Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-14
ain there on the night of the ID of Feb.

ruRiy e
TIE Richmond party was brought down
James River in United States steam trans
port during the day, and the transport was
enchored in Hampton Roads. On the
morning of the Sd the President, attended
oy the Secretary, received Messrs: Stenh.
Iers Hunter and Campbell on board the
United States steam transport River Queen,
IN Hampton Roads. The conference was
altogether informal There was no at
senoanee OF secretaries, clerks or other
MI Eiytnesses. Nothing was written or. read.
me conversations allhough earnest and
free, was calm and courteous and kind on
ootn sides; The Richmond party approach.
60 the discussion rather indirectly, and at
no ume did they make categorical demands
OF render formal stipulations or absolute
EeIusualss Nevertheless, during the con.
leieaceI which lasted four houFa, the seye-
raj points at issue between the government
81 y "a q tao iaaaEganka -ssaaaa-d -dintinetlv raised
and discussed fully int lfaentiy. anefsSn
an amicable spirit. What stf1e insurpoat
party seemed chiefly to favor was a post.
ponement OF the question of separation
upon which the war is Rsged, and a mutu.
al direction of the efforts of the govern.
ment, as we'll ss those of the insurgents,
to some extrinsic policy or scheme for a
season, duties which passions might be ex.
pected to subside, and the armies be redu.
eed, and trade and intercourse between the
people of both sections be resumed: 1t
WAS suggestedsby them that, through such
postponement, Wemight now have immsdi.
ate peace with some not very certain pros
pect of an ultimate satisfactory adjustment
Of political relations between the govern.
ment and the states, section or people now
engaged in conflict with it. The suepesl
ton, though deliberately considered was.
nevertheless, regarded by the President as
as one ofbarmistics or trace, and hsE an
nounced that We could agree on no cessa-
ton or suspension Of hoslilities except on
the basis ofcthe disbandment of the insur.
gent forces and the restoration of the ma.
tlonal authority throughout all the states
IN the Union Collaterally, and in subor-
dlnstlon to the proposition which was thus
announced, the anti slavery policy of the
United States was reviewed in all it's bear.
ings, and the President announced that he
must not be expected to depart from the
positions that he had heretofore assumed in
his Proclamation of Emancipation and other
documents, as these positions were reitera-
ted in his annual message. It was further
declared by the President that the COM
plete restoration Of the national authority
everywhere was an Indispensable condition
of any assent on our part to whatever form
of peace might be proposed. The Presi.
dent assured the other party that, while
he. must adhere to these positions, he
would. be prepared, so far as power is
lodged with the Executive, to exercise lib.
erality. Its power, however, is limited by
the constitution, and when peace should
be made, Congress must necessarily act in
regard to appropriations of money and to
the admission of representatives from the
insurrectionary States. -
The Richmond party were then informed
that Congress bad, on the 3lst ultimo,
adopted, by constitutional majority, q
joint resolution submitting tc the several
States the proposition to abolish, slavery
thfoughout the Union, and that there is
every reason to expect that it will be &C.
cepted by three fOurths of the States, 80 as
to become part of the national organic
law.
The conference came to an end by mu-
tual acquiescence, 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 iusur-
gents, and to hear them in answer, in a
courteous and not unfriendly manner. 1
am, sir, your obedient servant,
WV. Il. SEWARD.
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