Show WATTERSON AND REAGAN LIVELY SETTO ABOUT LIN COLNS POSITION Watterson Insists That Reagan Did Make the Statements Attributed to Him Louisville Ky July 11Mr Henri Watterson publishes In the Courier Journal tomorrow anv elaborate reply I to Judge P eagans denial that Mr Lincoln contemplated payment for the slaves under certain conditions and that he said to Mr Stephens Let me write Union at the top of this page and you may write below it whatever you please Mr Watterson sustains his position by profuse documentary evidence He quotes Mr Stephens account of the Fortress Monroe conference and produces pro-duces a Joint resolution prepared by Mr Lincoln to prove that indemnity for the slaves was contemplated He cites several creditable witnesses all of whom declare as Mr Watterson declares de-clares himself that Mr Stephens did make the statement ascribed to him In closing Mr Watterson says Mr Watterson regrets that Judge Reagan has seen fit to recur to a question ques-tion he thought was settled He was surprised by the passage in Judge Reagans Nashville address but he concluded not to revive an Issue which aside from seeming ungracious to a fraternal occasion cannot in the nature na-ture of the case be very agreeable asa as-a retrospection or profitable as a subject sub-ject of political discussion The insistence Insist-ence of Judge Reagan in keeping It alive and In urging a view which is contradicted by the best and amplest testimony leaves him no other alternative alter-native He is just as free from any just accusation of a purpose to mis re ort any southern aspect of the history his-tory of the war as Judge Reagan is himself But he has no personal motive mo-tive a9 Judge Reagan has for making a special plea in behalf of any particular partic-ular view It is a fact that within less than 60 days of its total collapse the confederacy might have made honorable honor-able and advantageous terms of peace on the basis of the restoration of the Union and it is a fact that the commissioners I missioners pent to Fortress Monroe re j fused to treat on other terms than the j I recognition of the independence of the j confederacy Whether it was I best to let the collapse come is an I other matter That it was coming was in point of fact imminent was per fectlty well known in official circles at Richmond That within less than 60 j days it actually came is history Whether it was best for the confederate confeder-ate president and authorities to take time by the forelock and with full knowledge of the impending disaster before their eyes to seek some other settlement than that of the impossible I recognition of the Independence of the J confederate states or to leave the hot torn literally to drop from the tub the pnnfpilpratf nrmips nt the mercy ofi Grant and Sherman the confederate capital abandoned and the confederate government In flight belongs to a chapter chap-ter of speculative philosophy which we do not care at present to explore |