The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1917-02-08


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rests upon two imperfect and appar-
emily conflicting narratives-the official
and formal report of the Confederate
commissioners and the subsequent oral
and personal statement of Mr.. Steph-
ems The disagreement, however, is
easily explained, having, with its at
tendant controversy, arisen, because
what MIR. Stephens, said was assumed
to be an attack upon Mr.. Davis. 1t
was never so intended by Mr.. Stephens,
the aim being solely to throw light
upon the character and purposes Of
Mr.. Lincoln.
1t shouid be borne in mind In this
connection that Mr.. Stephens and MIR.
Lincoln were personal friends-old
Wing colleagues In congress-Lincoln
warm admirer Of Stephens. whom he
wanted to ask to become q member
president. In the little cabin Of the
river steamer where the conference
was being held the two had drawn
apart from the rest. Stephens" said
Lincoln, as Mr.. Stephens related the
conversation to many of his friends,
you know am fair man and know
you to be one. Both of us understand
the situation. Let me write Union Mt
the top. Of this page and you may write
below 1t whatever else you please.
am sure you will write nothing which
l cannot agree to-" Mr.. Stephens re-
piled that the commissioners were lin
tied to treating upon the basis Of the
recognition of the independence Of the
Confederacy. "Then, Stephens" said
Lincoln, tiny hands are clean of every
drop of blood spilled from this time
onward"
| In the general rather desultory and,
in the end, wholly abortive. talk be-
tween the three Confederate commits
sioners and Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Sc
ward, Mr.. Lincoln recurring to slavery
and the Emancipation Proclamation,
declared that he would be willing to be
taxed to pay the Southern people fair
valuation for their. slaves. 1t is a
matter of fact that he hnd already
prepared joint resolution to be rec
commended to the two houses Of con
gress appropriating $400,0O0,O0O ,tc
this purpose, and proclamation to BIZ
issued by himself as president When
this had been adopted.
On his return to Washington he LAID
these two papers before the cabinet
Inevitably there was opposition. "Why
gentlemen" he said. "how long is thu
war going to last2 1t Is not going t
end in one hundred days, Is 1t? 1t Il
costing us $4,00C,OO0 a day. Their
you have the $500, 000, 900, not counting
the intervening loss Of lives and prop
erty. But, you are all against me
and / will say no more about it
Both papers still stand in his owl
handwriting.
Tho south's True Friend.
The death Of Lincoln removed from
the head of affairs the best, If not tn
only, friend the Southern people hat
at court. There came In his stead al
old line southern DemocrRt--a VERT
able "poor Notwithstanding destruc
ton to the ruling classes at the South
yet constitutionalist Of the school o
! Jefferson and rs hostile to the negr
: equality theories of the radical Reput
leans as the most ultra Copperhead o
the North. Secession had failed; mus
, 1t carry with 1t the failure also Q
! institutional freedom7 Liberating fh
black man, must II enslave the white
, The plan to impeach Andrew Johnso
, was little other than scheme to Mel
Icanize the government. It came perl
: ously near succeeding.
} The Grand Army Of the Repnbll