Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-14
The Late Peace Conference.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.

The President Of the United States sent into
Congress on Friday last, the result or rather the
correspondence had with tho insurgsnt Peace
Commissioners in Hampton Roads, last week
The documents are numerous, and quite tedious
to the anxious reader. We have, therefore. avoid
ed their publication hero in detail and give.
instead, tho letter Of Mr.. Seward, Secretary of
State to Mr.. Minister Adams, in which the
matter is clearly aud ,uccinetly swmmed up-
1t is as follows:-
WAsHISoTos, Feb. 10, 1861
The following was inclosed in the message
sent to the Senate; -
10 The FresideHf: The Secretary Of State. TO
whom was referred resolution Of the Senate Of
me ON INST, requesting the President Of the
United States, If in his opinion not incompa,ible
with the public interests, to furnish to the sem
ate any information in his possession concerning
recent conversations or communications with
certain rebels said to have occurred under Ere.
eutive sanction, including communications with
the rebel Jefferson Davis, and any oorreapou-
deuce relating thereto, has the honor to lenorl
that the Senate may properly he referred 10
special message Of the Presden, bearing upon
the subject Of the resolution and transmitted 10
the House this dsy.
Appended 10 the report ia eonv of nm Il,
shueiion which has been addressed TO Charles
Francis Adams Esq, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minlster Plsnipotentiary Of the Uuited States.
at London, and which is the only correspondepee
iounu IN this Department touching the subject
referred to in the resolution.
Respectfully submitted,
WN. II. SEWARD
-, department of State, Washington, February
Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
DsParinenl Of State, W0shiHgton, F,b. qfh.
le65.-Sir; 1t is truism that in time of mace
there are always instigators Of war. So soon as
war eeglns there are citizens who impatiently
demand negotiations Of peace The adVooates
oil war, after an ogitation longer or shorter
generally gain their fearful end, though The war
declared is not nhequenily unnecessary md
unwise. So peace agitAtors in time of war u
nmatey bring about an abandonment of CON
Met, sometimes without securing the advantages
Whieh were originally expected from The conflict,
Inc agitators TOR war in time of peace and for
peace in time Of war are not necessarily or nor.
maps ordinarily unpatriotio in their purposes or
motives. Results alone determine whether thew
ore wise or unWise. The treaty of peace CON
cluded at Gaudaloupe- -Hidalgo was secured Lv
an irregular negotiation under the door Of the
government. Some Of the efforts which bave
been made TO bring about negotiations with a
view TO end our civil war, are known TO the Wbnla
world, because they have employed foreign as
well as domestic agents Others with whom Won
nave had 10 deal confdentiany are known
10 yourself, although they have not nuh-
licly iranspired. Other efforts have occurred
mere which are known only to the persons actu-
az moving 10 them, and to this government. I
Sm now 10 give for your Information an account
of an affair OF the same general character. which
recently received much attention here. and
which doubtless will excite inquiry abroad. 4
rev days ago Francis p. Blair ESQ, of Marv-
land, obtained from the President simple leave
to pass through cur military lines without IrG.
mite Views known 10 the government. Mr.. blair
visited Richmond, and on his return he showed
to the President letter which Jefferson Davis
had written to Mr.. Blair, in which Mr.. Davis
wrote that Mr.. Blair was o. liberty to saw To
Presldent Lincoln that Mr. Davis was now. as
he always had been, willing to send commission
ers II assured they would 10 received, or TO re-
ceiVe any that should be sent; that he was not
disposed TO Ind obstacles 10 forms. lie would
SEND commissioners TO confer with tho President
with view TO the restoration Of peace between
the two eounlrieF, il be conld be sssured they
would be received.
fhe President, therefore, on the 18th day %
January addressed note to Mr. B'air. in which
lne PRESIDENT, after acknowledging that he lad
reAa Tue note OF Mr. Davis, said that he was aui
Always ehou,d be Willitg TO receive any sRen,
tnht hr' DaVls, or any ether Influential person
now actually resisting the authority of the gov
ernment, m ght send 10 confer informally with
the President. With a view 10 the restotaiion of I
peace TO the people Of our common country
Ar' air visited Richmond with this letter