The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-02-15

justed satisfactorily. Coulc they do more
short o. an absolute surrsnder? Ant
who supposed the interview took place with
any expectation Of an entire abandonment
Of cause now supported by 500, 900 arm.
ed men, Of our own blood and as sensitive
as ourselves. IT'S a pity that such m
exposure Of the obstinacy Of "the Govern.
ment" should have been placed on record.
The result is damaging to US. The South
have their choice of serfdom or death and
we yell know which we ourselves would
choose. They are already Strengthening
their armies by conscripting any thing that
can walk; while the north, after such q
pheasant" interview between the President
and the rebel commissioners, are growing
indifferent as to the future. In the Ian.
guagc Of distinguished Republican gen.
tleman Of an adjoining county, "lf Abe
and JEFF. and Seward and Stephens can
GET together and have good time with
each other, why not have an armistice and
LET ali the rest Of US in for peace talk ? I
don't want to 60 to war now?"
But here are the closing paragraphs OF
Mr.. Stewards dispatch to Adams:
ION the morning Of the Sd the President,
attended by the Secretary, received Messrs.
Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell on board
the United States transport River Queen,
in Hampton roads. The conference was
altogether informal. There was no attend.
ance of secretaries, clerks, or othar wit
nesses. Nothing was written or read. The
Sss esn ala : c6rtsohs and Kind on both
sides. The Richmond party approached
the discussion rather indirectly, and at no
time did they make categorical demands or
tender formal stpulations or absolute refu
sails. Nevertheless, during the conference,
which lasted four hours, the several points
at issue between the government and the
insurgents were distinctly raised, and dis
cussed fully, intelligently, and in an AMIGA
BILE spirit. What the insurgent party
seemed chiefly to favor was postponement
of the question of separation upon which
the war is waged and mutual direction
of the efforts Of the government, as we'll
as those Of the insurgents, to some extrinsc
policy or scheme for assessor, during which
passion might be expected to subside, and
the armies be reduced, and trade and in
tercourse between the people of both sec,
tons be resumed. 1t was suggested by
them that, through such postponment. We
might now have immediate peace, with
some not very certain prospect of an ulti
mate satisfactory adjustment Of political
relations between the government and the
states, section, or people now engaged in
conflict with it. The suggestion, though
deliberately considered, was nevertheless
regarded BY the President as one Of arms
tice or truce, and he announced that we
can agree to no cessation or suspension OF
abandonment of the insurgent forces and
the restoration of the national authority
throughout all the states in the Union
Collaterally and in subordination to the
proposition which was thus annonnc.
ed, the an,i-slavery policy Of tie United
States was reviewed in all lis bearings, and
the President announced that he must not
be expected to depart from the position be
had heretofore assumed in his proclamation
of emancipation and other documents, as
the positions were reiterated in his annual
message. 1t was further declared by the
President that the complete restoration of
the national authority every where was an
indispensable condition Of any assent, on
our part, to whatever form of peace might
be proposed. The President assured the
other party that, while he must adhere to
these positions, he would be prepared, so
far as power is lodged with tho exSea.ise,
to exercise liberslity. Its power, however,
is limited by the Constitution, and, when
peace should be made, Congress must ne.
cessarily act in regard to appropriations Of
money and to the admission OF representa-.
tives from the insurrectionary states. The
RcnnUnd party wcrs .hss. i.esrusea THAT
Congress had, on the 3lst ult.. adopted, by
constitutional majority, joint resolution
submitting to the several states the propo-
sition to abolish slavery throughout the
Union, and there is every reason to expect
that it will be accepted by three-fourths Of
the states, so as to become part Of the
national organic law.
"The conference came to an end, BY mu-
tual acquiesence, without producing an
agreement of views upon the several mat.
ters discussed, or any of them. Neverthe-
less it is perhaps of some importance that
we have been able to submit our opinions
and views directly to prominent insurgents,
and to- hear them in answer in q courteous
and friendly manner.
II am, sir, your obedient servant,
NWn II SrwApnS