Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-16

| w liOul lllCHlllOHu otu' 'ioiiNo hiN"N
quarters The Major was directed to de-
liver to them a copy of the Presidents let
ter to Mr. Blair with a note to be addressed
to them, and signed by the Major, iii which
they were directly informed that should
they be .aIlo wed to pass our lines, they
would be understood as coming for an in
formal conference upon the basis of the
aforesaid letter of the 18th of January to
Mr. Blair
If they should express their assent to
this condition in writing, then Major Eckert
was directed to give them safe conduct to
Fortress Monroe where a person coming
/ from the President would meet them. 1t
being thought probable from report OF
their conversation with Lieut.-Gen. Grant
that the Richmond party would in the man
ner prescribed accept the condition men
toned, the Secretary of State was charged
by the President with the duty OF represen-
ting the Government in the expected infor-
NAL conference The Secretary arrived at
Fortress Monroe on the night of the lstday
of February Major Eckert met him on the
morning of the I'd of February, with the in
| formation that the persons who had come
| from Richmond had not accepted in writing
the conditions upon which he was allowed
to give them conduct to Fortress Monroe.
/ The Major had given the same intOrma
ton by telegraph to the President at Wash
ington On receiving this information the
President prepared telegram directing the
Secretary to return to Washington. The
| Secretary was preparing at the same mo-
mcnt to so return, without waiting for in
formation from the President, but at this
iuncture Lcut.-Gcn. Grant telegraphed to
the Secretary Of War, as well as to the
Secretary Of State that the party from
Richmond had reconsidered and accepted
the condition rendered them through MalOr
Eckert, and Gen. Grant urgently advised
the President to confer in person with the
Richmond party Under Ihese circumstan-
ces, the Secretary by the Presidents direc-
tion remained at Fortress Monroe and the
President Joined him there on the night of
the I'd of February.
The Richmond party was brought down
the James River i'll United States steam
transport during the day, and the transport
was anchored in Hampton Roads. On the
morning of the Sd, the President, attended
by the Secretary, received Messrs. Stephens,
Hunter and Campbell on board the United
States steam transport River Queen, in
Hampton Roads The conference was al
together informal There was no attend
ance Of secretaries clerks, or other wit
ncsses. Nothing was written or read. The
conversation, though earnest and free, was
calm and courteous, and kind on both sides
The Richmond party approached the discus
sion rather indirectly, and at no time did
, they make categorical demands or tender
2 formal stipulations or absolute refusals.
Nevertheless, during the Conference
which lasted four hours-the several points
: at issue between the Government and the
/ insurgents were distinctly raised and dis
cussed fully, intelligently, and in an amica-
: ble spirit What the insurgent party seemed
| chiefly to favor was pOstpOnement Of the
question of separation upon which the war
is waged, and mutual direction Of the eff
forts Of the Government as we'll as those of
the insurgents to some extrinsic policy or
scheme for season during which pass
ions might be expected to subdu, and the
armies be reduced, and trade and inter-
course between the people of both sections
be resumed. 1t was suggested by them
that though such pOstponement we might
now have immediate peace, with some not
very certain prospect of an ultimate salts
: factory adjustment of political relations be-
2 tween the Government and the States, sec
ton or people now engaged in conflict with
it,
The suggestion though deliberately con-
sidered was nevertheless regarded by the
f President as one Of armistice or truce, and
\ he announced that we can agree to no ces-
, sation or suspension of hostilities except
on the basis of the disbandment of the i'll
surgent forces and the restoration Of the
national authority throughout all the States
in the Union. Collaterally and in subordi-
e nation to the proposition which was thus
, announced, the Ant-Slavery policy of the
5 United States was reviewed in all its bear
1 ings, and the President announced that he
: must not be expected to depart from the po,
sitions he had heretofore assumed in his
l proclamation of emancipation and other
: documents, as these positions were related
+ in his Annual Message.
1t was further declared by the President
that the complete restoration of the nation
: al authority everywhere was an indispensa-
bic condition of any assent on our part to
whatever form of peace might be proposed.
: The President assured the other party that
: while he must adhere to these positions, he
r would be prepared so far as power is lodged
with the Executive, to exercise liberality
Its power, however, is limited by the Con
stitution, and when peace should be made,
Congress must necessarily act in regard to
appropriations of money and to the admis-
sion Of representatives from the insurrec-
z tlOnary States.
The Richmond party were then informed
that Congress had, on the 3lst ult, adopted
+ by Constitutional majority joint resolu-
ton submitting to the several States the
proposition to abolish Slavery throughout
the Union, and that there is every reason
to expect that it will be accepted by three
+ fourth of the States, so as to become part
of the national organic law.
The conference came to an end by mu-
tual acquiesence, without producing an
agreement of views upon the several mat
ters discussed, or any of them. Neverthe-
less, it is perhaps of some Importance that
we have been able to submit our opinions
: and views directly toprominent insurgents,
and to hear them in answer in courteous
and not unfriendly manner
. | am, sir, your obedient servent,
WM H. SEWARD.
, THE REBEL VERSION.
L II l.