Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-11

| IN Inc nlgut OF tue I'D fe8ched
Hampton Roads, and found the Secretary
of State aud Maj. Eckhsrt on a steamer an
ohoFed of the shore, and learned of them
that the Richmond gentlemen were on an
other steamer, also anchored of the shore
in the Roads, and that the Secretary of
State had not yet seen or communicated
with them. l sscertsined that Mr.. Eek
hart had literally complied with his in
structions, and saw for the first time the
answer of the Richmond gentleman to him,
which in his despatch to me of the 1st he
characterized as not satisfactory. That
answer is as follows, to wit:
City Point, FED. i, ls65.-To Thos. T
Eckhart, Msjor-4sior: Your note deIiy-
cred. In reply we have to say that we.
we're furnished with copy of the letter of
President Lincoln to F. P. Blair, of the
18th of January nIt., another copy of
which Is appended to your note. Oar in
structtons are contained in letter, of
which the following is copy:
Richmond, Va., Jan 2s.-Iu conformity
with the letter of Mr. Lincoln, of which
the foregoing is copy, you are to procure
safe conduct to Washington city for in
formal conference with him upon the issue
involved in the existing war, and for the
purpose of securing peace to the two coun-
tries. With great respect, your obedient
servant, JRRRBRsoH DAVIS.
The substantial object to be obtained by
the informal conference, is to ascertain upon
what terms the existing war can be ter
minated honorably. Our instructions con-
template personal interview between
President Lincoln and ourselves, at WASH
ingtou, bat with this explanation we are
ready to meet any person or persons that
President Lincoln may appoint, at such
place as he may designate, Our earnest
desire is to ascertain upon what terms
peace may be agreed upon, and we are pre-
pared to receive or to submit any proposals
which may possibly tend to the attainment
of that end. Very respectfully,
ALEX. b. STEPHENS,
B. NJ. 7, HUNTER,
]. A. CAMPBRLL
a note of these gentlemen, subsequently |
addressed to Gen. Grant, has already been
given in Msj. Eskhsrrs dispatch of the |
lss inst. also saw here, for the first time, |
the following note, added by the Rich. |
mond gentlemen to Maj EckharFs:
City Point, Ya., FED. 2, 1867. T.
Eckhart, Major, &e.-Msjor: In reply to |
your verbal statement that your instruc- |
tons did not allow you to alter the condi.
tons upon which a passport could be
given to US, we say that we are willing to
proceed to Fortress Monroe, aud there to
have an informal conference with any per-
son or persons that President Lincoln NAV
appoint on the basis of his letter to F. P. |
Blair, of the 18th of January ult., or upon |
any other terms or conditions that he may |
hereafter propose, not inconsistent with !
the essential principles of self government |
and popular rights upon which our iusti-
tutious are founded. 1t is our earnest |
wish to obtain free interchange of ideas |
and Information upon what grounds aud |
terms, if any, a just and honorable |
peace can be established without the |
further effusiou of blood, aud to contribute
our utmost efforts to accomplish such |
result.
We think it better tol add that in ac,ept-
ing you proposition we are not to be un-
derstood as committing ourselves to any
thing, but to carry to the informal confer
euce the sense of feeling above expressed. |
Very respectfully, &C.,
A. q. STRPHRxs,
r. N. T. HUNTER,
j. A. CAMPBELL.
TNoTE.-The above mmunication was
delivered to me at Fortress Monroe, at
4:30, p. M, February I'd, by Lt.-Ool. Bah. |
cock, Of Gen. Grants Staff.
Signed, E. T. ECKHART,
Major, &c.
On the morning of the Sd. the 8 gentle.
men, Stephens, Hunter aud Campbell, came
aboard of our steamer and had an inter
view with the Secretary of State aud nv.
self, of several houra' duration. No uuess
ton of prelirninaries to the meeting was
then thought of or mentioned No other
person was present, no papers were ex-
changed reproduced, and itwss, in advance
agreed that the conversation was to be in.
formal and verbal merely on our part.
The whole substance of the instructions |
u the Secretary of State herein before re-
cited was stated and insisted upon, and
nothing was said inconsistent Herewith.
While by the other party it was not said
that in any event or on any condition they
ever would consent to reunion, and yet
they equally omitted to declare that they
would not so consent. They seemed to
desire q postpouement of that ques-
ton, and the adoption of some
course in which some of them seem.
ed to argue might or might not lead
to reunion, but which would amount to an
indefinite postponemeut. The conference
ended without result. The foregoing con-
tain, as is believed, all the Information n
the subject, which is respectfully submitted.
Signed, A LIEcoLH.
Executive MGHSioH, Feb. TO- 1865.
From the Potomac Army.
HEADQUARTERS Army PoToxAc, Feb. g.