The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-02-22
NUMBER.sbl.

Observation-Disclosures a oftr6
lStephess aud Huntef that theif iAiep ptishs
are gssaandth their desire sincere - rsstss>
Peace and Union. q have not islt nyself
lat liberty to express even views ot -
swn, to account fer ny beiisg This
has placed me AZ an aw wsrd pssitisn,
which would have avoided BY net seeing
them in the first instan tanoe..--------.-----.-..
! fear new their going back without
any expfessien to- any snslin asthony,
will have bad influence 'sht TIC sane
time I, recsgniss the dificdltiss 81 tn a
way Of receiving them az fnfsrhasf con-
missioners at tsthis =tlns rsI de ust kauwe
! what to reesmmsad, /; am .,sorry, y hsw-
ever, that Mr, Lipesla sansst hsyssaat
interview with the tive named in tb is dos
patch, if net all three; new within sur
lines Their letter to ne was al thafths'es
President's instrsctisas ceAisnplafsd e.
secure their safe conduct, II they had
used the sane languages to Aajsr Eeksft.S
! lsigaed] -U1 GRANT, Ii. '6ss.ssa
This dispatch Of Gehs sGrsnt ehAagsd
my purpose and accordingly telegraph.
ed him and the Secretary Of State assfoI--
tlows: So l, a,i4, s.i, srnstsy ,f.e .ss
.a-..s. WAR. DEPARTMENT, 80, \, fE~
-. :, WAslHIsaros, s Is F'b, z, 1866. v,
| Gen. Grant, Csty Point: lssS seH ~ '"
| Say to the gsatiemsaHY that r whii meet
item personally at Fortress MsIrss assss
lssensas can get there. Sid bSa -aiisk
|, ESignsd] 1ss ias .s3sA IfNooLMsss4
rent IN cyphsr at a. M. .sssssi
On the night Of the ID. I .reachsd
Hampton Roads and found the .Secrets.
|ry Of State and Major Eckert on steam
or anchored Of tho shsre, and learned Or
them that the Rishnsud gents swersEntisi
ansther steamsr, alsss anchered asf sths
shore of the Reads, and that ,ths Sesreta5xs
ry Of State had net yet sees or comnu-
nicated with thsn. [ ascertained tlat
NJ .j. Eckert had literally csnplisd xifhss'
his instructions, and saw for the frs.
time the answer Of the Richmond gents
to him, which. in his despatchNteIn ne of
the lst, he characterizes as net -satisis,o
terlly, That answer is as fellows, 10 witt
g 4ITY PoIsT, Feb. ,lst, l86a,sae3
Ts Thomas I. Eckert, Majsr and 4. ID, C;,s
MAJoR-Yosr .pets, delivered. BY yssr, "A
self this day, has been considered, Ia.
reply We have to say that we were fil.
nished with copy of the letter of Presig -
dent Lincoln to FatP. Blair Of the 1SfH
of January, ult., another cspy Of vhiche~
is appended to your nets. Our intcntisnss :.
are contained in letter Of which ths
following is copy: sss.s = 'sA
81 RICHMOND, january %, 1865. .
Re In confermty with the letter of Mrs1s
Lincsln of which the foregoing 10 a cspys ~
you are to proceed to Washiagfsn CITY n,
for Informal csnference with him spoa
the issues involved In the existing war;.
and fer the purpose of securing peace 70 ls'
the TIVE eeunties -israz 5Fal ~ rse y
With great respect. your sb't servant, ts iiiw
So JEFFERsoN DAVIS. q
E The substantial object to be obtainea :
by the informal conference is to sscsr, Z
tain upsn what terms the existing war eau
be terminated favsrably. Oar instrur-
tions contemplate personal interview be-
tween President Lincsln and ourselves atlO
Washington, bat with this explanation
we are ready to meet any Person or rspsrg
sons that President Lincols may appsiat, ),
at such place as he may designate, Dur
earnest desire is that just and hsnora-,o7
bic peace may BE agreed upon, and svs eli,
ara prepared to receive or to submit q,
propositions which may possibly lead - 4
the attainment of that end. 7e ~,
respectfully yeurs,.- ~ .t.gst., !,
ALEX. IA. SrErurrs, s.sr
r. Al. T HrNTKR, .sas ).
t. j. A. CAMPBELL, 4
alss saw here for the Rrst time ahs ~
following note. addressed blythe Rich-s !
m end geHtIemen to Major Eckert: sslSss Il
Cry sPoINT, VA Feb. I'd, 1865. ssss'
z r. Eckert, Major and Aid.de. Cassp: "a
NAJoR-In reply to y.ar verbal sta,s- -
ment, that your instructions did pct alle;ysl q
ysu ts alter the sendities -ppspswhich, A.is
passport csula be given to US, We cay
that We are willing t. proceed te Fsrtrsss
Monroe and there te have an informal
cenferenee with any person or persons
that President Lincoln may appsint, 0nH
the basis of his letter TO- f sP Blair Sf 4
the 18th Of January ult . err uponlanyqso
ether terms srt conditions that he ma ys1s
hereafter propose, net inesasistent with ]
the essential principles -cf slf-goveEasa 7
nent and pspularlrights, upon which our "a
institutions are founded. 1T is eur saru. u
est wish to ascertais.' after a frss inters q
change Of ideas aRd informatisn,s upon cd
what principles and terms. If aDw sjast 1s
and honorable peace can be tsstab abiishsds sv
without ths further efasions of sblssd, a.,ia i
to contribute eur utmost effsrts to scssms
plishs such amend or ds9 .AE8f4dzakJsHi =
We think it better to add, shat in acs >,
cepting year passport Sve eare not 10 bsse
snderstesd as sonmitting ourselves
any thing, bat sts carry ito this ipfsrnal
csafereace the views and feeling above
expressed. ssies lis s9sessar ssaT
Very respectfully yours eta ,is3 kee
+ sxs A. III. .SrkPHxss, seT4
7 r. u. T. HUSTHkg - u
-s,sogrs rss-s SD A. sCAAsREIilas Hqass
| NoTE.-The above communicatisn Was
delivered to- ne at Fortress Nieusss AZ
4:30 p. d., Feb. I'd, by Lisst. Colssel
4 Babcsck, of Grants staff gs essis ?
ss T. 7. ECKERr, Maj. and A. d. g. egg
NEW YORK, Feb S-Ths Springfield