Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-11
The Presidents Message ON the
peace Conferences.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.

III rcspoHnc W YOUR TcsOluClOn OF the Stl
inst, requesting information in relation K
a conference recently held in Hampton
Roads. have the honor to state that on th,
day of the date gave Francis p. Blair
senior, card written on as follows:
"Allow the bearer, f. z. Blair, ST., tc
pass our lines to 60 South and return.
| [Signed "a. LINCOLN"
That at the time was informed that Mr.
Blair sought the card as a means of getting
to Richmond, Va, but he was given no ali.
thorty to speak or act for the Government
nor was informed Of anything he would
say or do on his own account, or otherwise
Mr.. Blair told me that he had been to Rich
mond and had seen Davis, and he (Blair)
at the same time left with me manuscript
letter as follows, to wit:
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. IL, 1865.
r. p. Blair, Esq:
'SIR-l have deemed it proper, and prob
ably desirable to you, to give you in this
form the substance of the remarks by me
to be repeated by you to President Lincoln.
| have no disposition to find obstacles in
forms. am willing now, as heretofore, to
enter into negotiations tor the restoration
OF peace. | am ready to send commission
whenever have reason to suppose it will
be received, or to receive commission if
the U. $. Government shall choose to send
one. Notwithstanding the rejection of our
former offers, would, if you could promise
that commissioner or minister or other
agent would be received, appoint one imme-
diately, and renew the effort to enter into
conference with view to secure peace to
the two countries.
"Yours, &C.. JEFF. DAVIS"
Afterwards. with the view that it should
be shown to Davis, l wrote and delivered
to MIR. Blair letter as follows:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 49, 1865.
"F. p. Blair, Esq. SIR-You having
shown me Mr.. Davis letter to you on the
18th inst- you may say to him that have
constantly been, am now, and shall con-
tinue ready to receive any agent whom he,
or any other influential person, now resist
ing the National authority, may informally
send me, with view of securing peace to
our common country. .-
[Signed A. LINCOLN"
Afterwards Mr.. Blair asked for permis-
sion and was authorized to make an en-
try on the back of my retained copy of the
letter last above recited, which is as follows:
"January 2Sth, 1865.
To-day, Mr.. Blair told me that on the 2lst
he delivered to Mr.. Davis the original of
which the within is a copy, and left it with
him; that at the time of delivering it Mr..
Davis read it over twice in Mr.. Blar's
presence; at the close of which he (Blair)
remarked that the paragraph (our one COM
mon country related to the part of Mr..
Davis letter about the two countries; to
which Davis replied that he so understood
it. [Signedl A. LINCOLN"
Here follows number of kilograms rela-
ting to the admission of Stephens, Hunter
and Campbell into our lines, there having
been some delay consequent on the absence
of Gen. Grant. The President then says:
Afterwards, by my directions, the Secre-
tary of War telegraphed General Ord as
follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGToN,l
January 30, 10 A. NJ, 1865.
"Mqj. Gen. Ord, Headquarters Army of the
Potomac:
"By direction of the President you are
instructed to inform the gentlemen (Ste-
phens, Hunter and CampbelD that mess
enger will be despatched to them at or near
where they now are, without unnecessary
delay.
[Signed E. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War;"
Afterwards prepared and put into the
hands of Major Thomas T. Eckert the fol-
lowing instructions and message:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30th.)
Major T. T. Eckert:
SIR-You will proceed with the docu-
ments placed in your hands, and on reach
ing Gen. Ord will deliver him the letter ad-
dressed him by the Secretary OF War; then,
by Gen. Ord's assistance, procure an inter-
view with Stephens, Hunter and Campbell,
or any of them, and deliver to him or them
the papers on which your own letter is
written. Note on the copy which you re-
tain the time Of delivery and to whom de-
livered. Receive their answer in writing,
waiting reasonable time for it, and which,
if it contain their design to come through
without further conditions, will be your
warrant to ask Gen. Ord to pass them
through as directed in the letter of the Sec
retary Of War. If, by their answer, they
decline to come, or propose other terms, do
not have them pass through; and this being
your whole duty, return and report to me.
Yours truly, A. LINCOLN.
Messrs. Alexander II. Stephens, j. A. Camp
bell and II. NJ. I. Hunter:
GENTs-I am instructed by the President
of the United States to place this paper in
your hands, with information that ifyou go
through the United States military lines it
will be understood that you do so for the
purpose of an informal conference OH the
basis of that letter, copy OF which is on
the reverse side of this sheet; and that if you
choose to pass on such understanding, and
so notify me in writing, will procure the
General to pass you through
the lines and to Fortress Monroe, under
such military protection as you may deem
prudent, and at which place you will be
met in due time by some person or persons
for the purpose of such informal conference;
and further, that you shall have protection,
safe conduct and safe return in all events.
[Signedl THos. L. ECKERT,
Major and Abide Camp.
City Point, Va, Feb. l, 1865.
Afterwards, but before Maj. Eckert had
departed, the following dispatch was re-
ceived from Gen. Grant:
"a OFFICE OF THE u. S. MIL. TELEGRApH,l
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The following telegram was received at
Washington Jan. 3lst, from City Point, Va,
1880 A. NJ, January, 31st, 1865:
His ErcellencN a. Lincoln, President Of the
United States:
The following communication was re-
ceived here last evening:
-' PETERSBURG, VA, Jan. 30th, 1895.
Lieut.. Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding armies Of
the United States:
uSIR:-We desire to pass your lines under
safe conduct, and proceed to Washington to
hold conference with President Lincoln
upon the subject Of the existing war, and
with a view of ascertaining upon what
terms it may be terminated, in pursuance
ii La ..fl flnkA