Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-14

T7TTITT
'he w iusinnt We were advised from the camp
q Lieutenant General Grant II at Alexander II
Sltpbcn', IL NJ. 7. Hunter and John A. Camp
ns'' were applying for leave 10 pass through the
uhes 10 washington, rs peace commissioners 10
c9hler with the President They were permitted
ny tho Lieutenant General 10 coae to his bead
quarters TO await there the decision Of the Pre-.
Tiuent. Major Egkert was sent down TO meet
INC parry from luchmond at General Grant
headquarters The Major was directed to de-
liver to them copy Of the Presidents letter to
Mt. Blair, with note to he addressed to them
and signed by the Major in which they were
iirectly inlvlmed that they should be allowed
90 pass our lines. They would be understood as
coming ior an informal conference upon the liasis
~ llo aiorenamed letter Of the 18th Of January
'o Mr. Blair II they should express their con.
synl to this condition in writing, thea Major
LcAcrt was directed TO give them safe conduct TO
orIrsss Monroe, where person coming from
tie President would INSET them. 1t being
th'hghs lfouable, from report Of the clnvufsa-
ION Nfh Lieutenant General Grant, that the
edmond party would 10 the manner prescribed
seeogt the condition mentioned, the Secretary
oi state was charged by the President with the
1olj 81 lcprtsensing this goVerAmenl in the q.
p2c'fd informal conference. The Secretary
aGtNtt az Fortress Monroe Ia tho night Of the
lot Of F.bruaiy. Major Ecksrt.met MIN on the
nortiag Of the I'd q February, vita the iufor.
nation that The persons who had come from
hlehinond had not accepted in writing the con.
d'Uon upon which be was allowed to give them
conduct TO Fortress Monroe. The Major had
given the same information by telegraph 10 the
Pfeidoat Mt Washington. On receiving tbiE
iuiormaiion the President prepared a telegram
u'tepung the Secretary 10 return to Washing
ION
lhe Secretary was preparing, at the same
momtnt, 10 go ieiuin, wilhou, waiting for infor-
NATION, from the President. But at this iunoture
Lieut. General GrGnt ielegraphed to the Secretary
oi Ner, as well ae to the Secretary Of State,
thst the party from Richmond had recousidered
anu accepted the condition rendered them thro'
Helor Eekert, and General Grant urgently
advised The President to confer in person with
the Richmond party. Under these circumstances
the Secretary, by the Presidents direction, re-
maiued at FoIts's Monroe, and the President
loiecd him there On the night Of The "a of
February
The Richmond party was brought down tho
james River In a United States steam trananorl
during the day, and the transport Was anchored
IN Hampton Roads on the morning Of the Sd
The President, attended by the Secretary Ie.
ce'yen Messrs stephens, Hunter and Campbell
On board the United States steam transporr
River Queen in Hampton Roads.
The conference was altogether informal
There Bas no attendance OF secretaries. elsrks
O. Witnesses Nothing was written or read
The conversation, although earnest and free.
Bus calm and courteous and kiud, on both sides
The kiehmsnd party approached the discussion
tA'htr indirectly, aud OF no time did they make
oa'egotlcal demands or tender formal stipulations
OF absolute feiusal, nevertheless during the
conference which lasted four hours, the several
points at issue between the government and the
w lfafin
Inlyi inteligenty and in an anlioable spirit
what the insuigent party seemed chiefly to favor
was peslponemen' Of the question Of separation
upon which the war was wnged and mutual
direction OF the efforts Of the government as
well as those of the insurgents, to some extrane.
Gus policy or scheme fer a season. during which
passions might be expected to suhside and the
armies be reduced, and trade and intaroourse
between the people Of both sections he resumed
II was suggested by them that through such
postponement we might now have Immediate
peace, with come, not very certain prospeot of
an ultimate satisfactory adjustment Of na;iticoI
relations between the government and tbs
Sta'es, seclon or people now engaged in con
met Wtn II. The suggestion, though deliberate
y eonsldsred, was nevertheless regarded he
tue PRESIDENT as one OF armistce or truoe onJ
he aunourced that we can agree to no cessation
or suspension Of hostiltes except on the
oasis OF the u'sbandment Of the insurgent
ioiees ard the restoration Of the national an
'horiiy throughout all the States in the Union
uoi.a'.lHiy and IN suoordinaton to the propo-
sl'ion which wac thus announced
Ihe anti- slavery policy of the United States
was reviewed in all its bearings, and the presi.
Ieht announced that he must not be expeoted IN
eepatt from the positions he had heretofore as
sulned III his proclamation OF emancipation and
o'h'r documents, us these positions wsre rai,
Grated in his annual message.
1t was further declared by tue President ,bat
.he complete restoration Of The national autbor.
ny everywhere was an indsp pensable eondiiion
=. auy assent on our part to whatever form of |
peace might be proposed The President 49, |
cured The other patty that while he nnst al |
mere TO these positions he would be prenarad a.
lsr as power was lodged with the Executive. to I
exercise hSeralily' Its power, however. il lin. /
i'eu ny the Clnslituiion, and when peace shouid |
pe ilaue congress must necessarily act in ra |
gard 10 appropriations Of money aud to the ad. |
misslOn OF representa- yes from the insurreeiion
ary States ''N' s0'iou'
lhe hlchmond party were tLen informed tha,
congress hsd on the 3lst nit, adopted, by CON.
su'u'lohai s, majority, joint resolution submit.
ting to the several States the pronosi,ion 10 |
abolish slavery throughoa; The Union and ,hst |
.nere IS every reason to expect that Il will soon
ne accepted by three-fourihs of the States an
as to become part Of the national organic az
ibe conference came to An cod by mutual ac
quiescence, without producing an agreement of
views upon the several matters discussed n,
any Of them. Nevertheless, it is perbaps of
some importance tina; we have been able 10 ami.
NIT our opinions ami view directly to prom nso.
insurgents aui 10 hear them in answer. In
courteous aud not uufricndly manner.
! I'M, -ir your obeliOnt servant,
Wa II