed to Alexander
Stephens with the remark that the latter might fill it in with
any other of peace the Confederate conference might
choose Senator 1lman in bitter sectional speech the
Philippine bill in the senate had repeated Colonel Waiter
sons version of the conference.
On the day after Senator Tlmans speech Senator Vest
and forever sed this incorrect of the Hampton
Roads conference His denial of the incident related by
Waueso ana ms correct account OF he altar means so
much Southern history that his words are given here in
Mir President do not rise for the purpose Of partici-
pang in the present debate which very to say
boweyer in the conscssona Record Of this morning
statement by my friend the senior senator from South Caro-
justice both to the iyng and the I'D dead 3D. , e
arona made the statement which has been found in the
public and heard from the lecture platform for the last
Roads during the year 1904 between Abraham Lincoln and
Mlam H. seward president and secretary OF state OF the
United State, and Alexander II Stephens vice president OF
the tontedGr2cy Z NJ T. Hunter formerly United States
preme Of the United States Mr. Lincoln wrote upon
blank sheet Of paper the words Save the Union and then
Of the senator from south Carolina Alex take this paper
o t p " 'ou'Se' inc cohuonS Oh peace between the
This remarkable assertion was called my attention some
two years ago lecture delivered by that eloquent and
very distinguished gentleman Colonel Henry Watterson Of
the LoMsvie Co9ie Journal when ne paid the highest r5
ute TO the me and public services OF Abraham Lincoln Col
one Waerso beyond any question believed the statement
BE sc9 S9d ad ' b Same from qeshhoT Of Mean
own IP5 ion (ohn r. keagan some Jew years ago me-
ing member 81 nc Conederate cabinet having been post,
Watteson denied the truth Of his saicrent no ="
States themselves Oh inc confederate
Mr., President ! know, personally without having been
Without the Highest oandao1 u ta' Would s pf plce be
cory Of criminals because i true the Concdefaey ' Was o
aeep an lnat II eyer demanded IN the widest hopes of the
o 'HGme partisan o. th3t var they would only return
me9{ upon analysis would mean that the confe s
poa @ G 1 upon nat oa4k sheet OF paper the per
most extreme demand that had ever taken locality in
happen to know from the lips OF two of the commits
no such incident ever occrrd t G ~ NJ, l, nunte mat
o. 'he o'ed States and OF the Confederate States Hamp
Cohfederacy heard beir o8cia eo Me- 9i the
member Of the fd Teer o1 inc cabinet while was a
memnet o. the wensx gentlemen who acted
What did baSp"n at H,rrto, po,d to.o,,5 -.....;..
dct nd ,h 'ne @,nnsSloners II may so term the presi-
comissioncs of .. Sac OF me United States met the
lin the As place qeaiemen YnG e nc k1Gw very yell said
LOWS ana lnstT4cuonS from the Richmond government >"
Sr s, az t uneT tod me himself the words "Confed-
mond government Mr. Hunter TO whom The ,d',ir, -
er no nrGnogito b we arc instructed to consid
10 tuat does NOT involve the independence Of
coin @tbe ia'Gs OF AmeTca Then, said Mr.. Lin
saw n va, " hau d wen terminate now for must
he y9e Sfnmsn frankly and honestly that nothing viii
uic and & we EoveInmen at Richmond except abso
hat i yoo sI sS goS OF the United States in addition this