The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-10
THE LATEST
THE PEACE MISSION.
BY TELEGRAPH.

ana the Rebel OmmissiOners.--
The Rebels had Nothing to Of-
fer Excepting on the Basis OF
RecOgniti0n...Nlr. Lincoln In.
formed them that Recognition
was Out OF the QuestiOn.-.The
Movement Probably a Failure.
BALTIMORE, Feb. A special dispatch
to the american from Annapolis, after an
nouncing the arrival there of President
Lincoln and Secretary Seward, says there
was a rumor Oh board the steamer that
brought them that an armistice of thirty
days would take place, and that the pros
poets of an early settlement of our diff
culties were brighter. This is, of course,
all rumor.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-President Lin
coin and Secretary Seward arrived here
| this morning from Fortress Monroe. They
had an informal conference with Stephens,
Hunter and Campbell on board the steam
er River Queen in Hampton Roads.
The conference occupied four hours, and
| it is positively known to have resulted in
no change of attitude either on the part OF
our own government or that of the rebels.
In other words, it was failure.
The Worlds Washington special says 1t
! is we'll known here tonight that on Thurs
day the President, Secretary Seward, and
the Richmond Commissioners had a long
| interview at Fortress Monroe, and the
radical congressman who were yesterday
sneering at the whole peace affair, do not
hesitate to admit to Dight that their faith
| is now the other way.
1t is reported the President and Secre-
tary Seward will return before Sunday.
The double-leaded editorial on peace in
the Chronicle to-day, rendered emphatic
by its large capitals, has attracted atten-
ton everywhere, and is regarded as being
officially inspired
New York, Feb 4.-The 1Tibune's
City Point dispatch dated the 1st, says it
is understood here that Mr.. Stephens is
instructed by jeff. Davis and his cabinet
| to make peace on the best terms he can,
but to make peace.
1t is also understood here that Mr.. Ste
phens will not return to the COnfederacy
if he does not succeed in the object of his
mission.
| From various demonstrations in front of
the 9th corps last night and this morning,
it is apprehended by some that the rebels
intend to make an attack to-day, and by
others that they are about evacuating Pc
tersburg.
There was considerable artillery firing
last evening, brought on by the enemy,
particularly in the neighbOrhood OF bate
ny No. 5. | think, however, that all dem
constructions of strength by the rebels at
this time are for the purpose OF giving
tone to Mr.. Stephens peace mission.
The Times Washington special says it is
| understood here that Lincoln and Seward
are On their way back, but nothing is now
known of the result of the conference
New YORK, Feb. 8.-The Times Wash
ington special says Mr.. Seward reached
Fortress Monroe in advance of Messrs.
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell. Upon
the arrival of these gentlemen, they were
at once invited to an interview, and in
formed Mr.. Seward of their desire to pro-
| coed to Washington for the purpose of
discussing the question of peace with the
President.
Mr.. Seward informed them that it was
the Presidents wish that the discussion
should take place at Fortress Monroe, and
that he had been sent to meet them at
that point upon that subject.
The Commissioners pressed with cOnsid-
cradle earnestness for leave to visit WASH
| ington, and finally alleged that their Gov
| eminent had consented to send them only
| in consequence of Mr.. Rlair's assurance
that they should have personal interview
with President Lincoln.
Mr. S. assured them that this pledge
should be fulfilled, and at once telegraphed
to the President that bis presence was ne
cessary.
After Mr.. Lincoln's arrival the confer
ence lasted four hours, and was perfectly
friendly and good tempered throughout.
On our side the conversation was mainly
conducted by the President, on theirs by
Mr.. Hunter, Mr.. Stephens occasionally
taking part.
The rebel commissioners said nothing
whatever of their personal views or
wishes, but spoke solely and exclusively for
their government, and at the outset, and
throughout the conference, declared their
entire lack of authority to make, receive
or consider any proposition whatever look
ing toward close of the war, except on
the basis of a recognition of the independ-
ence of the Confederate States as a pre-
liminary condition.
The President presented the subject to
them in every conceivable form suggesting
the most liberal and considerate modifca-
ton of whatever in the existing legislation
and action OF the United States Govern
ment might be regarded as specially hos
tile to the rights and interests or wounding
to the pride of the Southern people, but in
no single particular could he induce them
to swerve for moment from their de-
mand for recognition.
They did not present this conspicuously
as resting on their own convictions or
wishes, but as the condition which their
government had made absolutely ;ndis-
pensable to any negotiations or discussions
whatever concerning peace.
President Lincoln, on the other hand
informed them at every point that such