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deem prudent, giving them protection and comfortable quarters while there, and that you let none of this have any effect uoon your movements or plans. Bv order of the President. y EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Supposing the proper be then reached I dispatched the Secretary of State with the following instructions, Major Eckert, however, going ahead of JirQ ’ Executive Mansion, Washington, Jan. 31, 1860. Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of gtate—You wiil proceed to Fortress Monroe, Va., there to meet and inform ally confer with Messrs. Stephens, Hunt er and Campbell, on the basis of my let ter to F. P- Blair, Esq., of Jan. 18, 1885, a copy of which you have. You will make known to them that three things are indispensable, to wit: First, the res toration of the national authority through out all the States. Second, no receiving by the Executive of the United States, ou the slavery question, from the posi tion assumed thereon in the late annual message to Congress, and in the preced ing documents. Third, no cessation of hostilities short of an end of the war,and the disbanding of all the forces hostile to the Government. You will inform them that all propositions of theirs not incon sistent with the above will be considered and passed upon in a spirit of sincere liberality: You will hear all they may choose to say, and report it to me. lou will not assume to definitely consum mate anything. Yours, &c-, : y ; ABRAHAM LINCOLN. On the day of its date the foUfcving telegram was sent to Gen. Grant: War Department, Washington, Feb. 1, 1865. Lieut. Gen. Grant, City Point, Ya— Let nothing which is transpiring change, hinder or delay your military movements or plans. A. LINCOLN. [Sent in cipher at 9.30 a. m. Afterward the following despatch was received from Gen. Grant — Office U. S. Military Telegraph, War Department, [ln Cipher.} The following telegram was received at Washington 2.30 p. m., Feb. 1, 1865, from City Poiut, Ya., Feb. 1, 12.30 p. m, 1865 His Excellency A. Lincoln, President of the United States—Your despatch re ceived. There will be no armisticepn consequence of the presence of Mr. Ste phens and others witliiu our lines. The troops are kept in readiness to move at the shortest notice if occasion should justify it, U. S. GRANT, Lieut. Gen. • To notify Major Eckert that the Sec retary of State would be at Fortress Monroe and to put them in communica tion, the following despatch was sent— War Department, Washington, Feb. 1, 1865. Major T. T. Eckert, care Gen. Grant, City Point, Va—Gall at Fortress Monroe and put yourself under direction of Mr. S., whom you will find there. r A. LINCOLN. On the morning of the 2il inst. the fol lowing telegrams were received by me, respectively from the Secretary of War and Major Eckert— Fort Monroe, Va., Feb 1, 1835—11.20 p.m. To the President ot the United States —Arrived at 10 this evening. Richmond fiiends not here. I remain here. W. H. SEWARD. Ott Point, Va., Feb. 1, 1865—11.30 p.m. To His Excellency, A Lincoln, Presi dent of the United States —I have the honor to report the delivery of your com muuicatiou and my letter at 4-15 this af ternoon, to which I received a reply at 6 p. m., but not satisfactory. At 8 o’c.ock ’p. m., the following note, ad dressed to Gen. Grant, was received-- 1 ’ City Point. Va., Feb. 1, 1865. To Lieut. Gen. Grant—Sir—We'desire to S> to Washington City to confer in form illy with the Presiddht personally in Reference to the matters mentioned in his letter to Mr. Blair of the 18th of Jan- Uar 7 ultimo. Without any personal Compromise on any question in the let ter, we have the permission to do so from the authorities in Richmond. Very respectfully, yours, ALEX. H. STEPHENS, R. M T. HUNTER, J. A. CAMPBELL. At 9.30 p. m. I uctified them that they could not proceed further, unless they complied with the terms expressed in my ietter. The point of meeting desig nated in the above note would not, in my opinion, be insisted upon. Fort tMonroe would be acceptable. Having complied with my instructions, I will re turn to Washington to-morrow, unless otherwise ordered. THOS. T. ECKERT, Major, &c. On reading this dispatch Major Eckert, I was about to recall him and the Secretary of State, when the follow ing telegram of Gen. Grant to the Secre tary of War was shown me— Office of the United States Military Telegraph, War Department. [ln Cipher.] The following telegram received at Washington, 4.35 a. m., Feb. 2, G 865, from City Poiut, Va., Feb. 1, 10.30 p. m., 1805— ' V Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War—Now that the interview between Maj. Eckert, uuder his written instruc tions, and Mr. Stephens and party, has endedj I will state ’confidentially, but not officially, to become a matter of record, that I am convinced, upon conversation with Messrs, Stephens and Hun ter, that their intentions are good, and their desire to restore peace and Union is sincere. I have not felt myself at liberty to express even views of my own, or to account for my reticence. This his placed me in an awkward