The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-02-15


they should be understood a coming for an
informal conference upon the basis Of Tie
atO-enamed letter ofthe l0Ih o. January 10
Mr.. Blair Ifthey should express heir con
sent 10 this condition 81 writing, then Ma
Eckert was directed l. give them safe con
duet % Fortress Monroe. where 4 person
coming from the President wOu.5 meet
them. l. being thought probable. tcom
repOg, " their conversation with Lieut..
Gen. Grant. that the Richmond party would
n the manner prescribed. accept the c0ull-
ton mentioned. the Secretary OF state was
charged with the duty Of representing TINS
Government in the expected informal con-
ference. The Secretary arrived Il Fortress
Monroe on the night OF the Isl OF February.
Major Eckert met him on tie morning of
lie p with Information thar the persons
Wao came from Richmond had nor accept
81 Ia writing the condition upon which he
was authorized 20 give them conduct 70
Fortress Monroe. The Major had given the
same Information % the Presilen, - Wash
iogton by telegraph. On receiving the u
formation. lie prepared = message directing
the Secretary 10 return 10 Washington
The Secretary was preparing a. the tine 70
50 return without waiting for Information
from tile President. bGt a. this juuc,ure
Secretary ~ War as well Is the Secretary
OF state thar tie Richmond party had con
sldered aud accepted the cOucltlon tender
al them through Gen. Grant. AMI General
Grant urgently advised tie President 20
confer IN person with the Richmond gentle
men The Secretary by the Pres .deuJs di
rectiOns. remained al Fortress Monroe. and
the President Joined him there on tie night
Of February 2l. The Richmond party WAS
brought down the James River in q United
states steam transport during the day, and
the transport was anchored Ia Hampton
Roads. On the the 2d the President recely-
ed Messrs. Stephens Hunter ana Campbell
on board the United States transport River
Queen. in Hampton Roads TIE conference
was altogether informal There was no at
tendence OF secretaries. clerks or witnesses
Nothing was written or read. The Interview,
though earnest and free. was calm. colrte-
Gus aud kind on both sides The Richmond
authorities approached the discussion rath
er Indirectly. aud al no tine did they make
categorical demands or tender formal slip
ulatiOns or absolute reiusals. Nevertheless
during the conference, which lasted four
hours, the several points a. issue between
the Government and the insurgents were
distinctly raised and discussed fully. intell-
igently and in amicab.e spirit. What the
insurgent party seemed chiefly - favor was
a postponement Of the question Of scpara-
ton upon which the war is wagei. and q
mutual direction Of the efforts OF the Gov
eminent as we'll rs the insurgents 20 some
extrinsic policy or scheme for season du-
ring which passions might be expected 70
subside and the armies be reduced and
trade and intercourse between the people
OF both sections be resumed. Ii Was sug-
geSted Jy them that through such postpone
ment we might now have immediate peace.
with some not very great prospect Of ultl-
mate, satisfactory settlement OF the politI-
cal difficulties between the Government and
the section Of people now in conflict with H.
The suggestion. though deliberately c0nsid
cred. was nevertheless regarded by the
President as one Of armistice or truce. and
be announced that We can agree 10 ~
cessation or suspension OF hOstipties eX
cept OF the basis Of the DISARMAMENT OF the
insurgent forces and the restoration OF The
National authority throughout all the States
in the Union. COllateraliy and in suh0rii
nation 10 the proposition thus announced,
the antl-siayery position of the nlted states
was reviewed in all lis bearings and The
Presi leuf announced that he mast not Doe
expected 10 depart from the conditions he
had heretofore assumed In his proclaim alton
OF emancipation and other documents. Is
these positions We're reiterated in lis annual
message. IL WAS further declared by the
President that the complete restoration O
National authority everywhere. was the in
dispenslble condition OF any assent on Oul
part to whatever form OF peace might 10
proposed The President assured the UtAel
party that while lie must adhere % these
positions, he would be prepared So far AS
The power is Iodged with the Executive, 10
exercise .lDerg-ty. Its power, however, Is
limited by the Constitution and When peace
should DC made CONGRESS must necessarily
act m regard To appropriations Of money
and 10 the admission OF representatives
from the n-urgent states. The Richmond
party were then informed that Congress
had. on the 3lst ult.. adopted by a C0ns,.-
tutiOnal majority a resolution submitting q
the several states the proposition 20 abOl
ish slavery throughout the Union, and thai
there IS every reason 10 expect that l. vii
be accepted by three-quarters OF the States
50 = 10 become part ~ the National o~
ganic law. The conference came 70 an en-
By mutual acquiesceuce without prOducln.
an agreement Of views upon the several
matters discussed or any OF them. Never
theess il l. perhaps Of some importance
that Va have been able 10 submit our Opir
ions and views directly 10 the prominent
insurgents. ana 10 hear them IN answer ~
a courteous and not uniriendiy manner
a. Sir. your OBJ 'eut servant.
wN II SEWARD.
The President 10 his Message 10 The
House Of Representatives,. give the resn
of the meeting as follows:
On the morning Of the 81 tho three -cn
tiemen. Stephens. Hunter and Clmbel
came aboard OF our steamer. aud had an
interview with the Secretary of state anC
myself Of several hours duration y
question y; preImiueries o the meeting va
teen and there made or mentioned. y
papers were exchanged or produced. an,
il was ia advance agreed that the cOnver-a
ton was 70 be informal and verbal merely
On one part the whole substance " Tie iu
structiOn 10 The Secretary II state, herein
before recited. was stated and insi.te'
upon and nothing was said Inconsistent
herewith. While by the other party, i
was E0t said THAI I'D any even, or in AZ.
condition they would consent 10 reunion
and yet they equally omitted % declar,
that they would not so consent The
. seemed 70 desire pOstp0nement Of tha
question. aad the the adoption OF som.
seemed 20 argue might " miZlt not lea
70 reunion. and which sourse We fhol-h'
would amount 10 an indsflu p0stp0Gemen
The conference ended without result.
GIN. GRANT ~ ExcHANGE OF PRISONERS.
WASHINGTON. Feb. H. Gen Graut MA
before the Committee on The Co1luc, 9th.
War this morning. The fellOwiD- question
was asked him Olest.OQ-I = slated
upon what authority ID l9t know. TIA
You are CHARGED entirely wt tie exchan1
~ prisoners
Answer-That il correct aul what i
more have elected a. arra-umeu, i0r the
exchange Of prisoners. man fJr man. al,
officer fOr officer OF his equivalent. acc5-
ding 20 the OH cartels until Ole C- tie 9th
er party has exhausted the number the
2 now hold. / get great many letters dail'
from friends o. prisoners ID the south. ever
one OF which | cause 20 be answered tei,lr-
them tina, this arrangement has been made
r. and that I suppose exchanges wiii De mad.