The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-02-24

Gen. Grants headquarters. The Major was
directed 10 deliver 70 them a copy OF the Pres-
ident's letter to Dir. Blair, with a note 10 ba ad-
i dressed TO them and signed by the Major, IN
: which they were directly Informed that they
{ should be allowed to pass our lines They
esoad 6e understood as coming for an informal
conference npon the basis of the aforenarned
letter Of the / 9Th Of Janaary TO Ir. Blair -
Ii they should express their assent To this con-
dhion in writing then Major Eckert wss dircc-
tee 70 giFc them safe conduct 10 Fortress Men
zoe, where 4 person eonlin2 & IN The President
would meet them II being thought probable,
fr1m report oi the conversation with Liauten-
ant General Grant, ttat the Richmond party
would IN tie manner prescribed accept the con-
iitions mentioned, the Secretary of State vas
charged by soe Prcsiieat sviii the duty cf rep
reselIiing thIs government in Tie cxp4utcG! in
Jc"rual conference. The Secretary arrived sc.
! Fortress Monroe in tic night Uf the Jst d;,y cf
Febraary. Major Ecker; met him on tle Morn.
| ing Of the ID Of February witt: the Informs
i ton that the persons who had c0o1o from EicIs-
! nones had not accepted in writing lie coaditloa
I oPon when nc was allowed TO give them CON
duct 70 Fortress Monroe. Tie Major had niv--
en the same information by telegraph 70 the
/ President at Washington On receiving ths
, information tho plt5.;lent prepared telegram
directing tie Secretary 70 return to Washing
ton.
The Secretary was preparing at the same no
men 10 SO return, without waiting Coz nforn,a-'
ton loT the President. Bat at Ibis ianclure
Lieutenant Genera, Grant teic5raphed TO the
Secretary OF War, IS r-eA as to the Secretary
Of STATE tia: the party from Richmond had
recursiie'cl AMI accepted tie condition ttn..er-,
ed Item through Major Ec'>ert and General
Grant t.rgca;iy advised the President to confer
in perso. with lie Richmond party Under
those circumstances 1he Secretary, by the Pres
dents directions remained al Fortress Monroe.
2ul the President joined Lin there on lie nigh.
OF tae I'd Of February.
TIE Richmond party was brought down the
james river in United STATES steam transport,
during the Gay, and the transport was anchored
IL Hampton Roads CT tic raornipg Of the Sd.
'Thc President attended hy the Secretary, re-
ceiEci hies>rs stephens, LGnter ard Campbell
board the JG,iej STATES Steam transport Ri
yer Queen in Hampton Eo;ds.
T..H conference vas altogether irIarmai.-
':9.- A'1'ni0g was written or roaa
...s ~ c ~! h. Se',:.f c5urjGoA A halef
The Richmond party approached the discussion
Taiec Indirectly, and at 20 time did they make
categorical demands or tender formal stipG!a-
ti0ns or absolute refusais nevertheless during
the conference. which lasted four hours, the
several points at Issue ba'weea the government
a7liLa Insurgents were d,stinctiv raised md
q s3assed luiiy, intaA!ront3y and IN an nn34cah!a
spiris. What thc insGr-ent party secfaeu chief
" 10 favor was p3stponeTeEt oJ tie question
CT separation uP9n which the war vas wazed
ana Mutual direction Of the efforts OF the
goveTaueat as we'll sthose OF tire insurgents
tc sctna cx;raneous PGlicy or scheme for sea-
son, during wiici passions might he expected
io subsI2 and the armies be reduced, and trade
and intercourse between lie people Of botR sec.
tions be resumed.
Il was Suggested by them tI;ai through such
postponenent wc might now have immediate
peace, ,-;Lli SOME. not very certain. prospect
of al ultimate satisfactory adjustment Of po-
iitlcal relation between the government and tie
States section or people now engaged 10 con-
fict with il. Tie suggestion, Though dst5er-
ale.y considered, was nevertheless regarded hy,
TIC President as one Of arrais'ica or Jruce, ard
+, lie announced that we can agree 20 no cessa-
lion or suspension CT hostiiitics except On the
basis Of the dsbandonment OF the insurgent
! forces and the restoration Of tie national au-
/ }ori;y throughout all the States in the Union
collateral'v, and in suJordinalion 10 The propo-
/ si.ion which was thus announced,
The anti slavery policy Of tic United S;aies
was reviewed in nil its bearings, and the Pres
! idert announced that be nust not be expected
/ 90 depart from tho positions he had hcreto!oro
assumed in Ais proclamation of emancipation
and other documents, as these positions were
reiterated in his annual message.
Il was further declared by the President that
the complete restoration Of the rational author
+, itv everywhere was an Indispensable condition
Of any assent on our part to whatever form Of
peace might be proposed The President aSsur-'
cd the ether party that while he must adhere to
these positions, he woGld be prepared 81 far as
rover was lodi sed with the Executive, +" exer-.
Csc ibcrality Is power, however, is limited
by the Constitution, and when peace should be
made Congress must necessarily acS IN regard 70
appropriations Of money and to the admission OF
representatives from the insurractonary States.
| The Richmond party we're then informed that
5 Congress, had on the 3ist alt., adopted, by
constitutional majority, a joint resolution sab
| miting to tic several States the proposition 10
{ abolish slavery throughout the Union, and thas
: there is every reason to expect that it wilt be
: accepted by three-fourths of the States, so as
Il 10 become a part af the national organic law.
The conference came TO an end by mutual ac-
r quiescence. without producing an agreement OF
n views upon the several matters discussed, or
. apv of them. Nevertheless, il is perhaps OF
r some importance that we have been able 10.
: submit our opinions AMI views directly TO prom
5 inant insurgents and to hear them III answer, IN
l. courteous and not unfriendly manner. am,
y sir, your obedient servant,
ot Wg. III. SEwARD1
+ sSrFor Sorthern account, see inside. n ga