Newspaper Page Text
DAILY TIMES.
J. W. W,IRRE\, - - - Editor.
COLUMBUS:
Tuesday Morning, March 7, 1865.
Later from the North.
We have received Northern news of Sat
urday, 11th ult.
Lincoln's Report of the Peace Conference — The
Mission once nearly broken of —Grant inter
poses because he thinks the u ßcbel ,} Commis
sioners want to (jo into the Union — Seward’s
Report to Foreign Courts.
On Friday last, Lincoln, utylor a call from
the Yankee Congress, sent a report of the tacts
relative to his recent interview, in Hampton
Roads, with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell. It fills three or four columns in
closely printed type, and is chiefly filled up
with business telegrams —the real report of
the interview being contained in Seward’s cir
cular to the United States ministers abroad.
We give the report, cutting out some of the
dry telegrams aboni the admission into Grant’s
lines of the three Confederates :
To the Honorable the House of. Representatives:
In response to your resolutions of the Bth
instant, requesting information in relation to a
conference recently held in Hampton Roads, I
have the honor to state, that on the day of
the date I gave Francis P. Blair, Sr., a card,
written on as follows : “Allow the bearer, F.
P. Blair, Sr., to puss our lines,jjgo South and
and return. A. Lincoln,
“December 28, 1864.”
That at the time I was informed that Mr.
Blair sought the card as a means of getting to
Richmond, Virginia, but he was given no au
thority to speak or act for the Government,
nor was I informed of anything he would say
or dc on his own account or otherwise. Af
ter wards, Mr, Blair told me that he bad been
to Richmond, and had seen Mr. Jefferson Da
vis, and he (Mr. Blair) at the same time left
with me a manuscript letter as follows, to-wit;
Riohmonu January 1, 1865.
F. 7>. li/air, Fsq : *
Sir: 1 have deemed it proper, and probably
desirable to you, to give you in this form the
substance of the remarks made by me, to be
repeated by you to President Lincoln, kc.
1 have no disposition to find obstacles in
forms, and am willing now, as heretofore, to
enter into negotiations for the restoration of
peace. 1 am ready to send a commission
whenever 1 have reason to suppose it will be
received, or to receive a commission if the
United States Government shall choose to send
one; that, notwithstanding the rejection of
our former offers, 1 would, if you could promise
that a commissioner, minister or other agent
Would he received, appoint one immediately,
and renew the effort to enter into a conference,
with a view to secure peace to the two coun
tries. Yours, kc.
(Signed) Jefferson Davis.
Afterwards, and with a view that it should
be shown to Mr. Davis, i wrote and delivered
to Mr. Blair, a letter as follows, to-wit :
Washington, January 18, 1865.*
F. F. Muir, Esq. :
Sir: You having shown me Mr. Davis’s let
ter to you of the 12th instant, yon may, say
to him that 1 have constantly been, am now,
and shall continue ready to receive any agent
whom he or any other influential person now
resisting the national authority may informal
ly send me, with the view of securing peace to
the people of our common country.
Yours, &c. A. Lincoln.
Afterwards. Mr. Blair dictated for and au
thorized me to make an entry on the back of
my retained copy of the letter last above re
cited, which entry is as follows :
“January 28,1865, —To-day Mr. Blair tells
me that On the 21st instant, he delivered to
Mr. Davis the original of which the within
is a copy, and left it with him ; that at the
time of delivering it, Mr. Davis read it over
twice in Mr. Blair’s presence, at the close of
which he (Mr. Blair) remarked that the part;
about “our one common country” related to
the part of Mr. D’s letter about “the two
countries,’ to which Mr. D. replied that he so
understood it. A. Lincoln.
| Then follows a telegram from Gen. Ord an
nouncing that the Confederate commissioners
have arrived in front of the Yankee lines and
that they would like to go through by 10 o’-
clock the next, morning.]
ft appears that about the time of placing the
foregoing telegram in my hands the Secretary
of Wav dispatched General Ord as follows, to
wit :
War Department Washington City, i
January 29, 1865, 10 P. M. j
Major General Ord :
This Depaitment has no knowledge of any
understanding by General Grant to allow any
person to come within his lines as commie
sior.ers of any sort. You will, therefore, al
low no one to come into your lines under such
charrcter or profession until you receive the
President’s instructions, to whom your tele
gram will be sent for his discretions.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
Sent in cipher at 2 A. M., 30th.
Afterwards, by my directions, the Secretary
of War telegraphed General Ord as follows : -
War Department Washington, D. C. \
January 30, 1864, 10, A. M. j
Major General E. O. C. Ord , Headquarters Army
of the James :
By direction of the President you are in
structed to inform the three gentlemen—
Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell—that
a messenger will be dispatched to them at or
near where they now are, without unnecessa
ry delay.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
Afterwards I prepared and put into the
hands of Major Thomas T. Eckert the follow
ing instructions and message :
Exkcdtivk Mansion, 1
Washington, January 30, 1865. /
Major T. T. Eckert :
Sir: You will proceed with the documents
placed in 3 our bauds, and 011 reaching Gener
al Ord will deliver him the letter addressed
to him by the Secretary of War. Then, by
General Ord’s assistance, procure an inter
view with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell, or any of them, deliver to him or
them the paper on which your own letter is
written. Note on the copy which you retain
the time of its delivery and to whom delivered.