position, which I could have avoided by uet seeing them in the first instance. I fear now their going back without any expression to any one in authority will have a bad influence. At the same time I recognize the difficulties in the way of receiving these informal commissioners at this time, and I do not know what to recommend. lam sorry, however, that Mr. Lincoln cannot have an interview with the two named in this dispatch, if not all three now within our lines. Their letter to me was all that the President’s instructions contemplated to secure their sate conduct, if they had used the same language to Maj. Eckert. U. S. GRANT, Lieut. Gen v This dispatch of Gen. Grant changed my purpose,and accordingly I telegraph him and the Secretary of State as lol low 3 War Department, Washington, D. C., Feb. 2, 1865. Lieut.-Gen. Grant, City Point, Va.— Say to the gentlemen that I will meet ttyein personally at Fortress Monroe as soon as I can get there. A. LINCOLN. Sent in cipher at 9 A. M. War Department, Washington, D. C., Feb. 2, 1865. Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Fortress Mon roe, Va.—lnduced by a dispatch trom Gen • Grant, I join you at Fortress Mon roe so soon as I can come. A. LINCOLN. Sent in cipher at 9 A. M. Before starting, the following dispatch was shown me. I proceeded, neverthe less— [Cipher.] Office XL S. Military Telegraph, War Department. The following telegram, received at Washington, Feb. 2, 1865, from City Point, Va., 9 A. M. Feb. 2, 1865 Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State— „ [Copy.] j Fort Monroe. To Hon. Edward M. Stanton, Srece tary of War, Washington—The gentle men here have accepted the proposed terms, and will leave for Fortress Mon roe at 9.30 A. M. U. S, GRANT, Lieut.-Gen. On the night of the 2d I reached Hampton Roads, found the Secretary of State and Maj. Eckert on a steamer an- , chored off the shore,and learned of them that the Richmond gentlemen were on another steamer, also anchored off shore in the Roads, and that the Secretary of 1 State had not yet seen or communicated with them. I ascertained that Major Eckert had literally complied With his instructions, and I saw for the first time the answer of the Richmond gentlemen to him, which, id his dispatch to me of the Ist, he characterized as not satisfac tory. That answer is as follows, to wit; City Point, Va.* Feb. 1, 1865. Thomas T. Eckert, Mcjor and A D. C.—Major—Your note delivered by your self this day has been considered. Iu re ply, we have to say that we were furnish ed with a copy of the letter of President Lincoln to Frauds P. Biair, of the 18th of January, u!t., another copy of which is appended to your note. Our inten tions are contained in a tetter of which the following is a copy : Richmond, Jan 28, 1865. In conformity with the letter of Mr. Lincoln,of which the foregoing is a copy, you are to proceed to Washington City, for informal conference with him upon the issues involved in the existing war. and for the purpose of securing peace to the two countries. With great respect, your obedient servant, JEFFERSON DAVIS. The substantial object to be obtained by the informal conference is to ascer tain upon what terms the existing war can be terminated honorably. Our in structions contemplate a personal inter view between President Lincoln and ourselves at Washington, but with this explanation, we are ready to meet any person that President Lincoln rqay ap poiut, at such place as he may designate. Our earnest desire is that a just and hon orable peace may be agreed upon, and we are prepared to receive or to submit propositions which may possibly lead to the attainment of the end. Very respectfully, yours ALEX. H. STEPHENS, R. M. T. HUNTER, JOHN A. CAMPBELL. A note df these gentlemen, subse quently addressed to General Grant, has already been given in Major Eckert’s dispatch of the Ist inst. I also saw" here, for the first time, the following note, ad dressed by the Richmond gentlemen to Major Eckert: City’Point, Va., Feb. 2, 1865. Thos. T. Eckert, Major and A. D. C.— Major—ln reply to your verbal statement that your instructions did not allow you to alter the conditions upon which a passport could be giveu to us, we say that we are willing to proceed to Fort ress Monroe, and there to have an in formal conference with any person or persons that President Lincoln may ap point on the basis of his letter to Francis P. Blair, of the 18th of January ultimo, or upon any other terms or conditions that he may hereafter propose, not incon sistent with the essential principles of self-government and popular rights upon Which our institutions are founded. It is our earnest wish to ascertain, after a free interchange of ideas and information, upon what principles and terms, if any, a just and honorable peace can be estab lished without the effusion of blood, and to contribute our utmost efforts to ac complish such a result. We think it bet ter to add, that in accepting your pass port we are not to be understood as com mitting ourselves to anything ; but to carry into this informal conference the views and feelings above expressed. Very respectfully yours, &c. ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS, J. A. CAMPBELL, R. M. T. HUNTER. Note, —The above communication was delivered to me at Fortress Monroe at 4.30 P. M. Feb. 2, by Lieut.-Colonel Babcock, of Gen. Grant’s Staff. ’* THOS. T. ECKHERT, Adjt. and A, D. C. On the morning of the 3d, the three gentlemen. Messrs. Stephens,Hunter and Campbell, came aboard of our steamer, and had an interview with the Secretary of State and myself of several hours’ du ration. No question or preliminaries to the meeting was then and there made or mentioned. No other person was pres ent. No papers were exchanged or pro duced, and it was in : advance agreed ‘ that the conversation was to be informal and verbal merely. Op our part the whole substance of the instructions to the Secretary of State, hereinbefore recited, was stated and . insisted tipon, and nothing was sajd incon | sistent therewith. While by the other party it was.uot said that, in any event, or on any ooudition, they ever would consent to re-union; and yet they equal ly omitted to declare that they would so consent. They seemed to desire & post ponement of that question, sad adoption other course first, which as ’ some of them seemed to argue, might or might not lead to reunion, but which course we thought would amount to au indefinite postponement. 'Die confer ence ended without result. ' The foregoing, containing, as is be lieved, all the information sought, is respectfully submitted. ABEaHAM linooln, * t Robbers of Time. —Life is coßunually . ravaged by invaders;—one steals an hour, and another a day ; one conceals, the robbery by hurrying us into business, another by lulling us with amusements. The depredation is continued thrdbgh a' thousand vicissitudes of tumult and Iran quility, tilL having dost all we can lose, 1 no more. To put every man in posses sion of his own time, and rescue the day . from his usurpers, is beyond hope ; yet, perhaps, some stop might be put to this Unmerciful persecution it all would* seriously reflect that whoever pays a visit , -that is not deterred, or talks longer than the: hearer is willing to attend, is guilty of an injury which he cannot repair, and > lakes aivay that which he cannot give l . Johnson.*-* ■ . ? ;t J W. FISHER '& CO., ■ '•’* COLLECTORS OF MILITARY AND NAVAL • * 1 CLAIMS. jtfS FOURTEENTH STRUCT, WASHINGTON, D, A, Pfocare Pay for Horses, Pensions, Bounties, and dther Clatrhs of Soldiers or their Heir* , Prisoner’s pay for the wife or widowed mother: Also, Clearances tram the Quartermaster, Ord nance and 2d Additdfll Departments for officer* • leaving the service. lw feblG JgNVELOPBS, » 1 , NOTE PAPER, JOB LOTS AT LOW PRICES. Samples sent by mail. We are headquarters for all kinds of Stationery,.' and can supply the trade at low prices. G. S. HASKJNS A CO., feblG lm 36 Beekman street N. Y. , Great chance toake money and f RECEIVE A WATCH FREE—By-selling our “ Great Novelty an® National PRIZE PACKETS.” Each package contains over a dollar’s worth of valuable Stationery and Jewel ry, besides one Certificate in the great sale of $650,000 of WATCHES, DIAMONDS AND JEW ELRY—retail price, 30 cents. Thousands or these Packets can be sold in every village and. camp. We want an Agent in every town and camp, thus making a profitauls ncaiNHBS for one smart niau in each place Splendid Gold ani> . . Sii.vHß Watches given to our Agents. sl7 will »- obtain 100 Packets and a tine Silver Watch. sl* invested in the SPLENDID STEEL ENGRA VINGS which we publish, will yield the enoimowb profit of SSO. Circulars, with full particulars, mailed free. Sample Packet, and Certificate on rece,pt of 1 5 q“Thaskins * CO.. febl6 lm No. 36 Beekman street, N. Y. RW. CAMPBELL, VETERINARY SUR • GEON, having reopened his office an* yard, on William street, is now prepared to treat. c Vn scientific principles,) all diseases incident t» Horses that are susceptible of remedy. Charge# . moderate. Cures warranted. Teems cash. ;feM6 ; < tS • ANTED -A# APOTHECARY. A young* man who thoroughly under— . stands the Drug Business can hear of a situatipa. by applying at this office. ts leblo Bulloch, middleton* co. Have opened a Shop, on President, near” , the corner of Drayton, for the purpose of JobtHuc and Coffin Making. Orders executed with neat ness and despatch. ■ 1 3 ’ 1 • p HAND MILITARY BALL • •<> AT ST. ANDREW'S HALL. .'•? On THURSDAY EVENING, Feb. 16, a GrandT* Soiree will bo riven under the Management of mS and A.W. HENTZ . The musical portion of the entertainment will be under the direction Os Prof. WEIGAND, lead- >' er of the Savannah City Orchestra.. The Managers have spared neither time nor expense Itt completing their preparations for &. first-class Ball, and they confidently expect to ..r umtit the commendation of a select assembly. TICKETS, Ingi.uimno REi'nviju.MKsrrß, #lO sale at Schreiner’s Music Store, Rugg’s station- * ery Store, Savannah Herald Building* awlatSw,; /f Andrew’s Hall, daily, from 10 a. m.Viil 1* and fiorn i l until Hp. m. febls * -H— : — ! V# T>OOTS AND SHOES. , _ 1 Jt) v For sale by WM. M. WILLIAMS, » febs \ Cor. Broughton and Whitaker y