The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-02-16
THE LATE PEACE CONFERENCE.
Pres. LincoIn,s Hessage.

inst requesting information in relation to a
correspondence recently held in Hampton
Roads, | have the honor to state that on the
e day gave F. P Blair ST., a card written on
as follows:
Allow the bearer f. P. Blair, Sr., to pass
our lines and go south, and return.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
That at the same time | was informed
that Mr. Blair sought the card as a means of
getting to Richmond, va; but he was given
no authority to speak or act Tor the govern
ment, nor was | informed of anything he
would say or do, on his own account or 9TH
erwise. Mr.. Blair told me that he had been
Ito Richmond and had seen Davis, and he
(Blair) at the same time left with me a
manuscript letter as follows, to wit:
E RIoHMoND, Va, Jan. IL, 1865.
Z F. P Blair, Esq:
SIR have deemed it proper, and pro-
baby desirable to you, to give you in this
form the substance of the remarks made
by me to be repeated by you to President
Lincoln.
have no disposition to find obstacles in
forms and am willing now as heretofore to
enter into negotiations for the restoration of
peace. | am ready to send a commission
whenever | have reason to suppose it will
be received or to receive a commission, if
the United States shall choose to send one,
notwithstanding the rejection of our former
" offers. would, ifyou could promise that a
commissioner, minister or other agent would
be received, appoint one Immediately, and
renew the effort to enter into a conference to
secure peace to the two countries.
Yours, &c, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Afterwards, with view that it should be
shown to Mr.. Davis wrote and delivered to
Blair letter as follows:
~ WASHINGTON, Jan. IS, '65.
81 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 continue ready TO receive any
agent whom he or any other influential per-
son, not resisting the national authority,
may informally send me with a view of Sc
curing peace to the people Of our common
country.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards, Mr.. Blair dictated for, and
q authorized me to make an entry on the
back Of my retained copy of the letter last
rected, which is as follows:
JANUARY, %, 1865.
To-day Mr.. Blair tells me that on the
21st inst he delivered to Mr. Davis the orr
ginal of which the within is copy, and
left it with him. that at the time of deliver
ing Mr.. Davis read it over twice in Mr..
Blair's persence, at the close of which he
(Blair) remarked, that the part about our
one common country related to the part of
Mr.. Davis letter about the two countries to
which Mr. Davis replied that he understood
it.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
Here follow a number of kilograms relating
to the mission of Stephens, Hunter and Camp
bell into our lines. There having been some
delay i'll consequence of the absence of Gen.
Grant.
The President then says, afterwards by
my directions, the Secretary of War tele-
graphed to Gen. Ord as follows;
WAR DEPARTMEE
WAsHINGToN, 10 m, Jan 30, 1865.
Major General Ord, Headquarters Army Of
the James:
By direction of the President you are in
structed to inform the three gentlemen,
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, that mes
senger will be dispatched to them at or near
where they now are without delay
E. NJ. STANTON, Sec'y of War.
Afterwards prepared and put into the
hands of Thos. T. Eckert, the following in
structions and message:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, January, both 1865.
Major. T. r. Eckert:
SIR: You will proceed with the doc
uments placed in your hands and on reach
ing General Ord will deliver him the letter
addressed him by the Secretary of War
Then by General Ord's assistance procure an
interview with Stephens, Hunter and Camp
bell or any of them, deliver to him or them
= the papers on which your own letter is writ
ten; note on the copy which you retain, the
time Of delivering and to whom delivered
Receive their answer, waiting a reasonable
time for it, and which if it concerns their
decision to come through, without further
conditions will be your warrant to ask Geu
Ord to pass them through as directed in the
letter of the Secretary Of War If in their
answer they decline to come or propose 9TH
er terms do not have them pass through, and
this being your whole duty, return and re-
port to me.
Yours truly, A. LINCOLN
Messrs. Alex. II. Stephens ]. A. Campbell,
H. M. 7. Hunter
GENTLEMEN-I am instructed by the Presi-
dent of the United States to place this paper
in your hands, with information that if YOU
go through the military lines it will be I'M
derstood that you do 50 for the purpose of
an informal conference on the basis of that
letter, copy of which is on the reverse side
Of this sheet and that if you choose to pass
on, under such understanding notify me in
writing will procure of the command
ing general pass through the lines to Fort
Monroe under such military precautions as
he 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.
THOMAS T. ECKERT
Major and Aid de Camp
Surprising the proper point then reached,
dispatched to the Secretary Of State with
the following instructions, Major Eckert,
however, going ahead Of him:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Jan 80, 1865.
Hon. W. Seward, Secretary f State:
You will proceed to Fort Monroe, there to
meet and informally to confer with Messrs
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell on the basis
of my letter to f. P. Blair, Esq, of Jan Is,
a-copy of which you have You will make
known to them that three things are indis-
peusable, to-wit; First, the restoration of
the national authority throughout all the
States. Second no receding by the execu-
tive of the United States on the slavery
question, from the position assumed thereon
= in the late annual message to Congress- and
the proceeding documents. Third, no ces-
sation of hostilities short of an end of the
war, and the disbanding of all the forces
hostile to the government You will in-
form them that all propositions of their not
Inconsistent with the above, will be consid-
cred and passed upon in spirit of sincere