Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-11

The weather has cleared off beautifully,
but the roads are in bad condition, from
the severe storm yesterday.
MR. LINCOLN 8 EXPLANATION OF
BLAI as VISIT 10 RICHBOND.
WAsHINGToE, Feb. 10.
To the honorable, the House of Representa-
tives:
In response to your resolution of the 9Th
inst, requesting information in relation to
8 conference recently held in Hampton
Roads, have the honor to state that on
the day Of the dates gave Francis P.
Blair, senior, card written on as follows
Allow the bearer, F. P. Blair, senior, to
pass through our lines to go South and
return.
TSigned,7 A.LINcOLN.
That at the time I was informed that
Blair sought the card as a means of getting
to Richmond, Virginis, but he was given no
authority to speak or act for the govern
ment, nor was I informed of anything he
would say or do on his own account, or
otherwise. Mr.. Blair told me- that he had
been to Richmond, and had seen Davis,
and he Blair at the same time left with
me a manuscript letter. as follows, TO wit:
RICHMOND, Jan. Ia, '65.
F. P. Blair, Esq:
SRI have deemed 1t proper, and prob
ably desirable to you, to give you in this
form the substance of the remarks made by
me, to be repeated by you to President
Lincoln,
have no disposition TO find obstacles in
forms, and am willing now ss heretofore to
enter into negotiations of peace. 1 am
ready 10 send commission whenever I
have reason TO suppose it will be received,
or to receive commission If the United
States shall choose to send one. Nolwith-
standing the rejection of cur former offer,
would be grstifed if you would promise
that a commissioner, minister or other
agent woGld be received. Appoint one
Immediately, and renew the effort to enter
into conference with view to securing
peace between the two countries.
Yours, Sc,
T5igned,l JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Afterwards, with view that it should
be shown to Davis, wrote snd delivered
to Mr.. Blair letter, as follows:
WAsHIEGrON, Jan. Is, 1865.
F. P. Blsir ESQ, sIR-You having
shown me Mr.. Davis letter to you on the
18th inst, you may say to him that have
constantly been, am now and shall contin-
ue ready to receive any agent whom he or
any other influential person now resisting
the national authority may informally
send me, with q view of securing peace TO
the people of our common country.
C5igned,l A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards Mr.. Blair dictated for and
authorized me to make an entry on the
back Of the retained copy of the letter last
above recited, which is IS follow:
January 25, Is65.-To-day Mr.. Blair
tells me that on the 21st instant he deliv-
ed to Mr.. Davis the original of which the
within is a copy, and left il with him.
That at the time ofdslivering it, Mr.. Davis
read it over twice in Mr.. Blair's presence,
at the close of which he IBlair] remarked,
that the part about one common country
related to the part of M. Davis letter
about the two countries. To which Davis
replied that he sounderstood it.
CSigned,1 a. LINCOLN
Here follow g uumber of kilograms, re-
lsting 70 the admission ofStephens, Hunter
and Campbell into our lines, there having
been some delay consequent in the absence
of General Grant.
The President then says: Afterwards,
by my directions, the Secretary of War
telegrsphed to General Ord as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, !
Jan. 30, A. N. 1865,
Major General Ord:
By direction of the President, you are
instructed to inform the three gentlemen,
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, that q
messenger will be dispatched to them, at
or near where they now are, without un-
necessary delay.
CSigned,l E. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
I afterwards proposed, and put into the |
hands of Msjor Thomas 7. Eckert the fol- |
lowing instructions and message:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 80, 1865
Msior T. T. Eclert:
SR-You will proceed with the docu-
meuts placed in your hands, and on reach |
ing General Ord will deliver to him the |
letter addressed to him by the Secretary
of War Then, by General OTd's assist |
ance, procure an interview with Stephens, |
Hunter and Campbell, or any of them.
Deliver to him or them the papers on
which your own letter is written. Note,
on the copy which you retain, the time |
Of delivery and to whom delivered. Re-
csive their answer in writing, waiting g
reasonable time for it, and which, if it
contain their decision to come through
without further conditions will be your
warrant to ask General Ord to pass them
through, as directed in the letter of the
Secretary Of War. II, by their answer,
they decline to come, er propose other
terms, do not have them passed through;
and this being your whole duty, return and
report to me.
Yours truly, A. LINCOLN.
Messrs. Alex. Il. Stephens, j. A. Camp.
bell and r. NJ. T. Hunter:
GEETLEMEN.-I am instructed by the
President of the United States to place