Receive their answer in writing, waiting a
reasonable time for it, and which, if it con
tains their decision to come through without
further condition, will beyoor warrant to ask
General Old to pass them through, as direc
ted in the letter of the Secretary of War to
him. If, by their answer, they decline to come
or propose other terms, do not have them
passed through. And this being your whole
duty, return and report to me.
Yours truly, A. Lincoln.
Messrs. Alexander 11. Stephens , J. A. Campbell
and R. M. T. Hunter :
Gentlemen : I am instructed by the Presi- j
dent of the United States to place this paper j
iu your hands, with the information that if
you pass through the United States military
lines it •will be understood that you do so for
the purpose of an informal conference on the
basis of that letter, a copy of which is ou the
reverse side of this sheet, and that if you
choose to pass on such understanding, and so ,
notify me in writing, 1 will procure the Com* ]
mantling General to pass you through the
lines and to Fortress Monroe, under such mil- .
itary precautions as he may deem prudent,
and at which place you will be met in due
time by some person or persons for the pur
pose of such informal conference, and further
that you shall have protection, safe conduct
and safe return iu all events.
Thomas T. Eckert.
Major and A. I). C.
City Point. Ya., Feb. 1, 1865.
Afterwards, but before Major Eckert had
dispatch was received
Bj£ um General Grant:
Oyw'-a V S Military Telegraph. >
War Department. >
Ihe following telegram, received at Wash
ington, January 31, from Citv Point, Virgin
ia, 10.30 A. M. :
January 31, 1863.
His Excellency Abraham Lincoln ,
President of the United States :
The following communication was received
here last evening :
Petersburg, Virginia, January 30, 1865.
Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, Commanding
the Armies of the United States,:
Sir : We desire to pass your lines under safe
conduct, and to proceed to Washington to
hold conference with President Lincoln upon
the subject of the existing war, and with a
view of ascertaining upon what terms it may
he terminated in pursuance of the course in
dicated by him in his letter to Mr. Blair, of
January 18, 1865, of which we presume you
have a copy, and if not, we wish to see you
in person, if convenient, &nd to confer with
you on the subject.
Very respectfully yours,
Alexander 11. Stephens,
J. A. Campbell,
R. M. TANARUS, Hunter.
I have sent directions to receive these gen
tlemen, and expect to have them at my quar
ters this evening awaiting your instructions.
U. S. Grant,
Lieutenant General, Commanding Armies of
the United Slates,
This message, it will be perceived, trans
ferred General Orel's agency in the matter to
General Grom. I resolved, however, to send
Major Eckert forward with the message, and,
accordingly, telegraphed General Grant a3 fol
lows :
Executive Mansion, )
Washington, January 31, 1865. /
Lieutenant General Grant, City Point, Virginia:
A messenger is coming to you on the busi
ness contained in your dispatch. Detain the
gentlemen in' comfortable quarters Hntil he
arrives, and then act. upon the message he
brings, as far as applicable, it having been
made up to pass through General Ord’s hands,
ffud when the gentlemen were supposed to be
beyond our Hues. A. Lincoln.
[Sent in cipher at 1:30 P. M.]
When Major Eokert depasted he bore with
him a letter of the Secretary of War to Gen.
Grant, as follows, to wit:
War Department, |
Washington, January 30,1865. /
Lieut. General Grant, Commanding, sc. :
General: The President desires that you
will please- procure for the bearer, Major
Thomas T. Eckert, an interview with Messrs.
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, and if, on his
return to you, he requests it, pass them through
our lines to Fortress Monroe by such route
and under such military precautions as you
may deem prudent, giving them protection
and comfortable quarters while there, and that
you let none of this have any effect upon your
movements or plans.
By order of the President.
E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
Supposing the proper points to be then
reached, f dispatched the Secretary of State,
with the following instruction, HP jor Eckert,
however, going ahead of him:
Executive Mansion)
Washington, January 31, 1865. j
Hon. W. 11. Seward , Secretary of State :
You will procesd to Fortress Monroe, Vir
ginia, there to meet and informally confei
with' Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell
on the basis of my letter to F. P. Blair, Esq.,
of January 18. 1865. a copy of which you
have. You will make known to them that
three tilings are indispensable, to wit :
First. The restoration of the national au
thority throughout all the States.
Second. No receding by the Executive of
the United States on the slavery question from
the position assumed thereon in the late an
nual message to Congress and in preceding
documents.
Thin]. No cessation of hostilities short of
mi end of the war and the disbanding of all
tfie forces hostile to the Government. You
will inform them that all propositions of theirs
not inconsistent with the above will be coru
siderecl and passed upon in a spirit of sincere
liberality. You will hear all they may choose
to say, and report it to mo. You will not
assume to definitely consummate anything.
Yours, kc., A. Lincoln.
