The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-02-10
The New s..

w aSllingtcn Speclal says: Mr. SeW-
ard reached Fortress Monroe in al
vance of Mcssrs. Stephens, Hunter
and Campbell. Upon the arrival OF
these gentlemen, they were at once
invited to an interview, and informed
MIR. Seward Of their desire to proceed
to Washington for the purpose of dis
cussing the question. of peace Will,
the President. Mr.. Seward informed
them that it was the Presidents wish
that the discussion should take place
at Fortress Mouroc, and that he had
been sent to meet them at that point
upon that subject.
Tho Commissioners pressed with
considerable earnestness for leave to
visit Washington, and finally alleged
that their Government had consent
cd to send them in consequence of
Mr. Blair's assurance that they she, d
have personal interview with Pres
ident Lincoln. Mr. Seward assured
them that this pledge should he ful.
filled, and at once tclcgraphcd to the
President that his presence was nee.
essary.
After Mr. Lincoln's arrival. the
conference lasted four hours, and was
perfectly friendly and good tempered
throughout. Ga our side the cnnror.
sation was mainly conducted by the
President: on theirs hy Mr. Hunter
Mr.. Stephens occasionally taking
part.
The rebel Commissioners said moth
ing whatever of their personal views
or wishes, but spoke solely and cx
clusively for their Government, anC
at the outset, and throughout the con
ference, declared their entire lack o
authority TO make, receive or consid
er any proposition whatever, looking
toward close of the war, except OF
the basis of recognition of the in
dependence of the Confederate States
AS q preliminary condition, the
President presented the subject tc
them in every conceivable form, sug
gcsting the most liberal and consid
.eratc modification of whatever in the
existing legislation and action Of thC
United States Government MIGHT bC
regarded as specially hostile to tho
rights and interests, or wounding tC
the pride OF the Southern people; bu'
in no single particular could he in
duce them to swerve for q moment
from their demand for recognition =
They did not present this conspicu
ously as resting on their own convic
tions or wishes, but as the condition
which their Government had mad;
absolutely indispensable to any ne
gotiations or discussions whatever
concerning peace.
President Lincoln. on the othel
hand, informed them at every point
that such recognition wac entirely and
totally ont of the question that the
United States could stop the war and
arrest even temporarily the NOV @
ment OF its armies only on the con
dition precedent that the authority o
the National Government should b,
recognized and oheyed over the Who'll,
territory of the United States. Thi
point conceded, IN assured them tha
upon every other matter of differ
ence they would be treated with tn
utmost liberality, but without tha
recognition the war must and will q
on.
All tho conversation which tool
place between the respective partie
came back to and turned upon thi
radical anil irreconcilable difference
neither side could be swerved u hair
breadth from its position, and there
fore, the attempt Mt negotiation wa
an utter failure. Upon separating
was distinctly understood and explic
lilly stated that the attitude Of eacl
| Government was to he precisely wha
1t would have been if the interview
had never taken place. The Cabinc
received these explanations as com
plete and satisfactory, as the fcelin,
was usanimous and a'nest that tn
country must now arouse itself to re
newed efforts, and prepare to max
fresh sacrifices in the defense of tn
integrity of the Union and the pres
ervation of the Gov rnment.
AS You know the source of this dis
patch, | need not assure You that
is perfectly reliable.
1t is reported and believed tha
since the Presidents return he ha
related to the Cabincnt the particu
lars of the conference with the rebC
Commissioners, and they all indors
his course. No official action has
however, been taken.
The Washington Chronicle say
that Stephens, Hunter and Campbell
have before this laid their case befor
the Southern people, and their pee
pie have heard, or must soon heal
that their leaders would consent t
nothing but the recognition of the re
bellion.
We are OF course unable and unar
thorized to say how much Mr.. Lir
coin was willing to concede. Th
only condition to an honorable peac
seems TO have been declined by th
rebel Commissioncrs--that conditio
/ being the restoration of the Fedora
Union, and obedience to all the law
of Congress.
The n. Y. Hcrald's Washingto
special says;
Those in position to know th
| rnal cnnls of thn rnnnnI nnncn nnnlol