The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-02-21


statement concerning their interview with Messrs
Stephens Hunter and Campbell, together with the
correspondence which led to IT, We omit numerous
Geographic dispatches from Lincoln directing how
our Commissioners should be received. and give
President Davis letter to Mr. Blair, Lncolns an
swer to said letter. and Stewards statement concern
Roads, near Fortress Monroe
AS is already known, Mr. F. P. Blair first visited
Richmond. After consultation, he was furnished
with the following letter by President Davis:
| RICHMOND, Jan. 12. 1865.
F. P. Blair, Esq-Sir: have deemed it proper
and probably desirable to you. to give you in this
form the substance of the remarks made by me, to
be repeated by you to President Lincoln, &c.
have no disposition to find obstacles in FORMS
and willing now heretofore, to enter into
gotiatons for the restoration of peace I am ready
to send commission whenever T have reason to
suppose it will be received. to receive a commits
sion if the United States Government shall choose
to send one that, notwithstanding the rejection of
our former offers, would, if you could promise that
| a commissioner, minister other agent would be
| received, appoint one Immediately, and renew the
effort to enter into a conference with view to
cure peace to the two countries. Yours. &c,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Blair went back to Washington aud showed this
letter to Mr. Lincoln, and received the following
reply
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 1865.
F. P. Blair, Esq,-Sir: You having shown me Mr.
Davis letter to you of the 18th instant you may
say to him that have constantly been. now, and
shall continue ready to receive any agent whom ne
or any other influential person now resisting the
national authority may informally send me, with the
view of securing peace to the people of our common
country. Yours, &c, A. LINCOLN. ri
Mr. Blair returned to Richmond, and soon after
President Davis directed Messrs Stephens. Hunter
and Campbell to apply for admission through the
enemy's lines. They did and after considerable
delay permitted to pass to the neighborhood of
Fortress Monroe. where they met by Mr. Lin
coin and Mr. Seward.
At first, it seems that it was determined by Lin
coin that only Mr. Seward should meet the Southern
commissioners, and the following letter furnish
ed Seward as instructions:
EXECUTIVE MANSION. !
Washington, January 81, 1865.
Hon. w. H. Seward, Secretary of State; You
will proceed to Fort Monroe Virginia, there to
meet and informally confer with Messrs Stephens,
Hunter and Campbell the basis of my letter to
F. 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 recedng by the Executive of the
United States on the slavery question from the posi-
ton assumed thereon in the late annual message
Congress and in preceding documents.
1hrd.>No ton of hostilties short Of an end
of the and the disbandng of all the forces hos
tile to the Government. You will inform them that
all propositions of theirs not inconsistent with the
above will be considered and passed upon in sp-
rit of sincere liberalty. You will hear all they
choose to say, and report it 20 me. You will not
assume to definitely consummate anything.
Yours, 60, A: LINCOLN.
Afterwards, Lincoln determined to Join in the con-
ference himself, and accordingly went to Fortress
Monroe for that purpose.
A statement concerning this conference is given
by Mr. Seward in the shape of letter addressed to
Mr. Adams, the yankee Minister in England for
foreign effect we SUPPOSED We give below the
main and material portion of Stewards letter:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, February g. 1865. {
A few days ago, Francis P. Flair. Esq. of Mary
land, obtained from the President smp lie leave to
pass through military lines without definite
Richmond, and, on his return. he showed to the Pre-
sdent letter which Jefferson Davis had written to
Mr. Blair, i'm which Mr. DAVIS wrote that Mr. Blair
at liberty to say to President Lincoln that MIR
Davis now, he always had been, willing to
send commissioners, if assured they would be
ceved or to receive any that should be sent; that
he was not disposed to find obstacles in forms. He
would send commissioners to confer with the Presi
view TO inc OF peace between
the two countries, if he could be assured that they
would be received.
The President, therefore, on the 18th day of Jan
uary, addressed note to Mr. Blair, in which the
President, after acknowledging that he had read
the note of Mr. Davis, said that he was and always
should be willing to receive any agent that Mr. Davis
any other influential person actually resist
ing the authority of the Government might send to
confer informally with the President. with view to
the restoration of peace to the people of
country.
Mr. Blair visited Richmond with this letter. and
then again came back to Washington. On the 29th |
instant advised from the camp of Iseuten- |
ant General Grant that Alexander II. Stephens, |
r. NJ. T. Hunter and John A. Campbell, were apply
ing for leave TO pass through the lines to Washing
ton, peace commissioners. to confer with the
President. They were permitted by the Lieutenant
General to to his headquarters, to await there
the decision of the President. Major Eckert was
sent down to meet the party from Richmond at
General Grants headquarters. The Major was
directed to deliver to them copy of the Presidents
letter to Mr. Blair, with note to be addressed to |
them and signed by the Major, in which they were
directly informed that if they should be allowed to
pass oar lines they would be understood as COM
ing for informal conference upon the basis of the
afore- named letter of the 18th of January to Mr.
Blair.
IF they should express their assent to this condi-
ton in writing, then Major Eckert directed to
give them safe conduct to Fortress Monroe, where
a person coming from the President would meet
them 1t being thought probable, from report of
the conversation with Lieutenant General Grant,
that the Richmond party would, in the manner pre-
scrbed accept the condition mentioned, the Secre-
O. L.. ID