The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-02-04
Communicated
Lincoln and the Slaves Again

Lincoln and the Slaves Again
To THE FREE LANCE:
In connection with the question in con
trOversy now going ON between the Hon.
John GoOde aud Rev. DR. Beale on the
one side, and Rev. DR. HOwisOn on the
other, IA to whether Mr.. Lincoln, in the
memorable conference held on shipboard
near Fortress Monroe, on Feb. 3, 1868
between bIessrs Stephens, Campbell and
Hunter, acting for the Southern COnfed-
eracy. and Messrs Lincoln and Seward
for the lnited States. offered TO pay for
the Southern slaves, il may be of public
interest and may throw some light upon
the question 10 publish the official report
OF Mr. Lincoln to Congress, made on the
10th day OF February, 1860. in response
10 resolutions of that body passed on the
Sth day 0f that month.
The iull report will he found in Vol vi
of Messages aud Papers OF the Pre-i-
dents" compiled by the Hon James ID
Richardson. on pages 2GO 10 269 IN
elusive II sets forth in detail how the
conference was brought about, how the
conference met. etc Passing over this |
will simply give Mr. Davis instructions
10 his commissioners. and Mr. lincOln's
Instructions To Secretary Seward. The
first are in these words
Richmond, Jan 2S. 1865.
In conformity with the letter of Mr..
Lincoln, Of which the foregoing isacopy,
you are TO proceed to Washington City
Tor informal conference with him upon
81. IN t.lft
and for the purpose Of securing peace be-
tween the two countries.
The latter are in these words:
Executive VI ansion,
Washington, ID. e.. Jan. 81, 1860.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary OF
State:
You will proceed to Fortress Monroe.
Va. there To meet and informally confer
with Messrs Stephens, Hunter and Camp
bell on the basis of my letter 10 +. 7.
Blair, Esq. of Jan. Is, 1865. a copy OF
which you have. You will make known
To them that three things are indispen-
sable, to-wit:
Il The restoration Of the national
authority throughout all the States.
- No receding by the Executive of
the United States on the slavery question
from the position assumed thereon in the
late annual message to Congress and in
preceding documents.
-. No cessation OF hOstilities short OF
an end of the war and the disbanding of
all forces hostile to the government.
You will inform them that all propO
sitiOns of theirs not inconsistent with the
above will be considered and passed upon
in n spirit OF sincere liberality You will
hear all they may choose to say and re-
port il to me. You will not assume to
definitely consummate anything.
yours. etc,
a. LlNcOLN.'
Mr.. Lincoln. after this, concluded to
attend the conference in person, and his
official report OF what there occurred is
in the following words
"On the morning of the Bird the three
gentlemen. Mess-s. Stephens. Hunter and
Campbell, came aboard of our steamer
and had an interview with the Secretary
o! State and myself of several hours du-
ration. No question of preliminaries to
the meeting was then and there made or
mentioned; no other person was present;
no papers were exchanged or producer
and it was in advance agreed that the
conversation was TO be informal and
verbal merely On our part the whole
substance OF the instructions TO the Sec
rotary OF State. hereinbefore recited, was
stated and insisted upon, and nothing
was said inconsistent Herewith; while
by the other party it was not said that
in any event or on any condition they
ever would consent TO reunion, and yet
they equally omitted to declare that they
never would so consent. They seemed to
desire a pOstponement OF that question
and the adoption OF some other course
first which, as some OF them seemed TO
argue. might or might not lead to re-
union. but which course we thought
would amount TO an indefinite postpone
ment. The conference ended without
result.
"The foregoing, containing, as is be
lieved. all the information sought, is re-
spectiully submitted.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
There is not the slightest evidence to
be found in this entire report that Mr.
Lincoln offered to pay for the slaves. His
instructions TO Mr.. Seward. he says him
self. were stated and insisted upon, and
nothing was said inconsistent there
with" And in this connection, it must
be remembered, he had already issued his
emancipation proclamation, and in his
last annual message, to which he refers
he insisted that Congress should propose
an amendment to the Constitution abol- |
iehing slavery, and in that same message
he said: II retract nothing heretofore
said al to slavery"
Anyone taking the trouble to read his
fourth annual message and his report OF
the Hampton Roads Conference will |
hardly be able to reach the conclusion |
that he offered Internationally to pay |
for the slaves. Certainly no word or sen
tence can be found in either which will
jnstifv such a conclusion. His report OF
that conference puts quietus upon the
sensational story circulated at the time,
and since often repeated, that he proposed |
to the Southern commissioners to write |
" Reunion and they might write their
own terms Hereunder His own report |
shows that unconditional surrender was |
the sine qua non Of any agreement
G. II. A.
Feb | 1902.