The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-17
SAINT PAUL FRIDAY FEBRUARY IT, 1865.

SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY,
assumed thereon in the late annual message to
Congress and the preceding Sgso s6o1a e,d
of the war and the disbanding of all of the
forces hostile to the Government. 3u
You will inform them that all propositions Of
theirs not Inconsistent with the above win be
considered and passed upon in spirit of sim
You win hear all they may choose to say,
You will not assume to definitely consum-
mate anything. Yours, &c,
A. LINCOLN.
On the day of its date the following
telegram was sent to Gen Grant:
WAR DEpr., Feb. 1, 1865.
Ii. Gen. Grant, City Point, Va.
Let nothing which is transpiring change,
hinder, or delay your military ~9ys%snts OF
plans. A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards the following dispatch was
received from Gen. Grant:
OFFICE q. 8. NIL. TEL'PH, WAR DEPT.
The following telegram received at
Washington 2:s0 P. NJ, Feb. l, 1865:
CrY POINT, Va. Feb. 1-1:3O P. M.
HIS Ercelency A. Lincoln, President of D. s.
Your dispatch received. There will be no
armistice in consequence of the presence of Mr..
Stephens and others within our lines. The
troops are kept in readiness to move at shortest
notice if occasion should justify it.
U. s. GRANT, It. Gen.
To notify Major Eckert that the Secre-
tary of State would be at Fortress Monroe,
and to put them in communication, the
following dispatch was sent:
WAR DEPT, WAsHNe1os, Feb. 1.
MAJOR T. T. Eekert, care 1t. Gen. Grant, City
Call at Fortress Monroe and put yourself
find there. A. LINCOLN.
On the morning Of the I'd inst. the fol-
lowing telegram was received by me:
CRY POINT, Feb. 1, SP.M
10 HIS Escellency A. Lincoln. hesident Of tie
United States:
l have the honor to report the delivery of
your communication and my letter at 4:15 this
p. M, to which received reply at P. NJ,
but unsatisfactory. At P. NJ. the following
note addressed to Gen. Grant was received;
"C1rY POINT, Feb. 1, P.M
"LieM. Gen. Grant:
"SIR: We desire to go to Washington City
to confer informally with the President person
ally, in reference to the matter mentioned in
his letter to Mr.. Blair, Jan. Is ultimo, without
the letter. We have permission to do 90 from
the authorities in Richmond.
''Very respectfully. your obedt servts:.
ALEX. H. STEPHENS,
R. NJ. T. HUNTER,
JOHN A. CAMPBELL"
At 3 P. NJ notified them that they could not
proceed further unless they complied with the
terms expressed in my letter. The point of
meeting designated in the above note would
not in my opinion be insisted upon. I think
Fortress Monroe would be acceptable.
Having complied with my instructions win
return to Washington unless otherwise or
dered.
THOMAS T. ECKERT, Major, &c.
On reading this dispatch of Eckert /
was about to recall him and the Secretary
of State, when the following telegram was
shown me:
OFFICE U. 8. MIL. TELEGRAPH, }
WAR DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON, Ais, A. NJ, Feb. 2, '65.
The following telegraph received from
City Point, Feb. l.:
To Hon. E. II. Stanton:
Now that the interview between Major Ec-
kert, under his written instructions and Mr..
Stephens and party has ended, l will state con-
fidentailly, but not officially, to become matter
of record, that am convinced upon converse
ton with Messrs Stephens and Hunter that
their intentions are good and their desire sim
cere to restore peace and Union.
I have not felt myself at liberty to express
views of my own, or to account for my re-
ticence. This has placed me In an awkward
position, which l could have avoided by not
seeing them in the first instance.
l fear now their going back without any ex-
preston to any one in authority will have
bad influence, at the same time recognize the
difficulties in the way of receiving their infOr-
NAL communication at this time.
I don't know what to recommend. ! am
sorry, however, that Mr.. Lincoln had an in
terview with the two named in this dispatch,
now within our lines. Their lettar to me was
ted to secure their safe conduct, if they had
used the same language to Major Eckert.
U. s. GRANT, Lieut.. General.
This dispatch of Gen. Grant changed
my purpose, and accordingly telegraphed
him and the Secretary of State as follows:
sWAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, Feb. 2.
Lieut.-G Grant, City Psint, Va:
Say to the Gentlemen will meet them in
personally at Fortress Monroe as soon as can
get there. A. LINCOLN.
Sent in cypher at 9A.M.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, Feb. 2.
To Hon. Vim. H.. Sssodrd: =
Induced by dispatch from General Grant
join you at Fortress Monroe as soon ss can
get there. A LlNCOLN.
Sent in cypher at 9A.M
Before starting the following dispatch
was shown to me. proceeded neverthe-
less.
"Orp1cR q. 8. MIL. TEL. (Cypher)
The following telegraph received Feb 2,
1865, from City Point, Va, ID:
To Hon. VIM. II. Sesard, Secretgy Of State,
Fortress Monroe. Copy to E. II. St@ton, Sec
retosy of War, Wdski.gtoa:
The gentlemen here have accepted the pro-
roe at $50 A. N. q. 8. GRANT.
Lieutenant General.
On the night of the I'd I reached Hamp-