Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 10.
SENATE.

bEhAIEs
The following was enclosed in the mes
sage sent to the Senate;
To the President:
The Secretary of State, to whom was re-
ferred a resolution Of the Senate, of the sth
inst, requesting the President Of the Uni
ted States, if in his opinion not incompsti-
BILE with the public interests, to furnish to
the Senate any information in his posses
sion concerning conversation or commune
cations with certain rebels, said to have oc-
cured under Executive sanction, including
with the rebel Jefferson
Davis and any correspondence relating
thereto, has the honor to report that the
Sena'e be referred to a special message of
the President bearing upon the subject of
the resolution and transmitted to the SEN
ate this day.
Appended to the report is copy of the
instructions, which has been addressed to
to Charles Francis Adams, Esq, envoy eI-
and minister plenipotentiary
Of the United States at London, and
which is the only correspondence found
in this Department touching the. subject
referred to in the resolution.
Respectfully submitted,
TSigned7 VIM. Il. SEWARD.
Dept. OF STATE, WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
From Mr.. Seward to Mr.. Adams, De-
partment of State, Washington, Feb. 9th,
sIR-It is truism that in times of peace
here are always instigatorsof war, so soon
as war begins there are citizens who are
emphstically demanding negotiations OF
peace.
The advocates of war, after an sgitsti on
longer or shorter, generally gain their,
fearful end, though the war declared is
not unfrequently unnecessary and unWise.
So peace agitators, in time Of war ulti-
mately bring about an abandonment of
the conflict, sometimes without securing
the advantages which we're originally ex-
pected from the conflict. The sgitstors
for war in time of peace, and for peace in
time of war, are not ordinarily unpatriot-
ic in their purposes or motives. Remarks,
alone, determine whether they are wise or
unwise.
The treaty of peace conducted at Gsu-
dsloupe was secured by an irregular
Other efforts have occurred here which
are known only TO the persons actually
moving in them and to this Government.
I am now to give for your information an
account of affair of the same general char
scter which recently received much stten-
ton here, and which doubtless excites en-
quiry abroad. A few days sgo Francis P.
Blair, Esq, 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 he showed to the President
q letter which Jefferson Davis had writ
ten to him Mr.. Blair in which Davis
wrote that Mr.. Blair was st liberty to say
to President Lincoln that Davis was now,
as he always has been, willing to send
commissioners, if assured they would be
or to receive any that should be
sent; that'he was not disposed to find OBJ
stacles in forms; that he would send COM
missions to confer with the President with
8 view to q restoration of peace between
the two countries, if he could be assured
they would be received. The President
on the 18th Of January, address,
ed note to Mr.. Blair, in which the Pres
ident, after acknowledging that he had
resd the note of Mr.. Davis, said that he
was, and always should be, willing to re-
,eive any agents that Mr.. Davis, or any
other influential man now resisting the
authority of the government, might lead
10 confer informally with the President,
with view to the restoration Of peace to
.he people of our common country.
Mr.. Blair visited Richmond with this
etter, and then again came back to Wash
ngton.
On the 10th ultimo we were advised,
rom the camp of Lieutensnt-G General
Grant, that A. n. Stephens, r. M. 7. Hun
er and ]. A. Ca npbell were applying for
cave to pass through the lines to Wash
ngton, as Peace Commissioners to confer
With the President. They were permitted
3y the Lieutenant General to come to his
to await there the decision of
he President.
Msior Eckert was sent to meet the party |
rom Richmond at General Grants head
quarters. The Major was directed to de-
iver to them copy Of the Presidents |
etter to Mr.. Blair, with note to be sd-
lressed to them and signed by the Major,
n which they were directly informed
hat they should be allowed to pass
through our lines. They would be |
understood as coming for an informal con-
erence upon the basis of, the sfore-nsmed |
etter of the 18th of January, to Mr.. Blair. |
f they express their assent to this eondi-
ion, in writing, Major Eckert was
lirected TO give them safe conduct TO
Fortress Monroe, where person coming
rom the President would meet them. 1t
,eing thought probable from report of
her conversation with General Grant |
hat the Richmond party would meet US
4 the manner prescribed.
The Secretary of State Wss charged by
he President with the duty Of repre- |
enting this Government in the expected |
Informal Conference
The Secretary arrived at Fortress Mon
oe in the night of the first day of Feb
usry. Major Eckert met him on the
morning of the I'd, with the information
hat the persons who had come from Rich
nond had not accepted, in writing, the |
conditions upon which he was allowed to
i've them conduct to Fortress Monroe.
rhe Major had given the same informs-
ion, by telegraph, to the President at
Washington. On receiving this informa-
ion the President was preparing 8 tele-
ram directing the Secretary to return to
Washington.
The Secretary was preparing st the
anne time to so return without |
waiting for information from the Presi-
lent, but at this juncture General Grant
elegrsphed to the Secretary of War, as
veil as to the Secretary Of State, that the
party had re-eonsidered and &C
,epted the condition rendered them through .
Major Eckert, snd General Grant urgently