The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-09

of every war He referred to the massacre
Of colored troops at Fort Pillow which. he
said, was an act of a few infuriated men
under the command of General Forrest
In that massacre the blood of Union sol
diers was shed, not that of Confederates.
He also referred to the Mountain Meadow
massacre, massacre which, for hideous
atrocity and fendish deViltry," had not
been equaled on this continent He did
not charge, he said, the Confederates with
the Fort Pillow infamy, or the Mormons
we must not charge the United States
army with Isolated instances of atrocity
and cruelty in the Philippines
Continuing. Mr.. Burton referred to the
remarkable speech delivered In the Senate
yesterday by Mr.. Tillman. of South Car
olina. He paid a tribute to the work being
done by Booker T. Washington for the
colored race, and suggested that If the
colored people would follow his advice they
would be successful. He ridiculed the De
moeracy, and declared that during the past
forty years 1t had been party Of obstruc-
ton. What have you done in the past
forty years?" he demanded dramatically
of the Democratic side. You have grum-
bled. grumbled, grumbled at everything;
grumbled at everything that looked to the
advancement of prosperity and civiliza-
ton everywhere"
VEST REPLIES TO TILLMAN.
Mr.. Vest called attention to the state
ment of Mr.. Tillman, made yesterday, that
at the historic conference in Hampton
Roads, in 1864, between President Lincoln,
William H. Seward, secretary of state;
Alex. II. Stephens, Vice President Of the
Confederate States; r. NJ. T. Hunter. for
mer United States senator, and John A.
Campbell. formerly justice of the United
States Supreme Court. President Lincoln
wrote upon piece Of paper, Save the
Union" Then, handing it to Stephens
said: Alexander, take this paper and fill
up for yourselves the conditions Of peace
between the two countries.
Mr. Vest said the story had been denied
by John II. Reagan Of Texas who was
the last surviving member of the Confed-
Mr.. Vest. without having been present at
the celebrated interview that the incident
was without the slightest foundation. IF
true" said he, 1T would place the govern
ment and officers of the Confederate States
in the category of criminals, because it
offered the Confederacy all that ii ever
demanded in the widest hope Of the most
extreme partisanS of that cause II they
would only return to the Union.
A deep silence had fallen upon the cham
Der and every senator on the floor listened
with rapt, attention. With great delib,
erateness he continued: IF true, it would
mean that the Confederates could have
placed on that sheet of paper the perpetual
establishment of slavery and the right of
secession, the most extreme demand that
ever had taken locality even in the dream
of any Confederate" From the lips of
Stephens and Hunter had come to him,
he said, the details of what took place
On the return of the commissioners of the
Confederacy he heard their official report,
as Mr.. Reagan heard ii, he being a men,
Der of the Cabinet and the speaker a mem
ber of the Confederate Senate Il to-
day the only surviving member of the
twenty-six gentlemen who acted as Con-
federate senator's" he said.
Mr.. Vest then stated that what did hap
pen at Hampton Roads beyond question
was this: That when the President and
Secretary Seward met the commissioners
of the Confederacy Mr.. Lincoln, addressing
himself to Mr.. Hunter, whom he knew well,
said: "In the first place, gentlemen, l de-
sire to know what are your powers and
instructions from the Richmond govern
ment," avoiding, said Mr.. Vest, as Mr.
Hunter told him himself. the words Con-
federate States" Mr.. Hunter, to whom the
inquiry was addressed. said Mr. Presi-
dent we are instructed to consider no
proposition that does not involve the in
dependence of the Confederate States of
America"
Then" said Mr.. Lincoln. 'the interview
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4. COL. 81