Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-11

three things are indispensable, to wit: First,
the restoration of the National authority
throughout all the States; second, no reced-
ing by the Executive of the United States
on the slavery question, from the position
assumed thereon in@the late annual mes
sage to Congress, and in the preceding
documents; and, third, no cessation of hos
tilities short of an end of the war and the
| disbanding of all the forces hostile to the
Government. You will inform them that
all propositions if it is not consistent with
the above, will be considered and passed
upon in spirit Of sincere liberality. You
will hear all they may choose to say, and
| report it to me. YOu will not assume tn
definitely consummate anything.
Yours &c,
A. LINCOLN.
The following telegram was sent to Gen
| Grant: .
| WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, Feb. /, 1861
Lieut.. Gen. Grant, City Point, va:
Let nothing that is transpiring change,
hinder or delay your military movements
or plans.
[Signedl A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards the following dispatch was
received from Gen. Grant:
|
| WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. l, 1865.
The following telegram was received at
Washington at 23O p. NJ, Feb. 9Th:
CITY POINT, VA, Feb. l, 1920 P. NJ.
His E1cellency A. Lincoln, President of the
| United States:
| Your dispatches received. There will be
no armstice in consequence of the presence
of Mr.. Stephens and others within our lines
The troops are kept in readiness to move at
the shortest notice if occasion should JUS
tify it.
[Signedl U. S. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
To notify Eckert that the Secretary of
State would be at Fortress Monroe, and to
dispatch was sent.
| WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, }
February 8, p. M.
T. T. ECKERT, CARE GEN. GRANT, City
Point, Va.:ACall at Fortress Monroe and
| proceed under directions of Mr.. Seward,
whom you will find there.
[Signed,l A. LINCOLN.
On the morning of the 2nd inst. the fol-
lowing telegram was received.
CITY PoINT, Va, Feb. 1-10 P. NJ.
His EXCELLENCY, ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States:-I have
the honor to report the delivery of your
communication and my letter at 4-15 this
afternoon, to which received reply at
p. NJ but not satisfactorily.
In the afternoon the following note, ad-
dressed to Lieut.-General Grant, was re-
ceived:
CITY POINT. Feb. l, 1866.
GEN. GRANT-Sir:-We desire to 90 to
Washington City to confer informally with
the President personally in reference to the
matters mentioned in his letter to Mr.. Blair
of the 18th of January, ult., without any
personal compromise on any person named
in the letter. We have the permission to do
so from the authorities in Richmond.
Very respectfully yours,
ALEX. III. STEPHENS,
.s r. M. I. HUNTER,
j. A. CAMPBELL.
At 9:30 P. NJ. notified them that they
could not proceed further unless they COM
piled with the terms expressed in the letter.
The point of meeting designated in the
above note would not, in my opinion. be
insisted upon. l think Fortress Monroe
would be acceptable. Having complied
with my Instructions will return to Wash
ington tomorrow unless otherwise ordered.
[Signed] THos. Il. ECKERT, Maj. &c.
On reading this dispatch of Major Eckert
1 was about to recall him and the Secretary
of State, when the following telegram OF
Gen. Grant to the Secretary of War was
shown me:
OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH, !
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The following telegram was received at
Washington at 4;35 A. M. Feb. I'd, from
City Point Feb 1st 1890 p. NJ:
Hon. E. NJ. Stanton, Secretary of Var:
Now that the interview between Major
Eckert, under his written instructions and
Messrs. Stephens and party, is ended, will
state confdentally, but not officially, to be-
come a matter of record, that l am con-
vinced, upon conversation with Messrs.
Stephens and Hunter, that their intentions
are good and their desire sincere to restore
Peace and Union. have not felt myself
at liberty to express even views ofmy own,
or to account for my belief. This has placed
me in an awkward position, which L
would have avoided by not seeing
them in the first instance. l fear now
their going back without any expression
to any one in authority, will have a bad in
fluence. At the same time | recognise the
difficulties in the way of receiving them as
informal commissioners at this time. do
not know what to recommend. am sorry,
however, that. Mr.. Lincoln cannot have an
interview with the two named in this des-
patch, If not all three, now within our lines.
Their letter to me was all that the Presi-
dents instructions contemplated to secure
their safe conduct, If they had used the
same language to Major Eckert.
[Signedl U. S. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
This dispatch of Gen. Grant changed my
purpose, and accordingly telegraphed him
and the Secretary of State as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT., v
q ~ WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1861
Gen. Grant, City Point:
Say to the gentlemen that l will meet
them personally at Fortress Monroe as soon
as can get there.
[Signed] A. LINCOLN.
Sent in cypher at 0 A. M.
i WAR DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON, Feb. q Ia p. M.
Hon. Wns. III. Se,card, Fortress Monroe: &.
Induced by dispatch from Gen. Grant,
I Join you at Fortress Monroe as soon as
can come. 3mpa ae
[Signedl A. LINCOLN.
Sent in cypher at 8 A. M:
Before starting the following dispatch
was shown me. / proceeded, nevertheless:
OFFICE U. S. MIL. TELEGRAPH,l
laa-i4 .1ap WAR DEPARTMENT.
The following telegram was received at
Washington, Feb. I'd, 1855, from City Point,
A. NJ Feb. I'd: sssg e
| To Hon. Wns. II. iSe,odrd, Secretary of State,