New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-17

the W ashIDgton AUTHORITIES. lMS TIME ho ouc'
ceeled in reaching the headquarters of Gen.
Devan at Lovittsville. There one of the stall
of Gen. Sheridan called on him, and received
! from him a letter to Secretary Seward, dated
Jan. 80, 1865. In this letter, Mr.. Foote, after
having again referred to his former opposition
to secession movements, proceeds to say:
az now have the honor to say, for myself and for
large number Of the most weighty and influential
Statesmen that the South contains and, have good
reason to believe in accordance with the wishes also OF
a very large majority Of the Sovereign people OF the
Southern States whether in out Of the Confederate
rmies that We the Conservatives Of the South, are
ready and anxious to enter once more into fraterna
union with our feow.citizens Of the NORTH that we
are resolved if an opportunity Of doing hOnorably
shall be afforded U.s. to withdraw at once from all poit
ical connection with the Government now located in
the city of Richmond and TO place ourselves and oil wc
hold dear once more under the protection OF the flag OF
our fathers.
"No one knows better than do that no such pacif
cation as that which now propose can ever come from
Mr. Davis His official position and bis devotion to his
own selfish schemes Of individual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT alike
forbid it, But let President Lincoln issue formal
Proelanaon addressed 10 the People Of the Confsderae
States offering 10 them complete Amuesty for the past
and full restoration Of the constitutional rights which
they formerly enjoy ed and they WI. immediately hold
Conventions in all Of the said States and vote them
selves back into the Federal Union, calling home their
troops at once and leaving Mr.. Davis TO enjoy as he
may be able to do tho despotism which he has estab
lished together with such Foreign Protection for HIM
self and his gnobe projects it shall be in his power
| to secure
Mr.. Footc thought that Kentucky, Maryland,
Virginia, Tennessee North Carolina and Ar
kansas would be sure to follow the example of
MARYLAND and Missouri and abolish Slavery,
and therefore it would be safe to leave Slavery
where the Federal Constitution left it; but if
circumstances should exist which would render
such plan impossible, he was prepared to say
in behalf of those whom he represented, that
they will AGREE TO such change Of the Federal
Constitution Us will secure the entire extinction
Of Slavery on the la day Of January, 1900 and
which will provide also for the freedom OF all
persons of African blood who shall be born after
the Istday Of January, 1890.
Mr. Foote also declared that he stood ready:
To make such further revelations. both a. to fact.
and Jer,oHs. viii leave no doum upon the minus OF
President Lincoln aud his Constitutional advisers ih"t
annie facilities exist for the bringing about In The short
period oi forty DAYS too. such eos~ifrrsres"n a"
above rcisrTed 10. AL that desire n, " receive
a,.rrgse, that the information which deem II proper
Tor reasons alike Of rrdence and honor a. hold for the
preaoni ,,yre impaired will eonduee to The festo
ration Of peace and the re'sablishment o Tue fey.r
Union in manner and upon terms consistent WIN Tue
present honor and future safety 81 the South ana VIII
At once proceed to make full disclosures" ID.
Mr.. Seward acknowledged the receipt of this
communication and stated that any further
communication which MIR Footc might think 1t
proper 10 inpart to the Government might be
communicated in the same manner as the first.
Major.Gen. Sheridan was directed either to
pass Mr. Footo back within the insurgcnt lines,
if he 80 chose. or 10 send him 10 Major-Gen.
Dix. who would be instructed 10 allow him TO
pass beyond the jurisdiction OF the United
States. Mr.. Foote chose the latter course.
From New-York he addressed a second let
Ter to Mr. Seward, dated Feb. q, 1865, roitera-
ting his former sentiments aud statements, ana
especially emphasizing his readiness to establish
the fact by testimony Of the most trustworthy
character, that large majority on the more
enlightened citirns Of the South have at last
come 10 the conclusion. in which L confess that
do for one most fully concur. that should they
be ever 80 successful in the prosecution OF the
war now i'll progress, they would find them
selves at the end Of il an enslavcd and wretchcd
people and that Southern independence, ut one
time so thoughtlcssly coveted and so zealously
striyen for. would be, if attained. precisely the
most deplorable calamity which could possibly
befall them
Mr. Foote did not wait for a. reply to this
communication int at once engaged passage
to Liverpool. On board the steamship he was
informed that bis second communication had
been placed in the hands of President Lincoln
for consideration, but having no special reason
for supposing that it had been more iatorably
received than the former, lie set sail. On board
the mail steamer he wrote another letter TO
President Lincoln. urging modification OF the
resolution then before the Congress at Washing
ton for abolishing Slavery by g constitutional
amendment, and expressing the belief that the
enforcement of the Monroe doctrine would be n
means of cordial reconcilement.
In conclusion Mr.. Foote entrsats his country
men. "whateyer may be the action Of President
Lincoln upon the propositions submitted to-
him." to los, no time IN returning TO the bosom u
the Federal Onion.