Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-13
messake from the Presidenf--Why
Peace was noE made.

tALlOu Tue kOuAEGEn@C AEGEANAy ALA4 AZ
Hampton Roads, have the honor TO
reply that on the day Of the dates /
gave Francis p Blair, Sr., card written
on as follows
"Ailow the bearer, + p Blair, Sr, to
pass our lines to 20 south and return"
GSigned, "a. Lincoln"
That at that time / was informed that
Mr.. Blair sought the card as means of
getting to Richmond, bat be was given
no authority to speak or act for the Gov
ernment, nor was / informed Of any
thing he would say or do, on his own
account or otherwise Mr. Blair told
me that be had been to Richmond and
had seen Davis, and he (Blair), at the
same time, Left with me manuscript
letter as follows.
RicHMosD, Jan. IL
T. p. BLAIR, ESQ
SIR: have deemed it proper, and
possibly desirable to you, to give you in
this form the remarks made BY noe 10 be
reported to President Lincoln. have
no disposition to end obstacles in forms
and am willing nov, as heretofore, to
enter into negotiations for the restOra-
ton Of peace I am ready 20 send
Commission whenever | have reason 70
suppose it will be received, or to receive
Commission whenever the United
States Government shall choose to send
one, Notwithstanding the rejection Of
our former efforts would, if you
could promise that a minister or
other agent would be received, appoint
one Immediately, aud renew the effort
to euter into conference with a view
to secure peace TO the two countries.
Yours, &c. JEFF DAVIS.
Afterwards with view that il should
be shown to Davis, wrote and delivered
te Mr. Blair letter, as follows:
WASHINGTON, Jan. ls, 1868
f. r. Blair, Esq
SIE-1 ou having shown to me Mr.
Daviss letter 10 you on the 18th inst
you may say 10 him that | have con-
stantly been, am now, and shall con
tinue TO be, ready n receive any agent
whom he, or any other influential per-
son now resisting the national authority,
may informally send me, With view to
securing peace to the people Of our
| common country.
[signsdl A. LIxooLS.
Afterwards Mr.. Blair authorized me
to make an entry ou my retained copy
Of the letter last above Fecited, which Is
as follows;
January 2s.
To-day Mr. Blair tells me that on the
2lst inst. be delivered 10 Mr. Davis the
| original Of which the within IS copy,
| and left IT, with him that at the time Of
delivering, Mr. Davis read il over twice
in Mr. Blairs presence, At the close OF
which be (Biair) remarked that the part
about our one common country related
TO the part OF Mr.. Davis's letter about
the two countries; TO which Mr. Davis
replied that he SO understood IT.
A. LINCOLN.
Here follows a number OF kilograms
relating 10 the admission Of Stephens,
Hunter aud Campbell into our Zines.
There baving been some delay conse-
The President then says: Afterwards
by my directions the Secretary Of War
telegraphed Gen. Ord as follows
WAR DEP'r, wAsHNGroS, lOAMl
Jan. 80
MAJ Gen. ord, Headquarters Depart
ment Of the James
By direction OF the President am in
strueted to inform the three gentlemen,
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell that
messenger will Be dispathed TO them at
or near where they now are, without un-
necessary delay
Signed r NJ. STANTON,
.F
Afterwards proposed to pat into the
hands Of Major Thos. J. c. Eckert, the
following instructions and message:
Executive MANSION, WAsHIEsToS
January, Both.
T. J. G. Eckers Esq
Sir You will proceed with the doc
uments placed in your hands, and on
= reaching General Ord deliver him the
letter addressed him BY the Secretary
, OF War. Then by Gen. Ord assistance,
procure an interview with Messrs Ste
phens, Hunter aud Campbell, or any Of
them. Deliver 10 him or them the pa
papers on which your own letter is writ
{ ten; note on the copy which you retain
. the time of delivery and to whom deliv-
/. cred, receive their order in writing
waiting a reasonable time for IT, and
which, if it contains their decision TO
So come through without further cosider,
{. alton, it will be your warrant to ash
J, Gen. Ord to pass them through as direct
ed IN .he letter of the Secretary of War
II by their answer they decline to com,
through or propose other terms, do no
have them passed through, and afte
thus doing your whole duty return, an'
report to me Yours truly,
\. LINCOLN
Messrs. AIez. Il. Stephens, J. 4. Camp
beH, and r. H. G Hnater
2, 2, GENTLEMEN; | au instructed by th
1p President of the United States to plac
ss =, this paper in your hands, with the il
formation that if you get through th
United States military lines, it viii
- understood that you do so for the pu
pose of an informal conference on th
"a "a basis of that letter, copy Of which
on the reverse side of this sheet, al
that if you choose to pass on such uI
- derstanding, and notify me, in writinI
in to pass you, l viii procure the eomman'
d ing General TO pass you through Il
lines and to Fort Monroe, under sue
- military precautions as he may dee
prudent. and at which place you viii
M met in due time by some person, or pc
sons, for the purpose Of such inform
= negotiations, and, further, that yon shs
=. have protection and safe conduct al
safe return in all events.
- THoS J. C. EcKERT,
Major and A. D, C..
r CIrY PoINr, Va, Feb. /, 1855.
Afterwards, but before Major &c
ert had departed, the following dispat
OF was received from Gen. Grant:
=" OFFICE Q. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
War DEPARTMENT.
The following telegram was reeeiv
at Washington, Jan. 5lst, from c