The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-23 00:00:00

" The Richmond party were then informed that Congress
had, on the 31st ult , adopted by a constitutional majority,
a joint resolution submitting to the several State the pro-
position to abolish slavery throughout the Union, and that

there is every reason to expect that it will be accepted by
three-fourths of the States, so as to become a part of the

national organic law.

" The conference came to an end by mutual acquiesence,
without producing an agreement of views upon the several

matters discussed or any of them. Nevertheless, it is per-
haps of some importance that we have been able to submit
our opinions and views directly to prominent insurgents,
and to hear them in answer in a courteous and not un-
friendly manner.—. 4 am, &c.,

"WILLIAM H. SEWARD."

THE CONFEDERATE ACCOUNT.
The Richmond Sentinel of the Bth inst. thus re-
ports the speech of President Davis at the mass
meeting at Richmond on the 6th inst. :
" His Excellency the President of the Confederate States
being on the stand, was loudly called for and went to the
front. His appearance was the signal for prolonged and
enthusiastic cheering. Round after round of cheers went
up from all parts of the building, and every vocal energy
of the vast assembly seemed taxed to its utmost in swelling
the tremendous acclamations. The President meantime
gracefully bowed his thanks to the different parts of the
audience, and after the inspiring outburst of sympathy
and enthusiasm had at length subsided he proceeded to
address the assembly. We pretend to no more than to give
the substance of some of his remarks.
" The PRESIDENT said that if he were there to assist, in
celebrating some great and decisive victory to our arms, or
in hailing the establishment of peace, he should have been
most happy. But in times like these which are now upon
us, when dangers confront us and our path is beside the lee
shore and the breakers, to witness the manifestation of such
a spirit on the part of his countrymen as was there displayed
was Mtn e than nappmess—it wirsi-c-joy:lie had alTvays
looked with pride upon his countrymen. He had rejoiced in
their patriotism and their courage. But he was prouderstill
when he contemplated the fortitude which plucks flowers
from reverses, and beats high with hope in the presence of
fresh calls upon its courage and endurance. The President
said that it was meet that the spirit which inspired this
meeting should find its first utterance in Richmond. Here
every day were heard the cannons of the enemy. In-
numerable hillocks in the neighbouring cemeteries tell of
the brave men from every State in the Confederacy who
have given their lives for their country. On one of the
hills of this city stands that sacred building in which
Patrick Henry and his compatriots pledged life for liberty.
Here, too, was the capital of the Confederacy and of that
proud old State which had been truly termed the 'mother
of statesmen.' If the spirit which had been here indi-
cated shall meet with a general response, and prove to
be the universal sentiment of the land, of which he did
not doubt, then, indeed, would he feel that we are on the •
very verge of success. (Loud cheers.) We should not
again belinsulted by such terms of peace as the arrogance of
the enemy has lately proposed ; but ere many months had
elapsed our successes would cause them to feel that when
talking to us they were talking to their masters. (Great
applause.) Does any one, he inquired, who has seen the
Confederate soldiers, believe they are willing to fail ? If
so, the suspicion is most unjust. Go to our camps, go to our
guarded lines, go where our pickets hold their dangerous
watch, and to the posts where our sentinels tread their
weary rounds, and you will find in none of those the place
for grumblings and complaints. The resolutions of our
soldiers exclaim, with Patrick Henry, Victory or death !'
It is in the crowded mart where those are found whose
pockets are stuffed with illgotten gains, that you find the
persons who grumble and complain. (Applause.) The
progress of events had, however, brought a pressure even
upon these which would urge them to their duty. Their
treasure is in danger, and their only security for it is in
performing their duty to their country. The time for
argument, said the President, is past. The duty that
remains is to stand to our arms. He had just made an
effort to secure peace, as he had done several times before.
' He had made it in the cause of humanity and the country.
At the very organisation of our Government, in 31.ontgo-
mery, his first care was to send commissioners to Washmgton.
They were rejected. At a later period he had requested the
second officer under the Government (Vice-President Ste-
phens), to seek a conference, the avowed object being to
make arrangements for the proper treatment and exchange
of prisoners, but in addition to, and behind that, it was the
object to institute, if possible, negotiations for peace. But our
Vice-President was refused an audience, not even allowed to
approach the throne. Since that time he had in various
ways, and on every proper occasion, proclaimed the desire
of this country for peace, and his own anxiety to secure
it, but, until lately, no opening had presented for an ad-
vance toward negotiation. This recent opportunity he had
embraced. He did it in the hope that some plan of accom-
modation might be agreed upon. He would be less than
man if he had not felt an earnest desire, a yearning anxiety
to relieve the country from the sufferings of the war, and
to send our soldiers to their homes. Anything honourable,
and recognising our independence as a basis, would have
been gladly acceded to. The person did not know him who
might suppose that, under any circumstances, he would con-
sent to reconstruct the late Union. We had now learnt
the terms on which the enemy are willing to accord peace.
We are required to make an unconditional surrender. We
are not even allowed to go back to them as we came out,
but are required to take just what a conqueror may choose
to give the conquered. Man proposes, but God disposes. Re-
lying on the courage and devotion of his countrymen and
reverently appealing to Heaven for its aid to our cause, the
President said his confidence was firm that God would abase
the arrogance of our enemies and crown our exertions with
triumph. President Lincoln had, indeed, promised that in

