Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-08
Details OF the Recent Confer
ence.
THE REBELS INSIST ON RECOGNI-
TION.
HOW THEY GOT AT THE sUBJECE.

HOW THEY GOT AT THE sUBJECr.
The TTi5mpes Washington correspond
ent, under date of February 5,9P.M, tel
egraphs thus:
The Hampton Roads conference, as it
will be known in history, was held between
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell on the
one side and President Lincoln aud Secre-
tary Seward on the other, with a plenipo-
tentiary from Africa, friendly to both par
ties and servicesble to each, who came and
went with things on a sslver.
The conference opened, as we intimated
on Thursday that it would open, with remi-
niscences of the old Washington life and
inquiries after common friends and ac-
quaintanees. Stephens was worn, and had
3 look Of anxiety and wearines. This Justly
should be imputed to the disease which un-
cessingly says and wastes the vitality of
the sblest and bravest of Americans. Hun
ter was in fine condition, and lofty and con-
ident as of yore. Campbell, too, was his
old SELF All were marked with strength,
assurance of the future, and consciousness
Of power. There was in no one Of them
trace of supplisnce; not one was in look,
word or carriage sDitor for peace.
The sslVer of the Plenipotentiary from
Africa bridged the passage over topics of
kindly and pleasant talk to a significant
inquiry how nearly the extension of the
Capitol was completed, and the expression
of desire to go to Washington to see.
Mr.. Seward told him of the condition of
ha
at The Capitol of q reunited Republic. The
terms Of peace were TINS gradually sp-
preached. When fully reached on the
Rebel side Stephens took the parole and
surpassed all his old exhibitions of persus-
siveness, shrewdnesS, force, tact and eour-
age in putting the demands and the rights
OF the Confederacy. In the midst of them,
and at the conclusion of one of his points
Mr.. Lincoln swung forward on the lower
hinge OF his back and interrupted: "Thst
reminds me of story of 8 man out in IL
linois |" Stephens, Hunter and Campbell
instantly jumped up in q roar of merri-
ment
The interruption caused by this charac-
teristic 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. The proposition for an arm
istice was, of course, q logical sequence.
1t is-very certain that Mr.. Lincoln and
Mr.. Seward were surprised at striking the
snsg in the very onset of the conference.
The preliminary cropping and feeling
around by our pioneer Of peace, and his
assurances and conviction, had led to the
belief that the three envoys had entered
our lines to talk of a restored Union and
common country. They had stayed for
about two days at the army headquarters
in conversation there with Generals
Grant, Mead and one or two other gsner-
ais. Stephens professed to love
the old Union, to be as much as
ever in his feelings an Ameri-
can of the United States, and deplored tie
necessity which politics placed him and all
leaders of the Rebellion in to have some
thing to give to the decimated and impov-
erished people of the South for their sacri-
fees. 1t is understood that they declared
at headquarters, that if we would recognize
them for only q week, or any suitable
length of time, 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 intimations, our peace
prospectors went to Fortress Monroe on
what they felt sure thing. ....---.
OF the whole character of the whole ir/
tervlew the country can judge from %rlIat
Mr.. Lincoln said to q general officer on Sat
urdsy: "We could not do anything with
them whatever
They stood on recognition. Mr.. Seward
considered their claims argumentatively.
He kindly and courteously spoke of our
large resources, and of our certainty of vic
tory in the end. They insisted on recog-
milton. The utter insdmissibility of this
demand and of their other and consequent
tial demands was demonstrated. They
we're immovable-theS stood for recogni-
ton.
Mr.. Stephens, more flexible and polite
than his associates, proposed and argued
his crafty scheme of temporary recOgni-
ton, repeating at length the considera-
tions he had aired at Grants headquarters;
but on recognition, absolute or temporary,
The conference had to be broken off, but
it was not without results. AS seen from
Washington, it accomplished three things:
First-1he demonstration that this war,
which is Gods mechanism for wiping sla-
very and slsveholding sristocrsey out Of
the United States, has got to be fought
through to the end. Second-The DEM
onstrstion of the truth that the rebels will
not permit restoration of the Union
Third-The adhesion of the Peace Demo-
Gratis to the Government, forthwith, and q
union of all parties in vigorous prosecu-
fion of the war to put down the rebellion.
Fernando Wood took the war path on Sat-
urdsy; Cox and other Democrats will take
it tomorrow. Fourth-The bracing up of
the war all over Immediately; the recogni-
tion to some extent of the adoption of
economy; the correction of abuses; the
stoppage Of waste; the stifening of dIscI-
pline; in all things radical preparation
for the renewal of contest nowhere near
its end. New legislation in aid of all this
will begin tomorrow
The RumOred Recognition of the
South by napoleon.
The rebel press of the North has been
making great effort for some weeks to !
create the impression that Louis Naple6n