Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-16

| Instrumentalities as the similar rights
| Of the people of the other states were.
Assuredy, Mr.. Lincoln indicated q
| willingness on his part to enter into
| some Kind Of obligation as the price OF
| the restoration of the Union Two
| months later, when, by force of arms,
General Lee was compelled 10 surren-
| der to Cen Grant the terms Of this
unconditional surrender" were made
most generous. Is Il stretching the ar
gument to assume that If Mr. Stephens
| and his colleagues had been empowered
to treat, Mr. Lincoln was not prepared
to go even farther and to be even more
generous?
In the general conversation had be-
tween Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward on
the one hand and the Confederate COM
miss0ners on the other Mr. Lincoln IN
tlmated that payment for the slaves
might enter into an agreement for I'M
ion and peace. We quote the following
from Mr. stephens published state
ment.
''l1e went on TO say that he would be
willing TO be taxed to remunerate the
southern people for their slaves. He
believed the people Of the north were as
responsible for slavery as the people Of
the south, and II the war should then
cease. with the voluntary abolition OF
slavery by the states he should be In
favor individually, OF the government
paying a fair indemnity for the loss to
the owners. He said he believed this
feeling had an extensive existence at
the north. He knew some who were IN
favor Of an appropriation as high as
mention persons said he, whose
names would astonlsh you, who are
willing to do this II the war shall now
cease without further expense. and with
the abolition OF slavery as stated But
on this subject, he said, he could give
no assurauce--enter into no stipulation.
lie barely expressed his own feelings
and views, and what he believed to be
the views Of others upon the subject"
SUBMITTED TO THE CABINET,
Mr.. Lincoln referred 10 himself when
he said, ~ could mention persons
whose names would astonlsh you" ana
"he knew some who were In favor OF
an appropriation as high as 100000,
O00,' for the payment Of the slaves. He
based this intimation on two docu-
ments which he had In mind, and which
We shall presently produce, having this
purpose in view. That he could give
mo assurance into no stipula-
tion," was matter Of course, for, not
being an absolute monarch, and having
no power except what might be voted
by Congress to arrange for the pay
ment Of money. he could only enter in
TO moral obligations carrying the
weight of such authority as he actually
possessed but at the same time. he
was an all powerful man, and, since
two months later, the contedergGy, In u
state Of collapse was compelled to lay
down It's arps without qualification or
condition, something might have been
gained by a little prudent forecast on
this occasion That, however. IL not
the point we wish to make. The point
Is whether Mr., Lincoln did, or dld not
contemplate payment for the slaves. In
the foregoing extract from Mr. Stoph.
ems 1t Is plain that ne did. But the
evidence does not rest there. Tho day
after this Fortress MoIfl-oe conference,
when Mr., Lincoln and Mr., Seward
had returned 70 Washington. cabinet
meeting was held AT this cabinet
meeting Mr. Lincoln submitted, In the
form Of q proposed message TO Con-
gress, the two documents above res
ferred to. One was u Joint resolution
70 he passed by the two houses Of Con-
gress appropriating the. 800 900 900, tho
other was a proclamation to be issued
by himself as president when the joint