Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-07
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CONFEDERATE
COMMISSIONERS.

The following important doeuleents were lad be
fore Congress this forenoon:
10 the Senate and House OF Representatives. Of NJ
Con federdte States Of AIaaicd:
Having recently received written notification
which satisfied me that the President Of the United
States was disposed TO confer informally with un-
official agents that might be sent by me, with view
to the restoration Of peace, requested the Hon;
Alex H. Stephens the Hon. X. NJ. L. Hunter aud
the Hon John A. Campbell 10 proceed through our
Zines and TO hold conference with MIR. Lincoln or
such persons as he might depute TO represent INN.
| herewith submit, Tor the Information Oi Con
gess, the report Of the eminent citizens above
named showing that the enemy refused 10 enter
into negotiations with the Confederate States, or
any one of them separately, to give to our peo-
pie anv other terms or guarantees than
those which the cOnqueror may grant, or 10
permit us TO have peace ON any Other OASIS
than oar unconditional submission to ler rule,
coupled with the acceptance OF their recent legls-
lation including an amendment To the Constitution
for the emanc,pation of all the negro slaves, and
with the right on the part OF the Federal Congress
TO legislae on the subject of the relations between
the White and black population OF each state -
Such IS as 1 understand the effect Of the amend
msnt o the Constitution which has been adopted
by the Congress OF the United states.
Executive Office, Richmond, 9th Feb. 1865.
RIeHWoND, Va 9th February, 1868.
To Ire President OF he Confederate States: =
Sir: Under your letter OF appointment OF the
2Sth ult., we proceeded TO seek an 'iniormai con
with Abraham Lincoln, President OF, the
nited States, upon the subject mentioned III the
letter The conference was granted, and look place
on the 3Oth instant on board OF steamer anchored
IN Hampton Roads, where We met President LIN
ccln and the Hon. Mr. Seward, Secretary of State
of the United States. Ii continued for several
hours and was both full aud explicit.
= We learned from them that the message oil fresi-
dent Lincoln to the Congress of the United States,
in December last explains clearly and distinctly his
sentiments as TO the terms, conditions ana method
OF proceeding by which peace can be secured 10 the
people, and we were not informed that they would
be modified or altered TO obtain that end
We understood from him that no terms or propo-
sails of any treaty or agreement looking TO an ult-
mate settlement would be entertained or made by
him with the authorities OF the Confederate States,
because that would be recognition OF Their exist
ence a a separate power, which, under no cUcum-
stances would be done and, for Ike reasons, that
no such terms would be entertained by him from the
States separately that 40 extended truce or armis
tice las al present advsed) would be granted or al
lowed without satisfactory assurance, Ia advance,
OF complete restoration of the authority OF the
Constitution and laws OF the United states over all
places within the States of the Confederacy.
That whatever consequences may follow from the
re establishment OF that authority mGst b. accepted.
:
But I'll &ndiyiduals, subject to pans snd penalties
under ~ laws OF the United States, might rely
upon avery liberal use of the power conhded to him
10 remit those pains and penalties, il peace be re-
stored.
During the conference, the proposed amendments
TO tl. Constitution OF the nited States, adopted
by Congress on the 3lst nit, wer" brought 10 our
notice.
These amendments provide that neither slavery
nor involuntary seryiude, except for crime, should
exist within the United States or any place within
their jurisdiction, and that Congress should have
mower 10 enforce this amendment by appropriate
legislation,
on all the correspondence that preceded the con
ference herein mentioned and leading TO the same,
YOU have heretofore been Informed.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
ALIEN. II. STEPHENS,
r. VI. 7. HUNTER,
j. A. CAMPBELL.>