Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1865-02-10
Stories about the Conference.

come.
Stories about the Conference.
We call them stories, for there is very
little that is reliable in the reports A
dispatch says;
The President and Secretary Seward
returned to Washington on Saturday morn
ing. Mr.. Seward says the negotiations
with the rebel commissioners were total
failure. There was no change Of attitude
either by the goyernm ent or the rebels.
No disclosures have been made as TO the
details of The conference, which lasted six
teen hours, but il is credibly stated thatthe
President proposed TO waive all minor
points if the rebels would return to the
Union. The rebel commissioners did not
consider themselves authorized to promise
this, and SO the conference ended. 1t was
conducted in most cordial and frank man
ner on both sides. The cabinet was called
together on Saturday, and doubtless the
details of the conference were made known
to them.
WASHINGTON, Feb. So p. NJ.
The Hampton Roads conference, as it
will be known in history, was held between
Stevens, Hunter and Campbell on one side
and President Lincoln and Secretary Sew
ard on the other, with plenipotentiary
from Africa, friendly to both parties and
serviceable to each, who came and went
with things on salver.
The salver of the plenipotentiary from
Africa bridged The passage over topics of
kindly and pleasant talk to a significant in
quiry Of Stephens how nearly the extension
of the Capitol was completed, and the ex-
preston of desire to go to Washington to
see. Mr.. Seward told him of the condi-
ton of the work, aud invited him to come
and look at the Capitol of reunited Re-
public. The terms or peace were thus
gradually approached. When ruliy reach
ed CD the rebel side, Stephens took the
parole aud surpassed all his old exhibitions
OF responsiveness, shrewdness, force, tact
and courage in putting the demands and
the rights of the Confederacy. In the
midst of them, aud at the conclusion of one
of his points, Mr.. Lincoln swung forward
on the lower hinge of his back and inter-
rupted: That rea inds me OF story out
in Illinois !" Stephens, Hunter and Camp.
bell Instantly jumped up in roar of mer-
iment.
The interruption caused by this charac-
{ rsiic outbreak, and the apt story which
followed being through with, the rebel
Vice President resumed, and pursued to
the end Of his statement of the rights of
the Confederate States and the terms on
which he thought they would be willing to
stop the war. Recognition was the first of
them.
Ii is very certain that Mr.. Lincoln and
Mr.. Seward were surprised at striking this
snag in the very outset of the conference.
The preliminary cropping and feeling around
by our pioneer Of peace. and his assuran-
ces and convictions, had led to the belief
that the three ENJOYS had entered our lines
to talk Of restored Union and common
country. They had stayed for about two
days at the army headquarters in CONVEX
sations there with Gems. Grant, Mead aud
one or two other generals. Stephens pro-
fessed TO love the old Union, TO be as much
as ever in his feelings an American of the
United States, and deplored the necessity
which politics placed him and all the lead
ers of the rebellion in 10 have something
to give TO the decimated and impoverished
people Of the south for their sacrifices. 1t
is understood that they declared at head
quarters, that if we would recognize them
for only week, or any suitable length of
lime, to satisfy the pride of their people,
they would pledge their honor to bring
about reunion.
Whatever was the precise character of
| their admissions or limitations. our peace
prospectors went to Fortress Monroe on
what they felt was sure thing.
Of the whole character of the whole
Interview the country can judge from what
Mr.. Lincoln said to general officer on
Saturday: 4" We could not do anything
with them whatever"
They stood on recognition. Mr.. Seward
considered their claims argumentaiively.
He kindly and courieously spoke of our
larger resources, and of our certainty of
victory in the end. They insisted on re-
eognition. The utter inadmissibiity of
this demand and OF their other and conse-
quential demands was demonstrated. They
were immoyable--Ihey stood for recogin-
ton.
An ARTIST WITHOUT ARMs-T ere
dwells in Antwerp an artist named Flu,
who, born without arms, educated his feet
effectively 10 do their work. His taste
directed his choice of life. He became a