On tlio day of its date the following tele
gram was sent to Gen. Grant :
War Department, Washington, D. C.,
February 1, 1865. J
Lieut. General Grant, City Point Virginia:
Let nothing which is transpiring change,
hinder or delay your military movements or
plans. A. Lincoln.
(Sent in cipher at 9:30 A. M.)
Afterwards the following dispatch was re
ceived from Gen. Grant:
Office U. S. Military Telegraph, War
Department, (in cipher.) The following tele
graph received at Washington, 2:30 p. m.. Feb
ruary 1, 1865 :
City Point, Feb. 12, 1865, 2:30 p. m.
His Excellency A. Lincoln,
President of the United States:
Your dispatch received. There will be no
armistice in consequence of the presence of
Mr. Stephens and others within our lines. The
troops are kept in readiness to move at the
shortest notice if occasion should justify it.
U. S. Grant,
Lieutenant General.
To notify Major Eckert that, the Secretary
of State would be at Fortress Monroe, and to
put them in communication, the following
dispatch was seat:
War Department, Washington, D. C. l
February 1, 1865. /
Major T. T. Eckert,
care General Grant, Cay Point, Va.:
Call at Fortress Monroe and put yourself
under direction of Mr. Seward, whom you will
find there. A. Lincoln.
On the morning of the 2d instant, the fol
lowing telegrams were received by me respect
ively from the Secretary of State and Major
Eckert:
Fort Monroe, Virgina, )
February 1, 1865, 11:30 p. m. j
lo the President of the United States:
I arrived at 10 o’clock this evening. Rich
mond party not here. I remain here.
W. H. Seward.
City Point, Va., ]
February 1, 1865 — 10 p. m. /
His Excellency A. Lincoln,
President of the United States :
I have the honor to report the delivery of
your communication and my letter at 4:15
this afternoon, to which I received a reply at
6 p. m., but not satisfactory.
At 8 l*. m. the following note, addressed to
Gen. Grant, was received :
City Point, Va., Feb. 1, 1865.
To Lieut. Gen. Grant:
Sir: M e desire to go to Washington city to j
confer informally with the President person- i
ally in reference, to the matters mentioned in i
his letter to Mr. Blair of the 18th January, ult.
Y/ithout any personal compromise on any
question in the letter, we have the permission
j to do so from the authorities in Richmond.
Very respectfully, yours,
Alex. H. Stephens,
R. M. T. Hunter,
J. A..Campbell.
; At 9:30 v. M. I notifi. J them that they could i
j «ot proceed farther unless they complied with
j the turns expressed in my letter. The point
j of meeting designated in the above note ought
j not, in my opinion, to be insisted upon." 1
: think Fort Monroe would be acceptable.
! Having complied with iny instructions, I will
| return to Washington to-morrow, unless oth
; erwise ordered. Thos. T. Eckert,
Major, ic.
j On reading this dispatch of Major Eckert. I
; w’as about to recall him and the Secretary of
! State, when the following telegram from Gen.
| Grant to the Secretary of War was shown me :
i Or pice U. S. Military Telegraph. War
; Department.—, i„ «,l t , I—The fYb '■* .
: telegram was received at Washington at 4:35
; a. M., February 2, 1865, from City Point. Vir
! ginia :
- February 1, 186.5, 10:3u p. m.
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Sec y of War;
Now that the interview between Major Eck
ert, under his written instructions, and Mr.
Stephens and party, lia3 ended, I will state
confidentially, but not officially, to become a
matter of record, that I am convinced, upon
conversation wRO Messrs. Stephens and Hun
ter, that their • •■ons are good and their
desire sincere to , peace and Union I
have not felt myself at liberty to express any
views of my own or to account for my icli
cence.
This has placed me in an awkward position,
which I could bare avoided by not seeing
them in the first instance. I now fear their
going back without any expression from
any one in authority will have a bad influence;
at the same time I recognize the difficulties in
the way of receiving these informal commis
sioners at this time, and do not know what to
recommend. lam sorry that, however. 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 safe conduct, if they had used
the same langunge to Major Eckert.
U. S. Grant, Lieut. Gen.
This dispatch of General Grant changed my
purpose, and accordingly I telegraphed him
and the Secretary of State respectively as fol
lows :
War Department, Washington, D. C., |
February 2, 1865. j
Lieutenant General Grant, City Point , Va. :
Say to the gentlemen that 1 will meet them
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., )
February 2, 1865. j
Hon. Wm. 11. Seward, Fortress Monroe, Va. :
Induced by a dispatch from Gen. Grant, I
join you at Fortress Monroe as soon as I can
come. A. Lincoln.
(Sent in cipher at 9 a. m.)
Before starting, the following dispatch was
shown me. I proceeded nevertheless:
Office U. S. Military Telegraph, War
Department. —[Cipher.]—The following tele
gram was received at Washington, February
2, 1865 : From City Point, Va., 9 a. m., Feb
ruary 2, 1865. Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secreta
retary of State, Fortress Monroe, (copy to
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War,
Washington, I). 0.) —The gentlemen here have
accepted the proposed terms, and will leave for
Fortress Monroe at 9:30 a. m.
