New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-11
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, ID: g.,

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, d: c.
Feb. 2, lsoo.
Lieut. Gen. GRANT. City Point, IA.
Say 10 the gentlemen that viii meet them personally
at Fortress Monioe us soon as can get theIe:
WAR DEPARTMENT. wAsHNeroS. D. c..
Feb. 9, 1865. J
Hon. WM II. SEWARD Fortress Monroe, Va
induced by dispatch from Gen. Grant, JOIN you "
o'''>'' 80 A. LINCOLN.
Sent in cipher at Q a. m.
Before starting the following dispatch was shown me-
l proceeded nevertheless.
OFFICE L. s. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
Cinherl WAR DEPARTMENT.
The following telegram was received at Washing
ton, FEBRUARY Q ls6j from City Point Va' a. m''
Copy to Hon Edwin NJ. Stanton Secretary Of War; Wash
Hon. WILLIAM II. SEWARD. Secretary Of STATE Fortress
Tie gentleman hero have accepted the proposed
terms and will leave for Fort Monroe nt 9:.O a. m.
u. 5. GRANT. Lieut.. Gen.
On the night Of the Cd reached Hampton Roads,
found tie Secretary Of State and Major Eckert on
steamer anchored of the Shore and learned of them that
the Richmond gentlemen were another steamer, also
anchored off shore, in the Roads and that the Secre
tary of state had not yet communicated with
them Iascertined that Maj. Eckert had literally
complied with his instructions. and saw for the first
line the answer OF the Richmond gentlemen to him,
which h hs dispatch to Of toe st he charncterzes
as not satisfactory. That answer 10 as follows, To Wiz
! CITY POINT Va, Feb. /. 1865.
THOMAS r. EcI;ERT. Major and 4: ID O.
MAJOR: Your note, delivered by yourself this day
ins been considered. H. reply have to sa, that we
were furnished with copy Of the letter u President
Lincoln TO Francis +. Blair of the 18th OF January! W.
another copy of which is appended TO your note Our
intentions contained IN letter OF which the ioow
| ing Is copy: m ,o.-
In conformity with the letter of Mr.. Lincoln. Of hieh
the foregoing copy, Jon are 70 proceed TO Wash
ngion City for Internal conference with INN upon tno
pose Of securing peace to the Two cOuntiits.
| Your obcdicni servant.
JEFFERSON DAVIS
TIE substantial object to DO obtained by the informal
conference tain upon what terms the existing
war can be teImina,ed honoraby Orr lns,rucliohs
contemplate aShersOnal Interview between PRESIDENT
Lincoln and ourselves at Washington, but win ihis FL
PLANTATION ready 10 meet any person or persons
hat President Lincoln may appoint ~ such place as De
nav designate. Our earnest desire is that Just ana
honorable peace may be agreed upon nnd we ne pre-
Pared TO receive Ia subm propo' tions which may
possibly lead ia the attainment Of that end.
| Very respectfully yours.
ALEXANDER IT, STEBESs
r. NJ. 4. IltNIIR,
| JONI A. CAMPBELL
note Of these gentlemen subsequently addressed TO
Gen Grant has already been given In Maj. EekeTts
dispatch Of the st inst. also here Tor the fret
tine. the following note addressed by the Richmond
gentlemen 10 Maj. Eckort:
CITY POM, Va, Feb Q. ls65.
THOMAS T. EcKrET Major and 4. d. C-MAJoR;
II reply 20 your verbal statement that yonr in,tuc
lions did not allow yOu To alter the conditions upon
which passport could be given 10 NJ, cay that We
are Hing a. proceed Fortress Monroe and there To-
have an formal conference with any persons
that President Lincoln appoint on tie basis OF bis
letter "a Francis T. BLAIR Of The 18th 81 January ultmO
other Cunilf. that be here
after propose not ineoHistent with tie essential prn'
sps. Of Src sns popular rights up'a
IL il our esruest wish 10 ascertain after free inter
change OF ideas and Information, upon what principles
and tofms any Just aud honorable peace can be es
ablished without the further efrson Of blood, and 10
contribute our utmost efforts o. npsh such n
passport TO be understood committing our
selves a. anything but 10 carry this informal confer
ence the views and feelings above expressed.
Very respectfully yours
j. \. tANfBEiL-
X NJ 4. HUNTER
NOTE The above communication was delivered 70
me at Fortress Monroe at 30 =. No. Feb ., by Lieut.
Col. Baboock. OF Gen. Grants stan
THos 4. EcKEKT Major and A. ID. c.
On the morning OF the 81 the three gentlemen. Mssss
stephens, Hunter and Campbell came aboard of our
steamer and had an interview with the Secretary of
State aud myself Of several hours duration. No qnes
ton of preminaries to the meeting then and tsrc
made or mentioned. No other person was present No
papers were exchanged produced. and IL was in nd
vance agreed that the conversation was to be Informal
and verbal merely On part the whole substance Of
the instructions the Secretary Of State herein before
rccted was stated and insisted upon. and nothing
was said inconsistent herewith. While by the
other party ii not said that IN any event or on any
condition they would consent TO reunions and yet
they equally omitted 10 declare that they would
sent They seemed TO desire postponement Of that
question: and that the adoption Of some other course
first which as some Of them seemed to argue might or
might not lead TO reunion, but which thought
would amount To an indefinite postponoment. The con.
ference ended without result.
The foregoing containing. Is believed all tho in
formation sought. is respectfully submitted.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
FIeeutire Mansion, Ftb. 10, lsC5.
The following Yves nclosed IN the message sent to the
Senate:
TO the PRESIDENT: The Secretary Of State, 10 whom
referred resolution OF the Senate of the 9Th inst
requesting the President OF the United States. If In his
opinion II IL not Incompatible to the pubejnterest. 10
furnish the Senate any information in M possession
concerning recent conversation communications
with certain Rebels said to have occurred under Exccu
tive sanction, including communications with the
relating thereto. has the honor to report that the
senate may properly be referred to special me'ssge Of
the President bearing upon tho subject Of the resolu
ton and transmitted to the House this day. Appended
to this report copy Of the instruction which has
been sddressed 10 Charles Francis Adams esq. Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenpotentiary Of the
nlted States at London. and which is the only
| suOndence found this Department, touching the
subject refer ed TO in the resolution
Respectfully submitted. WM IT, SEWARD.
Department Of Statt Washington Feb. 10, le65.