he enforcement of his laws for the confiscation of ourpro-

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perty and the hanging of our officers his policy would be
' liberal.' (Laughter.) Beecher, in a late sermon at 'Wash-
ington, had pictured a long line of rebels on their way to
the gallows; and President Lincoln's heart had, perhaps,
softened at the length of the procession. The leaders whom
they propose to hang are your servants, and they are not
worthy to be your servants, the President said, unless they
aro willing to bo sacrificed in your cause, eve n d
n uto eath.
(Applause.) If the power of the enemy were ten times
greater and ours ten times less than it is, there are still
some rights of which they could not dispossess us—the right
beat citizens united
iu
to maintain our personal honour, and the right to fill an
ed
country's so closely
be
honourable grave. (Loud applause.) If faithful to this end
we shall stand proud among the proudest of earth. Never
so
lbeonfgorae
war. Never
Nitheyy.
epr
Vepfolererheamvaeina
com-
posed its armies. Our revolutionary forefathers were not
united in a concord so perfect asours—
thoug h 1
is
had less pressure upon them, the British rulers
true they
humane than those of our present enemies,
being more
i
gene-
rals belonging to a school that recognisedes, and their
the amenities of
war. History affords no parallel, the
to the struggle which our country President continued,
cheer-
fulness with which our people rhaveisnlaking—
to the
the courage With which our borne Sacrifices, and
armies have marched to the

there on the night of the 2d of February. The Richmond
party was brought down the James river in a United States
steamer transport during the day, and the transport was
anchored in Hampton Roads. On the morning of the 3d
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 wes altogether informal. There was no
attendance of secretaries, clerks, or other witnesses.
Nothing was written or read. The conversation, although
earnest and free, was calm and courteous and kind on both
sides. The Richmond party approached the discussion
rather indirectly, and at one 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 favour was a postpone-
ment of the question of separation, upon which the war
is waged, and a mutual direction of the efforts of the
Government' as well as those of the insurgents to some
extrinsic policy or scheme for a season, during which pas-
sions might be-expected to subside, and the armies be re-
duced, and trade and intercourse between the people of both
sections be resumed. It was suggested by them that through
such postponement we might now have immediate peace,
with some not very certain prospect of an ultimate satis-
factory adjustment of political relations between the Go-
vernment and the States, section 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 can
agree to no cessation or suspensionof hostilities except on
the basis of the disbandment of the insurgent forces and the
restoration of the national authority throughout all the
States in the Union. Collaterally, and in subordination to
the proposition which was thus announced, the anti-slavery
policy of the United States was reviewed in all its bearings,
and the President announced that he must not be expected
to depart from the positions he has heretofore assumed in
his proclamation of emancipation and other documents, as
these positions were reiterated in his annual message. It
was further declared by the President, that the complete
restoration of the national authority everywhere was an
indispensable condition of any assent on our part to what-
ever form of peace might be proposed. The President
assured the other party, that while he must adhere to these
positions he would be prepared, so far as power is lodged
with the Executive, to exercise liberality. Its power, how-
ever, is limited by the constitution, and, when peace should
be made, Congress must necessarily act in regard to appro-
priations of money and to the admission of representatives
from the insurrectionary States.