The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-17
A NEW YI.RsInN-

W spNSaOA.
In an address delivered by Andrew
Carnegie on October 16, 1907, at Edtn-
burgh, Scotland, referring to Lincoln's
attitude toward slavery, he said, among
other things:
When he Gincoln) met the Vice
President and other Confederate off,
Gals at City Point he took a sheet Of
paper and said: Gentlemen, let me
write here at the top Emancipation"
and you may fill the rest OF the sheet
with your conditions"
Where did Mr. Carnegie get his IN
formation? There has been much dis
eussion as to what took place at that
famous conference and 1t has been said
that Mr.. Lincoln offered to let the
Observation-Disclosures II. Stephens,
f. M. I. Hunter and John A. Camp
bell--write their own terms, provided
he should be allowed to write the word
Union at the top OF the paper. But
Mr.. Carnegie's version is entirely new
to US. The commissioners made no al
fusion to such proposal in their re-
trouble, from their point of view, was
that no terms or proposals of any
treaty or agreement looking to an ul-
innate settlement would be entertained,
or made, by President Lincoln with the
authorities OF the Confederate States.
as that would be a recognition of them
as a separate power. In short. Mr..
Lincoln let Ii be understood that there
could be no arrangements between the
United States and the Confederate
States. and that nothing was left 10
the latter but unconditional submits
sion
That was the conclusion of the com
missioners as summed up by Mr.. Hun
ter. But Mr.. Stephens afterwards said
that the preservation OF the Union and
not the emancipation of the negro was
the dominating sentiment with Mr..
Lincoln.
1t is nevertheless true, however. that
the emancipation of the negro was dis
cussed, and that aIr. Lincoln adhered to
his previous proclamation on that sub
iect.
I'VE learned from them,n-LlncoIn
and seward-said the commissioners in
their report, that the message oil
President Lincoln 10 the Congress o.
the United States in December last
explains clearly and distinctly his sen
timents as TO terms, conditions AM
methods OF proceeding by which peac.
can be secured. and we are not In.
formed that they would be modified 0,
altered to obtain that end
In that message President Lincotr
said: in presenting the abandonment
of armed resistance to the national au
thority on the part of the insurgents
as the only indispensable condition
to ending the war on the part OF tn
government, 1 retract nothing hereto
fore said as to slavery. l repeat TIL
declaration I made year ago, tina
while l remain in my present positio
| shall not attempt to retract or modi
~ the emancipation proclamation, no
shall l return to slavery any perso
who Is free by that proclamation q
by any act of Congress-"
But even on that point Mr.. Stephen
quotes President Lincoln as hayin
said that the extent of the operatio
OF the emancipation proclamation wa
. a judicial question for the courts
decide
: This is an old question, but cor
{, fusion Is constantly arising. and wher
ever occasion presents itself 1t is we
TO impress the fact that the South di
not fight for slavery, nor the Mort
:. for emancipation according to- Mr. LIZ
coln,s Interpretation.