Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-11

avoided by not seeing them in the first
instance.
I fear now their going back without any
expression to any one in authority will
have q sad influence at some time. rec
ogniEe the difficulties in the way of re-
feeiving their informal commissioners at
this time, and l do not know what to rec
ommend. I am sorry, however, that Mr..
Lincoln cannot have an interview with
the two named in this dispatch, if not all
three now within our lines. Their letter
to me was all that the Presidents instruc-
tions contemplated to secure their safe
conduct if they had used the same Ian
guSge to Major Eckert.
o. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General
This dispatch of General Grant changed
my purpose, and accordingly telegrsphed
him and the Secretary Of State as follows;
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1865.
Lieutenant General Grant, City Point
Say to the gentlemen that I will meet
them personally at Fortress Monroe as coon
as can get there.
a. LINCOLN.
[Sent in cypher at 9 A. Nj
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 2, 1866
Hon. VIM. II. Seward, Fortress Monroe:
Induced by dispatch from General
Grant, Join you st Fortress Monroe as
soon as I can get there.
A. LINCOLN.
[Sent in cypher at AMI
Before starting, the following dispatch
was shown to me. proceeded, neverthe-
less:
OFFICE OF UNITED STATES TELEeRAPRl
WAR DEPARTMENT. [cypherl. !
The following terelegram was received
at Washington, February 2, 1865, from
City Point
February 2-9 A. N.
Hon. VIM. Il. Seward, Secretary of State,
Fortress Monroe, (copy to Z. NJ. Stan
ton, Secretary of War;;
The gentlemen here have accepted the
proposed terms and will leave for Fortress
Monroe at $50 A. NJ.
[Signedl o. S. GRAET,
1t General.
On the night of the I'd I reached Hamp-
ton Roads, and found the Secretary of
State and Major Eekert on steamer an
chored of the shore, and learned of them
that the Richmond gentlemen were on an
other stesmer, also anchored off shore, in
the Roads, and that the Secretary of State
had not yet seen OF communicated with
them. l ascertained that Major Eckert
had literally complied with his instruct
ions, and 1 saw for the first time the an
swer of the Richmond gentlemen to him,
which, in his dispatch to me of the lst, he
characterizes as not satisfactory. That
answer is as follows, to wit:
CITY PoINr, Feb. l.
Thomas T. Eckert, Major and Aide-de-
Camp:
MAJoR-Your note, delivered by your
self this day, has been considered. In re-
ply we have to say that we were furnished
with copy of the letter of President Lin
coin to T. P Blair, of the 18th Of January
another copy of which is appended to
your note. Our instructions were contain
ed in q letter of which the following is a
copy:
RICHMOND, Jan. %.
In conformity with the letter of Mr..
Lincoln, of which the foregoing is copy,
YOU are to proceed to Washington Uity
for an informal conference with him upon
the issues involved in the existing war and
for the purpose Of securing peace to the
two countries.
With great respect,
Your obedient servant,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The substantial object to be obtained by
the informal conference is to ascertain up
on what terms the existing war can be ter
minated honorsbly. Our instructions con-
template q personal interview between
President Lincoln sn ourselves at Wash
ington, but with this explanation we are
ready TO meet any person or persons that
President Lincoln may appoint, at such
place as he may designate. Our earnest
desire is that Just and honorable peace
may be agreed upon, and we are prepared
to receive or submit propositions which
may possibly lead to the attainment ofthst
eRd. Very respectfully yours,
ALEX. a STEPHENS,
r. II. I. HUNTER,
J. A. CAMPBELL.
A note of these gentlemen, subsequent
ly addressed to General Grant, has already
been given in Major Eckert's dispatches of
the lst inst. also saw here, for the first
time, the following note, addressed by the
Richmond gentlemen, to Major Eckert:
CITY POINT, VA, Feb. 2.
MAJoR-In reply to your verbal stste.
ment that your instructions did not permit
you to alter the conditions upon which q
passport could be given to US, we say that
we are willing to proceed to Fortress Mon
roe, and there to have an informal confer
ence with any person or persons that |
President Lincoln may appoint, on the bs- !
SIS of his letter to f. P. Blair, of January
18th, or upon any other terms or conditions |
that he may hereafter propose, not incon- |
sistent with the principles of selfgoveTn>
ment and popular rights, upon which our
institutions are founded.
1t is our earnest wish to ascertain, after |
a free interchange of ideas and informa- |
ton, upon what principles and terms, if |
any, a Just and honorable peace can be es-
tablished, without the further effusion of |
blood, and to contribute our utmost efforts |
TO accomplish such result.
We think it better to add that, in accept
ing your passport, We are not to be under
stood as committing ourselves to anything
but to csrry in this informal conference
the views Of feeling above expressed.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
ALEX. II. STEPHENS,
R. N. 7. HUNTER,
JNo. a. CAMPBELL.
NoTE.-The above communication was
delivered to me at Fortress Monroe at 4:3O
P. NJ, the I'd, by Lieutenant Colonel Bah
cock, of General Grants staff.
m IN II