The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-02-16
Something GE3ciaE About the
Peace Question.

The President has sent into Congress a
full and detailed narrative of the late
Peace Conference, covering all the CORE
spondencc on either side with regard to
the subject. The document is too long
for our columns, so we are obliged to
forego the pleasure of printing it this
week.
We learn from this narrative that the
Peace negotiations were the result of Dir.
Blair's mission to Richmond. That gen
tleman was given no authority to speak
to the rebel leaders on behalf of the Gov
ernmeut, further than to say that Peace
Commissioners would be sent or received
whenever it was known the rebels desired
to end the war by a reconstruction Of the
Union. 1t was in pursuance of general
understanding to this effect that Jefferson
Davis despatched Messrs. Stevens, Hun
ter ard Campbell to confer with our au-
thorities, These Commissioners arrived
in front of our lines on the Goth ult,
where considerable correspondence took
place before it was decided to admit them
Indeed, the President at one time had
concluded to send them back, thinking
| they did not desire peace on any available
terms. But at this juncture, Gen. Grant
telegraphed that, after long conversation
with the Commissioners, he was satisfied
they were honest in their professions, and
desired Peace on the basis of the Union
This changed the purpose OF the Presi-
ident, and he decided to meet them. The
conference took place at Hampton Roads
on the Sd, and, as is well known, was a
failure. The following is the Presidents
version Of the result Of the meeting:
son the morning of February 3, the
three gentlemen, Messrs. Stephens, Hun
ter, and Campbell, came aboard of our
steamer, and had an interview with the
Secretary of State and myself, of several
hours duration. No question Of prelim-
iEaries to the meeting was then and there
made or mentioned. No other person was
present No papers were exchanged or
produced. and it was in advance agreed
that the conversation was to be informal
and verbal merely, On our part the whole
substance Of the instructions to the Secre-
tary of State, hereinbefore recited,
was stated and insisted upon, and nothing
was said inconsistent Herewith; while by
the other party it was not said that in any
event, or on any condition, they ever
would consent to reunion, and yet they
equally omitted to declare that they would
not consent. They seemed to desire a
postponemenu of that question and the
! adoption of some other course first, which,
as some of them seemed to argue, might
or might not lead to reunion, but which
course we thought would amount 10 an
Indefinite postponement. The conference
ended without result"
The instructions to the Secretary of
| State" adverted to were as follows:
Hon. Fm. II. Se1card, Secretary of State:
You will proceed to Fort Monroe, Va,
there to meet and informally confer with
! Messrs stephens, Hunter, and Campbell
! on the basis of my letter to L. p Blair,
Esq, of January Is, 1865, a copy of which
you have. You will make known to them
that three things are indispensable, to wit :
First. The restoration of the national
authority throughout all the States.
Second. No receding by the Executive
of the United States on the slavery ques-
tion from the position assumed thereon in
the late annual message to Congress and in
preceding documents.
Third. No cessation of hostilities short
| Of an end of the war and the disbanding
| of all the forces hostile to the Government
You will inform that all propositions OF
! theirs not inconsistent with the above will
be considered and passed upon in a spirit
Of sincere liberality. You will hear all
they may choose TO say, and report it to
me. You will not assume to definitely
consummate anything. Yours, &c,
| A. LINCOLN.
| OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CONFEDERATE CoNIMIs-
SIoNERs.
| We subjoin the report Of the rebel
! Commissioners
To the Senate and House Of Representatives Of
TIE Confederate States Of -4merica;
Having recently received written
notification which satisfied me that the
President of the United States was dis
2osed to confer informally with unofficial
ageh is that might be seut by me with a view
to the restoration of peace, requested
the Hon. Alexander II. Stevens, Hon. r.
NJ. t. Hunter, AM Hon j. a. Campbell,
to proceed through our lines, and to hold
conference with Mr. LiGco.n, or such
L IL ! . /