Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-14
3. sRwARD To MR. ApAMs.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHHGToN, February 9, 1865.

I
DEPARTMENT. OF STATE,
IT, WsAAs7hlHGToN, WAS February 9, 1865. I
Sir: 1t is a truism, that in time of peace
there are always instigators of war: 40
soon as a war begins there are citizens
who emphadcally demand negotiations of
peace. The advocates Of war, aftefts Ia az.
itstion longer or shorter, generally gain
their fearful end, though the war declared
is not untrequently unnecessary and unwise.
So peace agitattone, in time Of war, ulti.
mately bring about an abandonment of the
conflict, sometimes without securing the
advantages which were originally expected
from the conflict. The Rgilators for war
in time of peace, and for peace in time of
war, are not necessarily, or perhaps ordi-
naFily, uppatriotic In their purposes or
motives. Results alone determine whether
they are wise or 1nWise. The treaty of
peace concluded at Guadalupe Hidslgo
was secured by an irregular negotiation.
under the sanction of the government. lr5
Some of the efforts which have been
made to bring about negotiations with a
view to end our civil war are known to the
| whole world, because they have employed
| foreign as well as domestic agents. 9th
ere, with whom you have to deal confiden-
tially, are known to yourself, although
they have not publicly trsnspired. Other
efforts have occurred here, which are
known only to the persons actually moving
in them and to this government. l am
now to give for your information, an ac-
oount of an affair of the same general char
acter which recently received much at
tention heres and which doubtless will ex-
cite inquiry abroad .....-.
| a few days ago Francis P. Blair, ESQ,
4 70 Maryland, obtained from the President
simple leave TO pass through our lines
without definite views known to the gov
ernment. Mr.. Blair visited Richmond,
and on his return no shovel to the Ptesi.
dent a lettsr%which Jefferson Davis had
/ written to Mr.. Blair, in which Davis wrote
that Mr.. Blair was at liberty to say to
President Lincoln that Davis was now, as
he always had been, willing to send COM
missiousrs, if assured they would be re =.
ceived, or to receive any that should be
sent; that he was not disposed to find OBJ
stacles in forms; that he would send COM
missioners to confer with the President
with view to the restoration of peace be-.
tween the woicountries If he. could be as
sured they would be received.
/ The President, therefore, on the 18th
day of January, addressed note to Mr..
Blair, in which the President, after &C
knowledging that he had read the note of
Mr. Davis, said that he was, is, and al
ways should be willing to receive any
iagents that Mr.. Davis OF any other infu-
entail man now actually resisting the su.
thority of the government, 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 Wash
Iington.
II On the 29th ult.awe were advised from
the camp OF Lieutenant General Grant that
Alexander q. Stephens, R. NJ. 7. Hunter
and John A. Campbell, were applying for
leave to- pass through the line6 to WASH
4 ingtop, as peace Nommissioners, to confer
with the President They were permitted
by thes5Lieuten4nt Gensral to come to his
headquarters TO await there the decision oi
the President. Major Eckert was sent
down to meet the party from Richmond 81
General ant'ssbeadeusrters. The Major
was directed 10 dalfFer to them copy ol
the Presidents sletter to- Mr.. Blair, with q
note to be addressed to them, and signed
: by the Major, in which they were directly
informed that if they should be allowed tC
pass our lines, they would be understood al
coming for an informal conference on the
basis of. the atorenamed 4stter of the 18th
of January to Mr.. Blair. If they shoule
4 iexpress their assent to this condition II
: writing, then Major Eckert was directed e
give them safe cUud1ctito Fortress Monroe
where person coming from the Pfesi
J dent would meet them. It being though
probable, from report of their converse
tion with Lit. Gen. Grant, thatthe Richmond
party would, IN the manner prescribed
o accept the condition mentioned, the Sec.
q retary of State was charged BY the Presi
!, dent with the duty of representing thi
d government in the expected Informal cou
Iterence. TIE Secretary arrived at FOrtres
MonFoe on the night of the list day of FEB
ruary.a Major Eekert met him on thu
morning of the a Of February with th'
Information that hspersous who had conn
y trom Richmond had not accepted in Wri
: ting the condition upon which he was al
q lowed to- give them conduct to Fortress
], Monroe. The Major had given the ssm'
q Information by Telegraph to the Presiden
: ct Washington. On receiving this intor
]. nation the President prepared telegram
directing the Secretsry to return to}Wash
tugtou. The Secretary was preparing q
: the same moment to so return, withou
: waiting for information from the President
j but At this jRncture Lie0tensnt-Genera
Grant telegraphed to the Secretary Q
War, as well as TO the Secretary OF State
: that the party from Richmond had recon
!, Isidered and accepted the condition teudefe'
. them through Msjor Eekert, and Genera
4 Grant urgently advised the President /
/, teonter in person with the Richmond party
Under these circ1mstsnces, the Secretary
u hu 4Ea@ s3S..aoFior RamRiaRd q