The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-05

WASHINGTON, Feb 4-Evening.
The excitement in regard to the result Of tho peace
conference in Hampton Roads, between the President
and Secretary Of State and the rebel commissioners was
only increased by the return to-day Of Messa Lincoln
and Seward. Immediately tho city was filed with
diverse the opinion their authors Nothing
was positively KNOWN but conectures wore manipulated
into positive statements and the simplest
assumed the proportions Of absolute facts.
is not to be expected such functionaries as the
President and Secretary Of State would have gone upon
FOOLS errand TO Fortress Monroe Mr. Lincoln had re.
peacdy expressed the determination to treat for peace
with the rebels only the basis Of tho restoration Of
the Union. This fact known definitely 70 the gen.
tlemen who composed the rebel commission. They had
been informed that no propositions Of any kind could
or would be entertained that not based
upon restoration Of the Union. The negotiations,
therefore, to DO made in Hampton Roads were based
upon this proposition all the rebel commissioners and
Mr.. Seward set Of arrant Jeremy bidders. The
fact that Mr. Seward sent for the President participate
in the conference accepted evidence that the rebels
WOio VIKING W Lcut uVou bHo u1Sin luDt,
the President, when his way the conference, pub
lcy expressed himself that he would treat with them
other terms. II the rebel commissioners had made
the recognition Of tho Southern confedcracy point in
occasion for the presence Of Mr. Lincon and If
cognon the OF their demands the inter
view would not have lasted II did, for sixteen hours
It is evident that there in this conference
than the question Of recognition for that already
decided 1t likely that the unimportant ques
ton of immediate gradual emancipation, with COM
pensation the hands OF the federal government
the only question at ISSUE and for this Mr. Lincoln
was sent for to take part in the conference.
is OF course necessary that the government should
throw out the ntmaton that nothing definite has been
accomplished, because havo yet to hear how tho
agreements made treated in Richmond. II they
should be rejected would not DO pleasant know the
rebels had rejected the proposed they should
DO accepted the howl OF tho radical opponents peace
would be foresaed by the declaration Of the terms Of
agreement
No person here, in any position TO know, gives any
credence to the statement that tho negotiations
failure similar statement made by authority on
the return Of the elder Blair from his visit
Richmond. The best friends and most confidential ad
visers Of both Mr.. Lincoln and Mr. Seward speak omi
nousy Of the necessity Of hearing from Richmond be-
forc opinion Of the result can be expressed.
Ono thing Is certain, II tho rebels had been
willing to treat only on the basis Of recognition
Of their independence, Mr. Lincoln would have
gone to meet them; and II they willing to treat
upon the basis OF restoration OF tho Union Mr. Lincoln
prepared TO offer such liberal terms could be
rejected by any commissioners DESTROYS bring abou.
peace.
Tho latest Richmond papers received ominousy
silent regard to everything connected with the peace
commissioners except the simple facts of their passage
into the Union lines flag OF truce and the cnthu
sasm manifested by the soldiery both sides at this
event