Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-23
FROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb g. 1865.
Mr.. EDIToR.-The allabsorbing topic here since
| last wrote you, has been the special Conference
held last week in Hampton Roads, off Fortress
Monroe, on board one of General GRANTS trans
port steamers, between Messrs. ALEX. H. STEVENS,
Ex-Judge CAMPBELL, and r. NJ. T. HUNTER, on the
part of the so-called Confederate States Govern
ment, and President LINCOLN andWM. H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State, of the United States.
The ultimatum said to have been presented by
these rebel agents is reported to be- immediate re-
cognition of their so-caled Confederacy as an in
dependent Government This was promptly met
by refusal to treat with them upon any such terms
and the conference separated, after arrangement
for an exchange of our men now held as prisoners
by the rebels for equal number of Confederate
prisoners of same rank held by us
The arrangement for exchange of prisoners,
if carried out will well repay the visit of the Pres
ident and Secretary of State. The result of the
talk about peace, is what might have been expect
ed and the President acted wisely in not permit
ing the rebel agents to come to Washington where
their ears could be reached by designing politici-
ans. They have returned to Richmond no wiser
than they came, far as any observations they
were able to make, or any communications they
We're able to hold with sympathzing friends are
concerned on this side their lines.
1t is perfectly apparent that the leaders of the re-
bellion do not intend nor desire to have peace
short of the recognition of their claims for separa-
ton 1t is not to them are to look for any dis
position to return to loyalty they intend to fight Just
as long as they hold together a sufficient num-
Der Of their misguided followers to maintain an
nf 49,
sistance to the onward march of our victorious an
mics and when they unable longer to do this,
and the masses of their people have suffered from
the mad folly of their leaders to such an extent as
to satisfy them, that they are the victims of set
of wicked men, ambitious only for their own ag-
grandizement, and refuse to longer bear arms in
their defence; these leaders will flee from the
country and take shelter in Mexico under MAx1MII-
ION, or scatter away to live out the remainder of
their miserable existence under the protection of
some of the governments of Europe. All the in
formation desired from the masses of the people of
the rebel States, to indicate pretty certainly
that this eliminating point inthe rebellion is near
y reached and that before the lapse of six months
the rebel leaders will find themselves without an
army to fight their battles the peace missions of
GRANT, SHERMAN, SHERIDAN, TERRY, FARRAGUT PoR-
TER, and WINsLow will have accomplished their
work. the most desperate of the rebel leaders will
have fed from the country or been captured in the
attempt the masses of the rebel soldiery will have
laid down their arms and taken shelter under the
Presidents Amnesty Proclamation, Slavery will be
forever abolished in all the States, and we shall
have peace, and restored Union, upon perma-
nent and enduring basis. Yesterday in the pres
ence of both Houses the electoral vote of each of
the loyal States was opened by the President
of the United States in pursuance of the forms of
law. At one o'clock NJ, the Senators filed into
the House two abreast, headed by the Vice-Presi-
dent and Secretary of the Senate. The galleries
were crowded more than full of fair ladies and ear
nest manhood and the corridors were thronged
with an eager multitude vainly seeking admittance
The floor of the House was invaded by spectators
and even the sanctity of the reporters gallery was
dsregarded.
The will of the people having been recorded and
the count concluded, Mr. TRUMBTLI, teller on the
part of the Senate, formally announced the
vote, and the VicePresdent repeated it to the Con-
vention, declaring ABRAHAM LINCOLN the President
and ANDREW JOHNSON the Vce-President of the
United States for four years from the 4th of March,
1865. Then came outburst of applause from
the vast assemblage, when the Vice-President de-