The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-02-28
oLFAx, GRANT PARISH La SATURDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1908
A Contribution to History.


A Contribution to History.
While attending a banquet in New |
Orleans on the night of Feb. 20th,
given in honor of Admiral Schley, |
Gen. Joe Wheeler and Col. A. K. Nc
Clure, the latter gentleman, who is
the Nestor of American journalism,
and was the friend and compatriot
before, during and after the war, of
Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Da-
Wis, made a splendid speech, in which
he made an interesting and valuable
contribution to history. We regret
that lack of space forbids reproduc-
ton OF his epeech in full, but give
herewith q couple of extracts en-
bodying his personal "reminiscences of
Lincoln and Davis, and the historical
contribution referred to, viz:
Col. Mcclure related that Lincoln in
1863 conceived and confided to him
his pet scheme to end the war, which
was to pay the South $500, O00, 900
for the negro slaves, first inviting the
Confederate States to come back into
the Union and acknowledge Federal
supremacy and authority. On the
advice of his friends Mr.. Lincoln re-
Trained from making the proposition
public until he was elected President
for his second term.
After his reelection in 1854, Lin
coin preached his plan. Commission
ers, sent by Davis to City Point, were
met by Lincoln and others. Stephens
the Vice President of the Confederacy,
said that his instructions only per-
mitted him to consider any PROPOSE
ton based upon the independence of
the Confederate States. As Lincoln
could make no proposition in con-
formity with these instructions, the
negotiations ceased. "As soon as be
returned from City Point to Wash
ington," said Col. Mcclure, "Lincoln
wrote a special message to Congress,
advising the-..immediate appropria-
ton of $500, 600, 900 to pay for the
emancipated slaves, to be paid with
in thirty days utter the South should
acknowledge Federal authority and
cease hostilities. The Cabinet reject
ed the message. The document, in
Lincoln's handwriting, with his in.
dorsement, rejected this day by the
Cabinet is still in existence"
Fifteen years after the close Of the
war Col. Mcclure visited Mr.. Davis al
Beauvoir. In reply to question
MIR. Davis said that he was compelled
to give precisely the instructions ht
had given. 1.-THE very cornerstone
of our government was the sovereign
} rights of the States" said Mr.. Davis
''Neither l, nor the Confederate Con
Igress, nor the commissioners whom
sent to City Point, could entertain
any proposition under which w
might undertake to dispose of thu
sovereign power of each State. MOI
could We make any proposition not
based on independence OF each State
as asserted by them, of the Fedora
authority represented by Mr.. Lincoln
Mr.. Lincoln, who represented cen
tralized Federal authority, could wei
makesuch a proposition. I,who rep
resented confederacy of sovereign
States, was not empowered to accept
it." "And," said Col. Mcclure, in re
lating the visit, "Mr. Davis was right
Both Lincoln and Davis were right
And l never clearly understood TIT
situation until that day when l talk
ed with Mr.. Davis at Beauvoir. Ii
that conversation, Mr.. Davis said IL
me, in oil solemnity, that next to thu
surrender of Lee. the darkest day il
the history OF the South was the day
: of Lincoln's assassina
This speech Of Col. Mcclure throws
a food of light upon the causes fol
failure of all peaceful negotiations t.
end the Confederate war. 1t also il
u fine showing for the two Presidents
of the divided States, whose nobility
: and integrity stand out in bold re
, lief and honorable dealing with thu
. | people that each represented. Littl'
wonder it is, then, that the boys il
blue and the boys in grey should mu
tually respect and admire each thu
heroes of the other, leaving alone tx
pot-house politicians, camp-follower'
and irreconcilables the business o
! unfriendliness and sectional carping.