Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1865-02-16

the same codncctiot, addressed to Mr.. Adams
our minister at London, setting forth the mat
ter in our opihion, in more summary and
condensed form, which We lay before our read
rers rather than the voluminous report Of the
President, believing it will give more general
satisfaction, and may be considereda review of
the whole subject
Mh SEWARD EXPLAINS THE SEGoTIATtoSs TO
MINISTER ADAMS.
Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Feb g.
A few days ago Francis P. Blair, ESQ.,, oh
tained from the President simple leave to
pass through our lines, without definite views
known to the Government.
Mr. Blair visited Richmond, and on his re-
turn he showed to the President letter which
jeff. Davis had written to Mr. Blair, in which
Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair was at liberty to
say to President Lincoln that he (Davis) was
now, as he always had been, willing to send
Commissioners if assured that they would be
received, Or to receive any that should be sent;
that he was not disposed to find obstacles in
forms; that he would send Commissioners to
confer with the President with view to the
restoration of peace between the two countries,
if he could be assured they would be received
The President, therefore, on the 18th of
January addressed note to Mr.. Blair, in
which the President, after acknowledging that
he had read the note of Davis, said that he was
is and always should be, willing to receive any
| {b,f tlo, g,,o IL
man now actually resisting the authority of
Government might send to confer informally
with the President with view to the restora-
ton of peace to the people of our common
country Mr.. Blair visited Richmond with
this letter and then again came back to Wash
ington.
On the Goth ult, we were advised from the
camp of Lieut.. Gen Grant that A. II. Ste
phens, r. NJ. r. Hunter and J. a. Campbell
were applying for leave to pass through Our
lines to Washington as Peace Commissioners
to confer with the President
They were permitted by Gen. Grant to come
to his headquarters to await there the decision
of the President Major Eckcrt Was sen, down
to meet the party from Richmond at General
Grants headquarters. The Major was direct
cd to deliver to them copy ofthe Presidents
letter to Mr.. Blair, with note, to he addressed
to them and signed by the Major, in which
they were directly informed that should they
be allowed to pass our lines, they would be
understood as coming for an informal confer
ence, upon the basis of the aforenamed letter
of the 18th January to Mr.. Blair If they
in writing, then Major Eckert was directed to
give them safe conduct to Fortress Monroe,
where person coming from the President
would meet them.
1t being thought psa5able from the report
of their conversation with Lieut.-Gcn. Grant,
that The Richmond party would in the manner
prescribed, accept the condition mentioned,
the Secretary of State was changed by the
President with the duty of representing this
Government in the expected informal confer
cnce. The Secretary arrived at Fortress Mon.
roe on the night of the lst day of February.
Major Eckert met him ON the morning of the
I'd, with information that the persons who
came from Richmond had not accepted in
writing the condition upon which he was al
lowed to give them conduct to Fortress Mon
roe. The Major had given the same informa.
ton by telegraph to the President at Wssh
ihgton. On receiving this information the
President prepared a telegram, directing the
Secretary to return to Washington. The Sec
retaty was preparing at the same moment to
so return, without waiting for information from
the President, but at this juncture Lieut. Gen
Grant telegraphed to the Secretary of War as
well as to the Secretary of State, that the Rich
mond party had reconsidered and accepted
the condition rendered them through Major
Eckert and Gen. Grant urgently advised the
President to confer in person with the Rich
mond party.
Under these circumstances, the Secretary
by the Presidents direction, remained at Fort
ress Monroe, and the President Joined him
there on the night Of February2
The Richmond party was brought down the
James river in United States steam transport
during the day, and the transport was anchored
in Hampton Roads.
On the morning of the 3D., the President
attended by the Secretary, received Messrs
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, on board tht
United States steam transport River Queen
lin Hampton Roads The Conference was al
together informal. There was no attendance
of Secretaries, Clerks, or other witnesses. s.
Nothing was written or read. The converse
ton, although earnest and free, was calm, cour
teous and kind Oh beth Sides The. .Richmont
party approached the discussion rather indi
rectly, and at no time did they make categori
cal demands or tender formal stipulations o.
absolute refusals. Nevertheless, during til,
conference which lasted four hours, the sever
al points at issue between the Government ant
. insurgents were distinctly raised and discusse,
fully, intelligently and in an amicable spiri,
What the insurgent party seemed chiefly h
favor, was postponement Of the question O
: separation upon. which the war is waged, ant
mutua1d efforts of the Government
as well as those of the insurgents to some ex
trinsc policy or scheme for season, durini
which the passionsHnight be.expected to sub
: side, and the armies; be reduced, and trade
I and intercourse between the people Of botl
sections be resumed 49,.
: Il, was suggested by them that through sucl
postponement we might have an immediate
: peace, with some NOT very certain prospect o
! an Ultimate satisfactory adjustment Of the pc
litical relations between the Government an,
States, sections and people now engaged il
conflict with it The suggestion, though de
liberately considered, was nevertheless regard
5 ed by the President as one Of. armistice o
truce, and he announced that we can agree t.
no cessation or suspension of hostilites excep
: on the basis of the disbandment of the insui
E gent farces and the restoration of the nationa
aathortty throughout all the States in tn
Union, ..