U. S. Grant, Lieut. Gen’l.
On the night of the 2d I reached Hampton
Roads and found the Secretary of State and
Major Eckert on a steamer anchored off the
shore, and learned of them that ihe Richmond
gentlemen were on another steamer, also an
chored off shore, in tile roads, and that the
Secretary of State had not yet seen or com
municated 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, in his dispatch to me of the Ist, he
characterizes as not satisfactory. That an
swer is as fallows, to wit:
City Point, Va., Feb. 1, 1865.
Thomas T. Eckert, Major and A. D. C :
Major : Your note, and elivered by yourself this
day, has been considered. For reply we have
to say that we were furnished with a copy of
the letter of President Lincoln to Francis P.
Blair, of the 18th of January ultimo, another
copy of which is appended to your note. Our
intentions arc contained in a letter, of which
the following is a copy :
“Richmond, Jan. 28, 1865.
“In conformity with the letter ot Mr. Lin
coln, 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 se
curing peace to the two countries. With great
respect, your obedient servant,
“Jefferson Davis,”
The substantial effect to be obtained by the
informal conference is to ascertain upon what
terms the existing war can be terminated ho
norably. Our instructions contemplate a per
sonal interview between Pi’esident Lincoln
and ourselves at Washington, but with this
explanation, we are ready to meet any person
or persons that President Lincoln may appoint
—at such place as he may designate. Our
earnest desire is that a ju3t and honorable
peace may be agreed upon, and we are prepa
red to receive or to submit propositions which
may possibly lead to the attainment of that
end. Very respectfully, yours,
Alex. H, Stephens,
R. M. T. Hunter,
John A. Campbell.
A note of these gentlemen, subsequently
addressed to General Grant, has already been
given in Major Eckert’s dispatch of the Ist
inst.
I also here saw, for the first time, the fol
lowing note addressed by the Richmond gen
tlemen to Major Eckert:
City Point, Va,, Feb. 2, 1865.
Thomas T. Eckert, Major and A. D. C.:
Major: In reply to your verbal statement
that your instructions did not allow you to
alter the conditions upon which a passport
could be given to us, we say that we are will
ing to proceed to Fortress Monroe, and there
to have an informal conference with any per
son or persons that President Lincoln may ap
point, on the basis of his letter to F. P. Blair
of the 18th of January, ultimo, or upon any
other terras or conditions that he may hereaf
ter propose, not inconsistent with the essential
principles of self-government and popular
rights upon which our constitutions are foun
ded. 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 established with
out the further effusion of blood ; and to con
tribute cur utmost efforts to accomplish such
a result, we think it better to add that, in ac
cepting your passports, we are not to be un
derstood as committing ourselves to anything
but to carry to this informal conference the
views and feelings above expressed.
Very respectfully, yours, &c.,
Alex. H. Stephens.
J. A. Campbell, ,
R. M. T. Hunter.
Note. —The above communication was de
livered to me at Fortress Monroe, at 4:80 p.
ra., February 2, by Lieut. Colonel Babcock, ot
Gen. Grant’s staff"
Thomas T. Eckert.
Major and Aid de Camp.
On the morning of February 3d, the three
gentlemeD, Messieurs Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell, came aboard our steamer and had
an interview with the Secretary of State and
myself of several hours’ duration. No question
of preliminaries to the meeting was then and
there made or mentioned. No other person
was present. No papers were exchanged, or
produced, and it was in advance agreed that
the conversation was to be informal and verbal
merely. On our part, the whole substance of
the instructions to the Secretary of State here
inbefore recited was stated and insisted upon,
and nothing was said inconsistent therewith ;
while by the other party it was net said that
in any event or on any condition they ever
would consent to re-union, and yet they equal
ly omitted to declare that they would not con
sent. They seemed to desire a pos ; ponement
of that question and the adop'ion of some
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 an indefinite postponement. The
conference would end without result.
~ The foregoing, containing, as is believed, all
tie information sought, is respectfully submit
ted. Abraham Lincoln.
Executive Mansion. Feb. 10. 1865.
ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS.
Washington, Feb. 10.—The following was
inclosed id the message sent to the Senate:
To the President —
The Secretary of State, ro whom was refer
red a resolution of the Senate of the Bth inst..
Requesting the President of the United States,
if in his opinion not incompatible with the
information :? ’ possession concerning re
cent conversations or communications with
certain rebels, said to have occurred under
Executive sanction, including communications
with the rebel Jefferson Davis, and any corre
spondence relating thereto, has the honor to
report that the Senate may properly be refer
red to a special message of the President bear
iug upon the subject of the resolution and
transmitted to the House tbi3 day.
Appended to the report is a copy of an in
struction which has been addressed to Charles
Francis Adams, Esq., envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the United States
at London, and *bicli is the only
ence found in this Department touching the
subject referred to in the resolution.
Respectfully submitted,
Wm. H. Seward
Department of State, Washington. Feb. 10.
1865.
