The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-02-11

BURLINGTON "
'ha..t million Sot dscerces around Washing
ton.
! The Fertilization bill was then laid a>ide
and the committee took l. y tho Army Ap-
preparation bill.
THE l'EACE CONFERENCE.
independence.
new YORK, Feb. 6.-The TIRES special.
saga Mr-Seward reached Fortress Mon
roe II advance Of Mesars. Stephens. Hun
tor and Campbell. Upon the arrival OF
these gentlemen, they were at once invited
to an interview and informed Mr.. Seward
OF ttei- desire to proceed to Nashin g;on
for the purpose o. discussing the question
Of peace with the President. Mr.. Seward
informed them that it was the Presidents
wish that the discussion should taae place
Ut Fortress Monroe, and tGas &c had been
ser1s to meet then, at that po.ot upon tna1
subject. The Commissioners pressed. WITH
considerable earnestness, for leave to visit
Washington. and finally alleged that their
government had consented to send them
only ia consequence of Mr.. Biairfs assur-
teryiew with President Lincoln. Mr.. Sew
ard assured them that this pledge should
be fulfilled, and at once telegraphed to the
President that mis- presence was necessary.
After Mr.. Lincoin's arrival, the confer
once lasted four hours, aud was perfectly
On ou- nide. the conversation was mainly
conducted by the President-on theirs, by
NJ. Hunter, Mr. Stephens occasionally
taking part. The rebel commissioners said
nothing whatever. of their personal views
or wishes, hut spoke solely and exclusive
y for their government, and at the outset
and throughout the conference. declared
their entire lack OF authority to make, re-
celve or consider any proposition whatever
looking toward 3 close Of the war, a1cept
on the basis of recognition Of the iude-
peudence OF the Confederate states, as
preliminary condition.
The President presented the subject to
them in every conceivable form, suggest
ing the most liberal aud cOusiderate modi-
tlcations of whatever. in the existing legis-
lation and action Of the United States gov
eminent, might be regarded as specially
hostile to the rights and interests or wound.
ing to the pride Of the Southern peopls, but
in no single particular. could he induce
them to swerve for moment, from their
demand for recognition. 1853
They did not present this coospicnouSiy
al resting on their own convictions or
wishes, but a. the condition which their
/. Government had made absolutely indis-
i pensab.e to any negotiations or Discus
sicna whatever, concerning peace. Fresi-
dent Lincoln, o. the other hand, informed
them at every poiat that such recognition
was utterly ana totally:ous of the question,
chat the nited States could stop che war
and arrest even Importantly the movement
| Of itSArm;eS only on the condition prece-
| dent that the authority Of the nationa. gov
eminent should be recognized and cbeyed
over the whole territory OF the United
States-this point conceded. ne assured
them that upon every other matter OF dir
ference they would be treated with the
| utmost Hberai,.v. but without that recog-
milton the war must and should go on.
| Al, this conversation, which occurred be-
tween the respective parties, came back to
aud turned upon the radical and isrecon-
cilabie differences. Neither side could be
swerved q hairs breadth from it's position.
ana therefore the attempt at negotiations
was al utter failure.
| Cpon separating, twas distinctly under-
stood a0d explicitly stated that the attitude
lof each Government was ~ be precisely
the same as II would have been II this in
lterv;ew had no. taken ,iaea. The Cabinet
received these explanations as complete
and satisfactory. and the feeling was uaan-
imous and earnest that the country must
now arouse itself to make fresh aacriticss
in defense of the integrity OF the Union aad
the preservation OF the government. 4
/ As you know the source OF this dispatch,
need not assure you taatit is perfectly
| reliable.
\ 1t is understood that Mr.. F'essenden's
retirement from the Treasury Department
| will take place within few days, aud It is
confidently predicted, and believe truly.
that his successor will be from the city
OF New York. In the present condition OF
the finances, and with the certainty tina,
the war is now to he carried on With renew
ed vigor and energy on both sides, this
becomes question Of very great imoor.
lance. +
| WAsHINaToE, Feb. ct is reported
and believed that since the Presidents re-
turn he has related to the Cabinet the par.
ticulars OF the conference with the rebel
commissioners, and they all endorse bis
course. No odicia! action has, however
II been taken.
To-day's Chronicle says that Stephens
Hunter and Campbell have before this laid
their case before the Southern people, and
II their people have heard or must soon heat
that their leaders would consent to moth
ing but the recognition ofthe rebellion
We are OF course unable and unauthorized
to say how much Mr.. Lincoln was willing
to concede. The only condition to honor
able peace seems to have been declined by
the rebel com missioner. that condition be
ing the restoration OF the Federal Cnio,
aud obedience to all the laws Of Cocyy ass
!, About the Peace Commisslon.
Fl NEW YORK. Feb. THE Herald has ar
editorial, to which it gives prominence
, saying toe facts stated in this article arr
derived from such sources as to entitls
them to implicit belief They are correct
beyond the possibility Of mla}eke. Aftel
referring to the motives which Induced ~,
. Blair to visit Richmond. Il continues:
"Before Mr.. Blair left for home Jefferson
|, Davis addressed to him q letter
, expressing a strong desire for peace
. Offering to waive All forNalit:es -
settling our difficulties on the basis
: Of two governments. The letter wai
adroitly couched i'm such rersus, rs to {
hasty careless readeS might conceal ths
/ cloven foot or c.oyeh government, which
f on close inspection was plainly visible q
) the bottom of it. Il saemed to be Gun
. ming effort to place the odium Of continu