Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-07
BY Telegraph.
No Peace, but a More Vigorous
Prosecution of the War.
For Later Dispatches see Sd Page.

i
Prosecution of the War.
NEw YORK, Feb. 6.-The Times' Wash
iqgton special says: Mr.. Seward reached
Fort Monroe in advance of Messrs. Ste.
phens, Hunter and Campbell. Upon the
arrival of these gentlemen they were at
once invited to an interview, end Informed
Mr., Seward of their desire to proceed to
Washington for the purpose of discussing
the question of peace with the President,
Mr.. Seward informed them that it was the
Presidents wish that the discussion should
take place at Fort Monroe, and that he had
been sent to meet them.at that point upon
that subject. The commissioners pressed
With considerable earnestness for leave to
visit Washington, and finally alleged that
taeIr government had consented to send
tnena outJ tu- SORse4U -AGs-- RIaiEIa
assurance that they should hsvea person
al interview with President Lincoln. Mr..
Seward assured them that this pledge
should be fulfilled, and at once telegraph
ed to the President that his presence was
necessary.
After Mr.. Lincoln's arrival the confer
ence lasted four hours, and was perfectly
friendly and good tempered throughout.
On our side the conversation was mainly
conducted by the President, and on theirs
by Mr.. Hunter, Mr.. Stephens occasionally
taking part.
The rebel commissioners said nothing
of their personal views or wishes, bat
spoke solely or exclusively for their gov
ernment, and at the outset and throughout
the conference, declared their entire lack
of authority to make, receive or consider
any proposition whatever, looking to a
close of the war, except on the basis of a
recognition of the Confederate States as a
preliminary condition.
The President presented the subject to
them in every conceivable form, suggest
ing the most liberal and eonsiderste mod
lhcstion of whatever in the existing legis.
lation and action Of the U. S. government
might be regarded as specially hostile to
their rights and interests, and wounding to
the pride ofthe Southern people, but in no
| single particular could he induce them to
swerVe for moment from their demand for
recognition.
They did not present this conspicuously
as resting ON their own convictions or
wishes, but as the condition which their
government had made absolutely indispen-
sable to any negotiations or discussions
whatever concerning peace. President
Lincoln, on the other hand, informed them
at every point that such recognition was
utterly and totally out of the question; that
the United States could stop the war and
arrest, even temporarily, the movement of
its armies, only on the condition that the
authority of the National Government
should be recognized aud obeyed over the
whole territory of the United States This
point conceded, he assured them that upon
every other matter of difference they would
be treated with the utmost liberslity, but
without hiatt recognition the war must and
would go on.
All the conversation which took place
between the respective parties, came back
to aRd turned upon this radical and ire
concilable difference. Neither side could be
swerved hairs breadth from the position
and therefore the attempt at negotiation
was an utter failure. ...a
Upon separating it was distinctly under
stood and expressly stated that the attitude
OF each government was to be precisely
what it would have been if this interview
mad never taken place.
The Cabinet received these explanations
as complete and satisfactory, and the feel
ing was unanimous and earnest that the
country must now arouse itself to renewed
efforts, and prepare to make fresh sacrifices
in the defence of the integrity of the Union
and the preservation OF the Government.
As you know the source of this despatch,
need not assure you that il is perfectly
reliable.
1t is understood that Mr.. Fessenden's
retirement from the Treasury Department
will take place within a few days, and it is
confidently predicted. believe truly, that
his successor will be from the city of New
York. In the present condition of the
finances, and with the certainty that the
war is now to be carried on with renewed
vlgor and determination on both sides, this
becomes question of very great impor-
tance.