[MR. BKWAR® TO MR ADAMS.]
Department of State, [
Washington, February 9,186). f
It is a tauism that in time of peace there o re al
ways instigators of war. So soon as a war begins
there are citizens who impatiently demand nego
tiations of peace. The advocates of war, after an
agitation longer or shorter, generally gain their
fearful end, though the war declared is not unfre
quently unnecessary and unwise. So peace agis
tators in time of war ultimately bring about an
abandpnment of conflict, sometimes without secu
ring the advantages which would original]}' ex
pected from the conflict.
The agitators for war in time of peace and .for
peace in time of war are not necessary or perhaps
ordinary unpatriotic in their purposes or motives.
Results alone determine whether they are wise or
unwise. The treaty of pea. e concluded at Guada
loupe Hidalgo was secured by an irregular nego
tiation under the don of the government. Some
of the efforts which have been made to bring about
negotiations with a view to end our civil war, arc
known to the whole world, because they have em
ployed foreign as well as domestic agents. Others
with whom you have had to deal confidentially
are known to yourself, although they have not
publicly transpired. Other efforts have occurred
here which are known only to the persons actually
moving in thorn aud to this Government. lam
now to give, for your information, an account of
an affair of the same general character, which re
cently received much attention here, and which
will doubtless excite enquiry abroad.
A sow days ago, Francis P. Blair, Esq., of
Maryland, obtained from the President a simple
leave to pass through our military lines without
definite views known to the Goverrinent. Mr.
Blair visited Richmond, and, on his return, he
showed to the President a letter which Jefferson
Davis had written to Mr. Blair, in which Mr.
Davis wrote that Mr. Blair was at liberty to say
to President Lincoln that Mr. Davis was now, as
he always had been, willing to send commission*'
ers, if atsured that they wonld be received, or to
receive any that should be sent ; that he was not
d'sposed to find obstacles in forms. He would
send commissioners sci confer with the President
with a view to the restoration of peace between
the two countries, if he could be assured that they
would be received.
The President, therefore, on the 18th day of
January, addressed a note to Mr. Blair, in which
the President, after acknowledging that he had
read the note of Mr. Davis, said that he was and
always should be willing to receive any agent that
Mr. Davis, or any other influential person now
ae‘ually resisting the ait thority of _ the Govern
ment, might send to confer informally with the
President, with a view to the restoration of peace
*to the people of our common country.
Mr, Blair visited Richmond with this letter,
and then again came back to Washington. On
tho 29th instant we were advised from the camp
of Lieutenant General Grant, that Alexander H.
Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter and John A. Campbell
wore applying for leave to pas? through the lines
to Washington, as peace commissioners to confer
with the President. They were permitted by the
Lieutenant-General to come to his headquarters,
to await there the decision of the President. Maj,
Eckert was sent down to meet the party from
Richmond at General Grant's headquarters. The
Major was directed to deliver to them a copy of
the President's letter to Mr. Blair, with a note to
bo addressed to them and signed by the Major, in
which they were directly informed that they
should be allowed to pass our lines. They would
he understood uS coming for an informal conference
upon the basis of the afore-named letter of the 19th
of January to Sir. Blair.
If they should express their assent to this con
dition in writing, then Major Eckert was directed
to give them safe conduct to Fortress Monroe,
where a person coming from the President would
moot them. It being thought probable, from a
report of the conversation with Lieutenant General
Grant, that the Richmond party would, in the
manner prescribed, accept the condition men
tioned, tho Secretary of State was charged by the
President with the duty of representing this Gov
ernment in the expected informal conference.
The Secretary arrived at Fortress Monroe in the
night of tho Ist day of February. Major Eckert
met him on the morning of the 2d of February,
with the information that the persons who had
come from Richmond, had not accepted in wri
ting the condition upon which he was allowed
to give thorn conduct to Fortress Monroe. The
Major had given the same information by tele
graph to the President at Washington. On re
eeiving this information, the President prepared
a telegram directing the Secretary to return to
Washington.
The Secretary was preparing, at tho same mo
ment, to so return, without waiting for informa
tion from the President. But at this juncture
Lieutonant General Grant telegraphed to tho
Secretary of War, as well as the Secretary of
State, that the party from Richmond had recon
sidered and accepted the condition tendered
them through Major Eckert, and General Grant
urgently advised the President to confer in person
with the Richmond party. Under these
circumstances the Secretary, by the President’s
direction, remained at Fortress Monroe, and the
President joined him there on the night of the
2d of February.
The Richmond party was brought down the
James River in a United States steam transport
during the day, and the transport was anchored
in Hampton Roads on the morning of the 3rd.
The President, attended by the Secretary,
received Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell
on board the United States steam transport
River Queen, in Hampton. Roads.
The conference wa3 altogether informal. There
was no attendance of secretaries, clerks or
witnesses. Nothing was written or read. The
con versa! ion, although earnest and free, was
calm, courteous and kind on both sides. The
Richmond party approached the discussion
rather indirectly, and at no time did they make
categorical demands, or tender formal stipulations
or absolute refusals: nevertheless, during the
conference, which lasted four hours, the several
points at issue between the Government and the
insurgents were distinctly raised and discussed
fully, intelligently, and in an amicable spirit.
