Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-13

Ga the morning OF the 80 the three gentle
men, Stephens. Hunter aud Campbell, came
aboard OF our steamer and had an interview with
the secretary of state and myself of several hours
duration. No question of preliminaries TO the
meeting was then and there made or mentioned
No other person Wa preset No papers were
exchanged or produced /; and il was in advance
agreed that the conversation was TO De informal
aud verbal merely. Ga our part the whole sub
stance Of the instructions 20 the secretary Of
state herein before rected, was stated and insist
cd upon and nothing was said inconsistent there
with, while by the other party 1t was.Dot said
that in any event any condition they ever
would consent 10 reunion, and yet they equally
ON e 10 Gecl ne that they would not so consent
They seemed 70 desire r postponement of that
question, ard the adoption OF some other course
first which. as some oe them seemed TO argue
might or might rot ealto re union but which
course thought would amount 10 an in6efn-
lie posponement The conference ended with
out result
The foregoing containing as is believed, all
the information sought. is respectfully submitted
rSigueil a. LINCOLN.
Executive Mansion. Feb 10. 1865
VA sEwArDs IND lRsrMEST.
The following was Enclosed IN the message
sent to the Senate:
To the President:
Thy secretary of state, to whom was referred a
resolution Of the Senate of the 9Th inst re-
questing the president OF the United States, II.
in his opinion, IL ia not Incompatible with the
public interests to furnish ~ the Senate any in
formation in his possession .ohcerning the recent
conversation or COMMUNICATIONS with certain
renels, said 10 have occurred under executive
sanction including the communications with the
rebel Jefferson Davis and any correspondence
relating thereto, has the honor to report that the
Senate NAV properly be referred TO special
message of the president bearing upon the subject
OF the resolution. aud trans ;ntted TO the House
this day
Appended to the report ~ copy OF The in
structons which has been addressed 10 Charles
Francis Adams. + q, eny"y extraordinary aud
minister pleaipotentiary OF the United States al
London, and which is the only correspondence
found in this department touching the subject re-
ferred to in the resolution.
| Respectfully submitted
Sgnei WM H SEWARD.
Department of State.
WASHINGTON February 10.
M. SEWARD EXPLAINS TUE NEGOTIATIONS TO
MINISTER ADAMS.
Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE. WASHINGTON
Febrvary 9
! Sn-It il a truism that in times of peace there
are always i0stgators OF war So soon "a war
begins, there are citizens who emphaticallv de
mand negotiations OF peace. The advocates of
war, after an agitation, longes or shorter, gener-
ally gain their fearful cad, though the war de
clarec i not unfrequentiy unnecesss ry and un-
wise So peace agiiatOrs in time of war ul,i
matey bring about abandonment of the con-
/ Aict, sometimes without securing the advsnta-
/ ges which were originally expected from the con-
hict. The agitators for war In time of peace.
ard for peace in time of war, are not necessarily
or perhaps ordinarily unpstriotic in their purpo-
! ses motives Results alone determine wheth-
er thew are wise or unwise The treaty of peace
! concluded at Gusdaloupe. Hidllgo, was secured
By irregular negotiation under the direction Of
/ the government Some of the Efforts which
! have been made to bring about negotiations with
view to end our civil war, are known 70 the
! whole world, because they have employed foreign
as well as domestic agents.
o hers, with whom yog have had TO deal con
! II ientally, are known to yourself. although tbey
/ have not publicly tTanspiIed Other efforts have
occurred here. which known only TO the per-
sons actually moving in them, and to this gov
/ eminent. | am now to give you for your inior
nation an account OF an affair of the ss me gen.
eral character, which recently received much at
tention here. and which doubtless will excite in
/ qury abroad
A few DAYS ago, Francis T. Blair, Esq, ob-
! tanned from The president simple leave TO pass
through our lines. without definite views known
I 10 the government
Mr Blair visited Richmond, and-on his return
7 he shos el to Il. president letter which Jeff
Davis had write. 70 Mr. Blair, ia which Davis
wrote that Mr. Bar was at liberty to say to
! President Lincoln that he Davis was now, as
ne had always been, wiling 10 send coommision-
ers il assured that they would DE received. or TO
receive any thst should DC sent; that he not
disposed to find obstacles in forms; that he would
send commissioners 10 confer with the president
with = view to the restoration OF peace between
the two couutres il lie could be assured that they
would De received
Toe president. therefore, on the 18th of Janu-
ary addressed note to NJ Is air. in which the
president. alter acknowledging that he bad read
the note Of Davis, said that Ee was, is aud al
says should be, willing to receive any agents
that Nj DAVIS or any other influential man now
actually resisting the su.hOiity OF the cove n
meut might send - confer informally with the
president with yieS 10 the restoration OF peace
10 the peoyle or our common country. Mr..
Blair vi-itei ae--noi.d with this letter aud ihtn
again came back TO Washington
On the 29,h ult We were advised from tie
camp Of Leu. Gen. Grant that A H. Stephens,
L VI. T Hunter, and J Csmpoeii were ap
r'ving for leave 20 pass through cur lines 70
Washington as peace cGmraissiouers 10 ceuieF
with the president
They were permitted by Gen Grantsto come
10 bis he Gqusrte-- TO NV lit there tie decision #
the president Msjor Ecsert WIS sent down TO
meet the party from Richmond ~ Gen Grants
headquarters The u-ior wss directed TO deiiv
er 70 them q cory OF the president letter 70 NT
Biair. si,h a note 70 be addressed TO them aud
signed ov the msjor in which they we're directly
informed that should they 0e allowed % pass ocT
lines. they would De understood a. coming for
an informal conference. upon the basis OF the