The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-05-14
The TRUTH OF HISTORY.
Senator Vest Tells What Occur
red at the Famous Hampton
Roads Conference.
POPULAR STORY EMPHATIcALLY CON-
= TRADlCTED.


took on an amusing phase. In a breezy
speech Mr.. Dolliyer of Iowa made
such a good natured, and yet such a
sarcastic, arraignment of Mr. Carmack
of Tennessee that senators and occu-
pants OF the thronged galleries were
convulsed WITH laughter. While
seemingly considerable temper was
aroused by the debate, good feeling
was shown by the active participants
in the war of words-Mr. Dolliver and
Mr.. Carmack-who cordially shook
hands and laughed over the encounter.
Mr.. Burton of Kansas concluded
the speech which he began yesterday.
He referred, as instances of atrocious
cruelty, to the battle of Wounded
Knee, to the Mountain Meadow mas
soldiers at Fort Pillow and contended
that the action of the American troops
in the Philippines was, in most in
stances, entirely within the regulations
of civilized warfare.
ssssContinuing MI. Burton referred to
the remarkable speech delivered in
the senate yesterday by Mr.. Tillman
of South Carolina. He paid tribute
to the work being done by Booker
Washington for the colored race and
suggested that if the colored people
would follow his advice they would be
successful.
Mr.. Vest Of Missouri called atten-
tion to the statement of Mr.. Tillman
made yesterday, which he said he was
compelled to take notice of in justice
| both to theSliving and the dead. That
statement, which had been found in
the public press and upon the lecture
platform for the last three years, was
| that at the historic conference in
Hampton Roads in 1864 between Presi-
dent Lincoln, VIM. H. Seward, Sec
retary of state: Alexander Fl. Stephens,
vice president of the Confederate
States; r. NJ. T. Hunter, former
United States senator, and John A.
Campbell, formerly justice Of the Uni
ted States supreme court; President
Lincoln wrote upon piece Of paper
"save the union," then handing it to
Stephens, said, "Alex., take this
paper and fill up for yourself the con-
ditions of peace between the two coun-
| tries.''
Mr.. Vest said the story had been
denied by John II. Reagan of Texas,
who was the last surviving member Of
| thu Confederate cabinet.
He knew personally, said Mr. Vest,
without having been present at that
combined interview that the incident
was without the slightest foundation.
"If true,'' said he, Sit would place
the government and officers of the Con-
! federate States in the category of
| criminals because it offered the Con-
| federacy all that it ever demanded in
| the widest hope of the most extreme
| partisans of that cause if they would
| only return to the union.
A deep silence had fallen upon the
chamber and every member on the floor
| listened to him with rapt attention.
I With great deliberateness he contin-
ued: If true it would mean that the
| Confederates could have placed on that
sheet of paper the perpetual establish
| ment Of slavery and the right Of seces-
sion, the most extreme demand that
had ever been taken locally even in the
dreams of any Confederate. - From
the lips Of Stephens and Hunter had
| come to him. he said, the details of
| what took place. Upon the return of
| the commissioners of the Confederacy
he heard their official report as Mr..
Reagan heard it, he being member
of the cabinet and himself a member
of the Confederate senate. 81 am
toady the only surviving member Of
the 26 gentlemen who acted as Confed-
crate Senator's he said.
II. ,+ol hot VIII
happen at Hampton Roads beyond
question was this: That when the
president and Secretary Seward met
the commissioners Of the Confeder-
acy, Mr.. Lincoln, addressing himself
to Mr. Hunter, whom he know well,
said: In the first place, gentlemen,
7 desire to know your powers
and instructions from the Richmond
government, avoiding, said Mr.. Vest,
as Mr.. Hunter told him himself, the
words q Confederate States.
Mr.. Hunter, to whom the inquiry
was addressed, said: Mr.. President,
we are instructed to consider no prop
osition that does not involve the inde-
pendence OF the Confederate States of
America" Then, said Mr.. Lin
coin, UQ6 IukSTF1SW IHdy dS well !
terminate now, for must say to you
gentlemen, frankly and honestly, that
nothing will be accepted from the gov
ernment az Richmond except absolute
and unconditional surrender
Mr.. Vest then said that this termi
mated the interview and as the Confed
crate commissioners retired Presi-
dent Lincoln, addressing Stephens,
who was the last to go out, said
g Stephens, you are making great
Your government is a fail
ure and when the crash comes, as it
soon must come. there will be chaos
and disaster which we cannot now
foresee which must come to your peo-
ple.. =
This account of that interview"
continued Mr. Vest, substantially
and almost word for word as [ have
given it. came TO me from Mr.
Stephens and Mr.. Hunter.
Mr. Vest said that he considered it
his duty to make this statement in
order that history may not be falsifed
in order that the men who were said
% have refused this offer at the hands
IF President Lincoln, should not be
made to sin in their graves. adding.