What the insurgent party seemed chiefly to
favor was a postponement of the question of
separation upon which the war was waged, and
a mutual direction of the efforts of the Government
as well as those of the insurgents, to some
extraneous policy or scheme fer a season, during
which passion might be expected to subside, and
the armies be reduced, trade and intercourse bes
tween the people of both sections be resumed.
It was suggested by them that through such
postponement wo might now have immediate
peace, with some, not very certain, prospects of an
ultimate satisfactory adjustment of political rela
tions between the Government and the States, sec
tion or people now engaged in conflict with it.—
The suggestion, though deliberately considered,
was nevertheless regarded by the President as one
of armistice or truce, and he announced that we
cau agree to no cessation or suspension of hostili
ties except on the basis of the disbandonmeat of
i the insurgent forces and the restoration sf the na
| tional authority, throughout all the Ntates in the
| Union collaterally, and subordination to the propo-
I sition which was thus announced.
The anti slavery policy of the United States
was reviewed in all its bearings, and the Prasi
dent announced that he must not be expected to
depart from tbe positions ha had heretofore as
sumed in his proclamation of emancipation and
other documents, as these positions were reiterated
in his annua! message.
It was further declared by the President that
the complete restoration of the national authority
everywhere wa3 an indispensable condition of any
assent on our part to whatever form of peace might
he prsposed. The President assured the other
party that whiic he must adhere to these positions
he would be prepared, So far as power was lodged
wi k the Executive!,’-to exercise liberality. Its
power, however, is limited by the Constitution,
and when peace should be made Congress must
necessarily act in regard to appropiations of mon
ey and to the admission of representives from the
insurrectionary States.
The Richmond party were then informed that
Congress had on thedlst ultimo adopted, by a con
stitutional majority, a joj at resolution submitting
te'thc several States the proposition to abo‘:i-h sla
very throughout the Union, and that there is
every reason to expect that it will soon be accepted
by three fourths of the States, so as to become a
part of the national organic law.
i. ic ■ -a .i ..... n .1 by maiaa; ju
quicsoeace, without producing an agreement of
views upon the several matters discussed, or any
of them. Nevertheless, it is perhaps of 6ome im
portance that we have been able to submit our
opinions and views directly to prominent insur
gents, and to hear them in answer, in a courteous,
and not unfriently manner.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Wji. H. Seward.
THE RKAPJN'G OF THE CORRESPONDENCE IN THE
"YANKEE CONGRESS.
The reading of this message arrested the pro !
found attontion of the House and a large audience
in the galleries. When the Clerk read that part !
of Mr. Lincoln’s phraseology in which he uses the j
words “two countries,” “one common country,”
etc., there were eries from the Republican mem
bersof “Good ! good !” accompanied by applause.
The instructions to Mr. Seward also dieted evi
dence of approbation.
Mr. Washburue, = of Illinois, said he believed
this message would meet with the cordial appra- j
batioa of the entire people and in view of its im
portance he moved that twenty thousand copies of ;
the message be printed.
Mr. Brooks said he did sot think tbe messago
would meet with the cordial approbation j
of the people. As lie understood the docu
ment, and the report which comes to us from the
rebel papers, two things are evident: First, that
Mr. Lincoln demanded of the rebels unqualified
submission : second, that the President would eu
ter into no negotiations with either the rebel Gov
ernment or any single rebel State. Mr. Lincoln
is siieat on this point; but it is positively asserted
by Davis and the rebal agents. If the President
had desirod peace sincerely ho should have brush
ed away the cobwebs, and come at once to tho
point with Stephens. As the matter now stands,
the end must be by resort to the sword. He re
ferred to tho cheers of the soldiers when the peace
commissioners passed throughout the lines as
showing the spirit of the soldiers and the peoplo
in favor of peace. It required no considerable
courage on the part of Mr. Lincoln to throw off ;
the importunate radicals here and meet the rebel
agents; for this the President deserves credit, and
he has my thanks for holdiug the conference. It
was what I desired aud askou of him in Do
eember last, but which was not received on the
other side of the House with approbation. But I
regret that in this conference Mr. Lincoln did not
act upon his own responsibility, and ask no othor
terms than submission to tho Constitution. He
should have availed himself of this opportunity.
No Lincoln or Davis could now make peace with
the turbulent elements now aroused —no peace
maker now but the sword. May God preserve us
from this abitrameat : but it now seems there is
no other. North Carolina and Georgia aro in a
condition to make peace if tbeir sovereignty can
be preserved. The elements of peace are also in
Alabama. I regret that Mr. Lincoln has closed
the door against these Mr. Brooks refer
red to the concessions cnee made successfully to
South Carolina to avert civil war. Such are the
precedents that should have governed Mr. Lin
coln. The speaker was iu favor of an armistice
—some day or other this war must end, and prior
to that there must be an armistice. He regretted
that Mr. Lincoln had not availed himself of tho
opportunity recently offered,-as he (Mr. Brooks)
did not doubt that peace would have followed. If
again the battle is waged there is no hope of peace
short of subjugation of one or the other of the
parties.
