The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-02-08

Seward informed them that it was the Presi-
dents wish that the discussion should take
place at Fortress 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
! their Government had consented to send
them only in consequence of Mr.. Bair's
assurance that they should have personal
interview with President Lincoln. Mr..
Seward assured them that this pledge should
, be fulfilled, and at once telegraphed to the
President that his presence was necessary.
After Mr.. Lincoln's arrival, the conferences
lasted four hours, and was perfectly friend.
ly and odtempered throughout On our
side the conversation was mainly conduct
ed 0by the President-on theirs BY Mr..
Hunter, Mr.. Stephens occasionally taking
part. The rebel commissioners said moth.
ing whatever Of their personal views or
wishes, but spoke solely and exclus vely
for their Government, and at the outset and
throughout the conference declared their
entire lack of authority to make, receive or
consider any proposition whatever looking
toward close of the war, except on the
basis OF recognition of the independence
of the Confederate States as a preliminary
condition. The President presented the
subject to them in every conceivable form,
suggesting the most liberal and consdcrate
modification OF whatever, in the existing
legislation and action of the United Styles
Government, might be regarded as specially
hostile to the rights and interests or ound.
ing to the pride of the Southern ..eople
but in no single particular could he induce
them TO swerve for 0As moment rom their
demand for recognition. They did not pre-.
sent this conspicuously as resting on their
own convictions or wishes, but as the con.
ditions which their Government had made
absolutely Indispensable to any negotiations
or discussions whatever concerning peace.
President Lincoln, on the other baud, in
formed them at every point that such re-
cognition 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 condi
ton precedent that the authority Of the
National Government should be recognized
and obeyed over the whole territory Of the
United States this point conceded, he as.
sured them that upon every other matter
they would b. treated with the utmost lib.
rality, but, without that recognition, the
war must 60 on. All the conversation
which took place between the respective
parties came back to aud turned upon this
radical and irr, c,ncllable difference ne,,h.
er side could be swerved hairs breadth
from its position, and therefore the attempt
at negotiation was an utter failure.
upon separating, it was distinctly un.
derstood and explicitly stated that the att.
tude Of each Government was to be pre-.
ciscly what it would have been if this inte,.
view had never taken place.
the Cabnet received these eXplana atoms
as complete and salts 'actory, and the feel
ing was unanimous and carncA that the
country must now arouse itself to renewed
efforts, and prepare to make fresh sacrifice,
in the defense Of the integrity Of III
Union and tn preservation of the Govern
inent.
"As you know the source of this dispath.
neeu not assure you that it is perfectly
reliable" .-.... .t..
.Today's Chronicle says: "Stcphens, Hunter
and Campbell have before this laid their case
before the Southern people, and these people
have heard, or must soon hear, that their lead.
els would consent to not hing but the recog.
milton of the rebellion. We are of course un.
able and unauthorized to say how much Mr..
Lincoln was willing to concede. The only
condition to an honorable peace seems to have
been declined by the rebel Commissioners.
that condition being the restoration Of the Fed.
eral Union and obedience to all laws OF Con-
gress. ......e
"n"-. NEW YoRx. February 6.
The Heralds Washington special says:
r~'.A~.. 10 a...~ ...'' ~,.s ss.>t
recent peace conference, look upon the result
rs being very far from a failure 1t ia i'm
possible for MIR. Lincoln or Mr.. Seward to say
to what extent the negotiations have failed or
succeeded until a reply to the report of S,epl-
ems and his associates is received from Rich.
moud.