Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-21

This message, it will be perceived, transferred
Gen; Ord's agency in the matter to Gen. Grant 70
resolved, however, to send Major Eckert forward
with this message and, accordingly, telegraphed
Gen. Grant as follows: -y. ~. 49,
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
49,. WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1855. (
Lieut. Gen Grant Commanding &G:
A messenger is coming to you on the business
contained in your dispatch. Detain the gentlemen
in comfortable quarters until be arrives and then
act upon the message he brings, far as applica-
BILE, it having been made up to pass through Gen
Ords hands, and when the gentlemen were suppos-
ed to be beyond our lines. -.....E
lSsnt in cipher at l 80 P. II = s.--,... -
When Major Eckert departed he bore with him
letter of the Secretary of War to Gen. Grant, ~
follows, to wit: $500.
WAR DEPARTHrsr, ,,
WASHINGTON, jan. so, 1856. --
Lieut. Gen. Grant, Commanding, DO:
GENERAL: The President desires that You will
please procure for tho bearer, Major Thomas T.
Eckert an interview with Messrs Stephens, Hunter
and Campbell, and if on his return to you he re-
quests it pas them throug9 our lines 10 Fortress
Monroe by such route and under such military pre-.
cautions IS you may deem prudent, giving them
protection and comfortable quarters while there,
and that you let none Of this have any effect upon
your movements or plans
By order of the President. 49,
E. II. STANTON,
Secretary of War. :
Surprising the proper points to be then reached,
dispatched the Secretary of State. with the fol,
lowing instruction, Maj. Eckert however, going
ahead Of him:
Executive MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1866. ..
Hon. ~ a. StoGrd, Secretary of STATE:
You will proceed to Fort Monroe, Virgins, there
to meet and informally confer with Messrs Ste
nd hall h. hao; of
letter to +. P. Blair, Esq, of January 1S, 1855, q
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 recedIng BY the Executive of the
United States on the slavery question from the po
sition assumed thereon in the late annual message
to Congress and in preceding documents.
Third. No cessation Of hostilities short of an end
OF the war and the disbanding of oil 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 spirit
of sincere iberality. You will hear all they may
choose to say, and report it to me. You will not
assume to definitely consummate anything.
Yours, &c, ..
On the day Of its date the following telegram vas
sent to Gen. Grant: ...
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Feb. !, 1865. (
Lieut.. Cen. Grant, City Point Virginia;
| Let nothing which is Transporting change, hinder
or delay your military movements or plans.
A. LINCOLN
/ Essnt in cipher at 9: so Nj
Afterwards the following dispatch was received
| from Gen. Grant:
OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEeRAPH,
WAR DEPARTMENT, Tin cipher) The following telc-
gram received at Washington, g. 30 P. n. February
!, 1855:
err PoINr, Feb. 10, 1865, O. 80 P. n
HIS Eresllsney 4. Lincoln, Presidsnt of tbs Unitsd
| States:
Your dispatch received. There will be no armis
tice in consequences of the presence of Mr. Stephen.
and others within our lines The troops are KEPT
in readiness to at the shortest notice if occa
sion should justify it
IS. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
To notify Major Eckert that the Secretary o
State would be at Fortress Monroe, and to pu
thsmin communication, the following dispatch wal
! sent:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WARRINGTON D. O.
Feb /, 1866
Maj. T. T. Etkrt, care Con. Grant, City Point
| Pirginia:
Call at Fortress Monroe and put yourself under
direction of Mr.. Seward, whom you will find there
A. LINCOLN.
On the morning of the I'd instant, the following
|
| the Secretary Of State and Maj Eckert:
! FoKT MONROE, VLReH1A,
Feb. l, 1865, 1880 P. n.
| The President Of tho United Stdtes:
arrived at 10 o'clock this evening. Richmond
party not here. l remain here.
VII. SEWARD.
CRY Porxr, VIRGINIA.
| Feb. /, 1866, 10 p n.
His Ercslltney A. LineOln Presidsnt Of the Unitst
have the honor to report the delivery of you
communication and my letter at 4:l5 this after
noon, to which l received reply At P. n, bu
not satisfactory. .--..
ASP. NJ the following note, addressed to Gen
Grant, was received:
ORR PoINT, VIRGINIA,
| February /, 1865.
! To Lieut. Gen. Grant:
SIR We desire to 60 to Washington city TO- con
fer informally with the President personally in re
ference to the matters mentioned in his letter t
Mr.. Blair of the 18th January, ult Without AMI
personal compromise on any question in the lstte:
we have the permission to do so from the authori
ties in Richmond.
Very respectfully, yours,
ALEX Il, STEPHENS.
R. NJ. T. HUNTER,
J. A. CAMPBELL.
| At $50 P NJ notified them that they coul
not proceed further unless they complied with tn
terms expressed in my letter. The point of meet
ing designated Ia the above note ought not, in m,
opinion, to be insisted upon. think Fort Monro
would be acceptable Having complied with m
Instructions will return to Washington to mol
row, unless otherwise ordered.
THOMAS I. ECKERT,
Major, &c
On reading this dispatch of Major Eckert, wa
about to recall him and the Secretary of Sta,
when the following telegram from Gen. Grant I
the Secretary of War was shown me:
OTTIcE United STATES MILITARY TELAGRAPI
War DEPAKrMENr.-[In cipher. The folloWir
telegram was received at Washington at 4:35 A. u
Feb. 2, 1855, from City Point Virginia.:
FEBRUARY l, 1865, 1890 P. II
Hon Elvin IT. Stanton Secretary Of Var:
Now that the interview between Major Ecker
under his written instructions, and Mr.. Stephen
and party, has endsd, will state confidential!
but not officially to become matter Of record, th;
aD convinced. upon conversation with Messr
Stephens and Hunter, that their Intentions al
good and their desire sincere to restore peace an
Union. have not felt myself at liberty to EXPIRE!
anv views Of nv own or to account for nv reticenc