The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-21


bers of Congress from Kentucky, Mary
land, Missouri and West Virginia to con-
fer with him, and earnestly asked their
aid in hspolicy of gradualemancipation.
But they submitted to him long written
communication, declining to concur with
him and urging the immense money value
of the slaves as their strongest reason.
Thus even the Congressman OF the slave
States. who adhered with their States)to
the Union, remained blind to the fact that
the war wasfast destroying slavery, and,
il prolonged would inevitably overthrow
it. But how is it possible to deny that
Abraham Lincoln proposed that fair
money compensation should be paid to
Southern shareholders il gradual eman-
cipation could be adopted with an end OF
the war and n return To the Union2 And
this could have been done by initiation az
early as March. 1862. How many bleed
ing and dying sons, and blasted hopes,
and broken hearts. and desolated house-
holds could have been saved
Thus it il demonstrated by history that
Abraham Lincoln did propose plan OF
restoration of the Union. by adopting
which, together with system OF gradual
emancipation. the shareholders OF the
Southern States would have received fair
money compensation for their freed
slaves.
And although that wise plan failed
through the blindness and incomPetency
ofthose who might have aided in it. yet
Abraham Lincoln did not lose his inten-
tions of fairness and Justice To the South
ern slave holders.
In the Hampton Roads Conference,
which occurred at time when the mill
tary strength OF the South was exhausted,
and all reasonable men had abandoned
all hope OF the establishment OF the Con
| iederate States. the three able and honor
able men who went to the conference as
commissioners could have made peace,
| II their hands had not been bound be
hind their backs before they went. JET
ierson Davis and his Cabinet had done
that binding.
President Lincoln still retained his de-
sire and purpose to end the war by
plan which would have provided money
| CONDENSATION for theemancipated slaves
of Southern owners And he declared
that he still preferred gradual emanci-
nation" Ii is true that he disclaimed
all official authority in the premises. But
both he and his Secretary OF State, VIM.
II. Seward, stated that they believed it
probable that il a return TO The Union
and an ending of the war rcould be agreed
on, the Northern people would be willing
that sum about equivalent to what
il would cost to end the war by military
measurers (which sum was stated at
500. 900. .OO0) would be fairly afror-
toned among the Southern shareholders
And Lincoln and Seward both stated
their approval OF such a plan, and their
Willingness to aid it.
All this is distinctly proved by the
writing entitled, Appendix r, Hampton
Roads Conference" by A. H. Stephens,
one of the commissioners, printed with
his Comprehensive History OF the
United States" (pp. 999-101O. 1t is
by far the fullest and most reliable his
toric narrative OF theevents OF that men,
orable conference that has ever appeared
in print. And no man competent to deal
with IL has ever attempted to impeach
its truthfuluess. 1t is singular that Hon
John Goode should attempt to impeach
Rev. DIR. f.. NJ. Green g statement OF what
Judge Campbell (another OF the COM
missioners) told him as to the intima-
ton of payment for the slaves to South
ern owners given by President Lincoln
in that same Hampton Roads Conference,
and vet that Mr.. Goode in the same ad-
dress should expect US to believe him
when he tells us that all the commission
ers told him (Mr. Good that Lincoln
offered no terms" SO loose and vague a
statement is assuredly not to ber received.
Terms were assuredly presented by both
Lincoln and Seward by accepting which
the war could have been ended
AS to the error about General Lees al
lege offer to surrender some time prior
to Appomatox and April 9th, 1860,
l believe Mr.. Good is right. No evidence
tending to prove such an offer has ever
come to light.
Even when the war had ended Abra-
ham Lincoln intended to do all he could
to secure justice to the South. Had he
lived, the dismal period OF re-adjustment
followed by the unspeakabe outrage
which forced negro-suffrage upon the re-
constructed States would never have oc-
Cured
The crime OF the assassin and murderer
Wilkes Booth, considered in its nature
aud it's results has no PARALLEL in his
tory. H. X. HowlsoN,
"Braehead," Jan. 10, 1902.
1 q