Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-11
THE LATE CONFERENCE.
Secretary Stewards instructions to Nj
Adams


Senate any IN Dformation in his possession con-
cerriEg recent conversation or communica.
| items with certain rebels said to have occurred
under Executive sanction, including commu-
nicatiors with the rebel Jefferson Davis, ana
| any correspondence relating thereto" has the
| honor to report that the Senate may properly
be referred to q special message of the Presi-
dent bearing upon the subject Of the resolution
ard transmitted to the House this day. Ap-
pended to this report is copy of an instruction
which has been addressed 10 Charles Francis
Adams, Esq, Envoy Extraordinary and Min
| lister Plen1potentiary of the United States at
London, and which is the only correspondence
1ound in this Department touching the SUBJECT
| referred to in the resolution Respectfully sub.
nlitteo, VIM. HI. SEWARD,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washing ton, Feb. lo, 1865.
Mr.. SEWARD TO MR ADAMS
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washin gtOn, Feb
9, 1e65.-SIR:-1t IS a ,rulsm that in times OF
| peace there are always instigators OF war. So
| socn as war begins, there are citizens who
The advocates OF war, after ah agitation, long
er or shorter, generally gain toeir fearful end,
though the war declared is not unfrequently
unnecessary and unwise. So peace agitatOrs
| in time Of war ultimately bring about an aban-
donmeEt Of the conflict, sometimes without Sc
curing the advantages which were originally
expected from the conflict
The agitatois for war in time of peace and
tor peace In time Of war, are not necessarily,
| or, perhaps, ordinarily, unpatrotic in their
purposes OF motives. Results alone determine
whether they are wise or unwise The treaty
| of peace concluded at 9audalupe Hidalgo was
secured by an Irregular negotiation. under the
ban OF the Government. Some of the efforts
which have been made to bring about nego-
tiatlons, with a view TO end our civil war, are
known to the whole world, because they have
employed foreign as well as domestic agents.
Others, with whom you have had to deal con-
fdentially, are known TO yourself, although
they have not publicly transpirsd Other ef-
forts have occurred here which are kno Hn
| only TO the persons actually moving III them,
and TO this Government. l am now TO give
| for your information, an account ef aa affair
of the same general character, which recently
received much attention here, and which,
doubtless, Will excite inquiry abroad.
A few days ago Francis p. Blair, Esq. of
pie leave to pass through our military lines,
without definite views Known to the Govera-
ment Mr.. Blair visited Richmond, and. on
his return, he showed to the President letter
which jefferson Davis had written to Mr.
Blair, in which Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair
was at liberty to say TO President Lincoln, that
ling to send commissioners, II assured they
would be received, or to receive any X&hat
sbonld be SENT that he was not disposed to find
obstacles In forms. He would send commits.
siobers to confer with the President with
view to the restoration Of peace between the
TWO countries, if he could be assured they
on the 18Th day of January, addressed note to
Mr.. Blair. In which the President, after &C.
know ledeing that he had read the note of Mr..
Davis, SAID that he was, is, and always should
be willing to receive any agents that Mr.. Davis
or any other influential person, now actually
resisting the authority OF the Government,
might eend to confer Informally with the Presi-
dent, with q view to theHTes toration OF peace
to the people of our common country. Mr..
Blair visited Richmond with this letter, and
'ben again came back TO Washington. On the
29'h uliimo we were advised from the camp of
Lieutenant General Grant that Alexander H.
Stephens, X NJ I. Hunt r, and John T. Camp
bell were applying for leave to pass through
the lines to Washington as peace commission.
eTs, TO confer with the PRECEDENT. They were
permitted by the Lieutenant General to come
20 his headquarters to await there the de els ION
of the President. Major Eckert was sent down
10 meet the party from Richmond at General
GRANTS headquarters. The MAJOR was direct.
ed to deliver 10 them copy OF the Presidents
letter to Mr Blair, with note 10 be 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 un-
deIstCod as coming for an informal conference
upon the basis of the afOrenamed lettsr OF the
Is b OF January TO Mr.. Blair. If they should
express their assent 10 this condition Ia writ
ing, then Major Eckert was directed to give
hem safe ccpduct TO Fortress Monroe, where
a person coming from the President would
meet them 1t being thought probable, from q
report OF heir conversation with Lieutenant
General Grant, that the Richmond party
would, III the manner prescribed, accept the
condition mentioned, the Secretary OF State
was charged nv the President with the duty of
representing this Government in the expected
Informal conference. The Secretary arrived
at Fortress Monroe in the night of the first uay
of February. Major Eckerc met him in the
morning OF the ed day of February, with the
Information that The persons who had come
from Richmond had not accepted in writing
the condition upon which he was allowed 10
give Them conduct to Fortress Monroe. The
Major had given the same information by
telegraph 10 the President at Washington. On
receiving this information the President pre-
pared telegram directing the Secretary to
return TO Washington. The Secretary was
preparing ft the same moment to so return
without waiting tor information from the
President. But at this juncture, Lieutenant
General Grant telegI aphed to the Secretary OF
War, as well as 10 the Secretary OF State, that
Inc party from Richmond had reconsidered
and accepted the condition rendered them
through Major Eckert and General Grant ur-
gently advised the President to confer in
erson with the Richmond party, Under these
circumstances, the Secretary, by the Presi.
dents direction, remained at Fortress Monroe,
and the President Joined him there on the
night of he I'd February The Richmond
party were brought down the James river in q
United States steamer transport during the
cay. and The transport was anchoredin Hump.
ton Roads.
On the morning OF the Sd, the President. at
tel def by the Secretary, received Messrs
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell on board the
United States Steam transport River Queen, In
hampton Roads. IRE conference was alto.
eetneT informal. There was no attendance of
secretaries, clerks, or other witnesses. Nothing
was written or read The conversation,
although earnest and free, was calm and cour-
teous and kind on both sides. The Richmond
party approached the discussion rather jndi.
TecIy, and at no time did they make categori-
cal demands, or tender former stipulations or
absolute refusals Nevertheless during the
conference, which lasted four hours the several
points at Issue between the Government and
the ins uTgsnts were distinctly raised and dis
cussed fully. intellIgently, and in amieable
spirit What the insurgent party seemed
chiefly to favor, was a postponement OF the
question Of separation, upon which the war is
Waeed, and a mutual direction OF the efforts OF
the Government, as we'll rs those of the insur-
gents, 10 some ex trinsic policy or scheme, for 8
dtrlra n tah x.r,k,s
pected 10 subside. and the armies be reduced,
and trade and intercourse between the people
OF both sections be resumed. It was suggested
by them that through such postponement We
might now have immediate peace, with some
rot very certain prospect of an ultimate salts
factory adjustment Of political relations be-
tween the Government and the States, section,
or pc ople, now engaged In conflict with 1t.
The suggestions, though deliberately con-
sidered, was nevertheless regarded by the
President as one OF armietice or truce, and ne