The Washington herald., 1915-02-07

Lincoln and three representatives. Of JEFF
ferson Davis.
Although the conference lasted four
hours, nothing tangible was accom-
plished. 1t was scarcely possible that
anything could be accomplished, as Lin
coin nad met the commissioners on the
condition that they should treat with a
view to securing peace to the people Of
our one common country" while the Con-
federate commissioners had come under
instructions from Jefferson Davis to con-
slider the conference as between the rep
resentatives of two countries.
Lincoln had laid down the condition
quoted as the one on which he would
receive the commissioners. and to these
they had appeared to accede on being
admitted to the Federal lines at City
Point From the moment they met the
President on board his steamer at Fort
Monroe, to which point he had proceed
ed from Washington to meet them, 1t
was apparent they had made this conces-
sion with a reservation. They wished for
peace, but they would not accept peace
with the re-establishment Of the Union.
Their immediate hope was to secure an
armistice. or cessation Of hostilities.
"shuck" and "Nubbin."
Lincoln had decided to meet the COM
missioners more from a purpose to show
that he left no stone unturned to secure
peace than from any hope Of securing 1t
by negotiations with them.
Before deciding to meet them In per-
son, he had sent Secretary OF State Sc
ward to Hampton Roads to meet the
Confederate commissioners. To him he
had stated that three things were indis-
pensable to peace, the restoration of the
national authority, no receding on the
slavery question. and no cessation OF
hostilities until the South laid down
arms
The three Confederate commissioners
Alexander H. Stephens, r. N. T. Hunter
and John A. Campbell, having been sent
down from City Point by Gen. Grant on
an army steamer. went on board the
Presidents boat In the morning. The
conference took place in the steamers
saloon.
When the three confederates had en-
tered il. the President and Mr.. Seward
appeared. NO other persons were pres
ent, except a coiored steward who
brought in refreshments.
AS Mr.. Stephens had known Lincoln
when the two were In Congress, he nat
urally became the spokesman for the
commissioners.
The meeting OF Lincoln and Stephens
was an odd one. Both were mental
giants, but their physical disproportioh
was great Lincoln, standing six feet
four inches high. was Obliged 20 stoop
when he shook hands with Mr. Stephens,
who was but HttIe more than five feet
tall and barely weighed more than 100
pounds. His complexion was sailow and
his skin seemed shriveied on the bones
Mr.. Stephens came on the steamer
wrapped IN a huge coat much too large
for him. When he removed his coat the
idea occurred TO Lincoln that he took It
OF '.just about ss you would husk an
ear Of corn suggesting the remark,
which Lincoln made later: THAT'S the
biggest shuck and the littlest nubbin
ever did see.-'
The One way 10 Peace.
The former acquaintance between
President Lincoln and Mr.. Stephens
made the opening OF the conversation
easy. They talked of q CongTessman's
campaign club that had helped elect
President Taylor. and Lincoln asked
about some OF its members. who lived in
the South.
After this conversation. Nr. Stephens
asked II there was not some way Of re-
storing TO the states the harmonious re-
lations of other days.
At this point Mr.. seward lnterposed.
with the statement that 1t was thought