Mr. Stevens of Pennsylvania : I can use ns
epithets’sufficiantly expressive of condemnation of
such a speech. If the the President had agreed
upon an armistice upon the basis or a separation of
States, he would have deserved to be impeached
by this House and convicted by the other. Far
his (the speaker’s part be believed one ©r other of
two alternatives must come—the rebels must lay
down their arms or be exterminated. He did not
believe that peace would be restored in six or twelve
months—there would be war for a year or two. The
conqueror must make terms. Tho South will ho
eonqm-red, and slavery will not be allowed nere
afeer. Three-fourths of the State will ratify the
amendment to tbe Constitution, add no State can
then come back with slavery.
Mr. Cox (Democrat) of Ohio expressed his grat
ification that the negotiation had taken place,
because he believed that if it was followed
np it would end in peace and Union. He
was sorry that the gentleman from Pennsylva
nia should have given emphasis to tbe remark
t hat tho rebels stood up simply upon their hide',
peudence. General Grant, himself, says the in
tention of the commissioners was good, and that
they had a desire to restore peace and Union.—
The thanks of the country ware due to the Presi
dent for drawing this out. If peace is not secured
on that basis, the fault will be at tho door of the
radical pressure.
Saw.—“ You’ll get it for hooking that turkey
last night—Mas’r know it.
Pojh’ev—“l didn’t hook it. Warn’t do turkey,
mas’rs. Well; ain’t I Mas’re ? Well I eat de
turkey, don’t |I ? Well, ain’t de turkey part’o
me? Mas’r ain’t got so much turkey, but be got
more nigger ? I tell you de turkey only changed
places.”
MBBMM—MMBBBWPWWWi—— a—H tMWWWBWWIPggBgI
AUCTIONSALES
G. XV. ROSETTE, S E. LAWIION, F, G. WILKINS.
ROSETTE, LIWHOI & CO.,
AUCTIO 2sT
AND
Coßsainissiosi Merchants,
131 BROAD STREET ,
Columbus, Greorgia.
march Ttf
Eosette, Lawhon & Go.,
F. ti. H II.KSAX
A uotioneer,
WILL SELL AT 11 O'CLOCK
x> iktdei ssi> Air,
MARCH Bth,
6 kegs WHITE LEAD,
2 bbls SUGAR,
1 bbl SMOKING TOBACCO,
1 SOLE LEATHER TRUNK,
400 lbs BOX IRON,
10 doz BOYS’ COTTON * HOSE,
6 GLASS SHOW CASES,
1 GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN,
1 WALNUT SECRETARY,
6 SOFA BOTTOM PARLOR CHAIRS
BEDSTEADS and MATTRASSES,
LOOKING GLASSES,
SILVER PLATED COFFEE POT,
« « CARD BASKET,
100 VOLS SCHOOL BOOKS,
.A. Xj S 0 7
1,500 Papers GARDEN SEEDS.
GOLD FINGER RINGS.
GOLD BREAST PINS.
GOLD EAR RINGS.
GOLD PENCILS.
ALSO,
1 FINE SADDLE AND HARNESS
| MARE, 6 years old.
1 COW AND CALF.
I At the same time, will be hired a NE
GRO WOMAN, good Cook, Ironer and
WasharAA *' ,n ‘ 4 ™ dr)
march 6 $54
i CITY FOUNDRY !
SI GAR MILLS AND KETTLES I
WE HAVE OF HAND
Sugar Mills and Kellies,
bolding 20,35, i<). 60, 80 and 130 gallons which we
I v/iii exchange for Provisions or any kind of C4 W! J*?,
1 Produce, or money on \ ery hueral terms-
, olicited. POKTKR. McILIUNM w.
Co!urnb*.ts. Jan. 20. 'f
AUCTION SALES.
By Ellis, Livingston A Cos
rid HIS DAY, Tuesday, March 7th, at 11
o clock, we will sell in front of our store
5 barrels CUBA CANE SYRUP
10 “ SORGHUM SYRUP. ’
march 7 $4
Bv Ellis, Livingston A Cos.
ON TUESDAY, 7th inst., at 11 o’clock
we ivill sell in front of our store.
3 boxes choice N. O. Sugar,
10 sacks New Rice.
9 sacks Ground Peas,
LOT FINE FURNITURE,
such as Centre,. Card and Dining Tables,
Bed Steads, Chairs, Wardrobe, Settees;
Large lot Linen and Cotton Sheets, Pil
low Cases, very fine Quilt, Spreads, Win
dow and Bed Curtains, &e., &c.
ALSO,
7 LIKELY NEGROES.
ALSO,
10 Likely Mules,
march 6 —s2l
By Ellis, Livingston & Cos,
fDJMISTMTurs SALE.
ON Tuesday, 7tli March next, at 11 o'clock,
T will sell, in the city of Columbus, in
front of Ellis, Livingston & Go’s Auction Store,
‘Alte very Desirable Residence,
near the Court House, lately occupied by Col. Tea
nille. A large and commodious dwelling house, goo i
out-houses, fine well of water, and one acre ground,
attached.
Also, a desirable lot Furniture, embracing nearly
every article wanted in house-keeping.
Sold as the property of Mrs- L. M. Tennille, dec’ !.
Terms cash. Possession given immediately.
Persons holding claims against the estate of Mrs.
LucyM. Tennilie. dec’d, also Wm. T. Patterson,
dec’d, will hand them to S. D. Betton, at Walker
Hospital, by the sth of March.
I • I). MORRIS, Adtn’r.
feb 19 sll9
gtttt'wii S3PW * iwi t arewrg9gr«gi« aOTWiwnw WW* -MBaasaywww m
I- TEMPEBA.J¥CE MALL!
Great Success of the Farce Company l
MISS JENNIE KEMBLE
AND
! MACf«IE MARSHALL,
! ASSISTED BY
I Messrs. Cieo. W. Wal
lace Bale, Clias. Stevenson,
and K- W. SSlanee.
I
| WILL GrIYS THEIR
{SECOND EftTERTA IN ME N T
AT TEMPER INCE HALL,
\ TUESBAI MARCH T
on which occasion will be presented the
laughable farce of
{SWISS COTTAGE,
AND THE
jIONG LOST BROTHERS,
Singing 1 and Mancing!
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BENEFIT OF THE
SOLDIERS’ WIVES.
-©Sr* For further particular?, see programme. “©Bl
march 7—lt
IfBS: 33 CITY.
T. J. JACKSON LOCAL EDITOR
Sales To-day. —Ellis, Livingston A Cos. wil
sell this day a valuable piece of real estate in tbit
city, a number of likely negroes, silver plated
I ware, lot of furniture, greeeries and other article*
teo tedious to mention. See advertisement.
Theatre.—“Swiss Cottage,’’ “The Long Lost
Brothers,” sinking, dancing, etc., are promised at
Temperance Hall to-night. Those fond of such
fun will doubtless be repaid by attending. We
: soe that to-morrow is announced as ajbenerit for
tho soldiers, by the Company.
Ravenscroft &, Cos., 91 Broad street, advertise a
lot of superior garden seeds, among them the genu
ine Early York, Drumhead, and Green Gland
Cabbage. Now is a most favorable time to plant
them.
. —♦
Yesterday was a most delightful spring day. The
rains have subsided, and we bavo the promise of
an early summer. We notice that early vegeta
tion is beginning to put forth, and the hyacinth*
and their kind are plentiful. All hail the pleasant
change.
Fire.—A fire broke out about 9 o’clock las t
night in the wash house in the rear of the Lee
Hospital. It was arrested before doing any ma
terial damage.
Telegraphic. —The telegraph wires were down
last night between Macon and Augusta.
OFFICE MED. EXAMINING BOARD, \
3d Congressional Dist. Ga. /
THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD for
the 3d Congressional District of Georgia,
will be at
Talbottoo, Talbot county, March 16,17 and IS.
Butler, Taylor county, March 20 and 21,
Oglethorpe, Macon county, March 22 and 23,
Americus, Sumter county, March 24 and 25,
Georgetown, Quitman ceunty, March 27th,
Hamilton, Harris county, April 3d,
Cusseta, Chattahoochee county, April sth and 6th,
Lumpkin, Stewart county, April 7th and Bth,
Preston, Webster county, April 10th and lltb,
Ellaville, Schley county, April 12th and 13th,
I Buena Vista, Marion county, April 14th and loth,
for the purpose of examining all white persons be_
f tween the ages of 17 and 50 who have not been ex
amined subsequent to the Ist of April, 1864; a;?o
under a requirement of Paragraph \ 111 General
Orders No. 86, current series, all slaves impressed by
authority of the act of Congress, approved February
17tb, 1854.
County enrolling officers are hereby notified to
have each of the classes above mentioned ready for
examination at the time specified.
ROB’T W. PARK, Surgeon P A C S,
WM- F. ABRAHAMS, Sugeon P A 08.
PHIL. B. MINOR, Surgeon P A C S.
march 7, —lOt
“EXTRACT.”
Headquarters Post and Dkfkncb3,_ )
Columbus, Ga-, March 6th, 1860, j
Special Orders,\
No. 55. )
Capt. G. G. Ragland, commanding Geh. Lee’s
Escort, having made application for the return of
all men of his command in this neighborhood absent
without leave, all such men are hereby ordered
report to tueir command forthwith or be eonsiie-’*
deserters. ,
* * * *
By command o£ „ V t
- LEON VON ZIMwEN,
Col. Commanding Post.
S. Isidore Guillet, A. A. A. G.
mar 7 3t ~
Cabbage! Cabbage!
•juST received —a lot of genuine Drumhead,
• J Early York and Green House Cabbage
Seed, in bulk. Also. Rum Baga Turnip Seed. At
RAYESXCiIOFT \ CO .'S.
91 Broad Street.
march 7 <-t