The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-11

tsnt with the essential principles Of ssf government
and popular rights, upon which our institutions are
founded II our earnest wish ascertain after FREQ
interchange Of ideas and information upon what prn-
eipes ana terms any, Just and honorable peace
b estabshsd without tho further efuson Of blood and
70 contribute our utmost efforts 70 accomplish such
result We think IL better To add that in accepting your
passport We arc not TO be understood a committing our
selves 70 anything but carry into this informal confer
snce the views and feelings above expressed Very TO
spectfuny, youn &c, ALEXANDER Il. 6TEPHEN5.
J. A. CAMPBELL
RM I. HUNTER
NorA-Ihe above communication was delivered 10 me
st Fort Monroe At halfpast four n, February q BY
Lieutenant Colonel Babcock, OF General Grants staG
THOs + ECKERT, Major and ABIDE Camp.
On the morning Of the Sd the three gentlemen, Messa
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, came aboard Of our
steamer and had an interview with the Secretary Of Eats
and myself Of several hours duration No question Of
prcfminares TO the meeting thcnland there made
or mentioned No other person present, papers
were exchanged or produced, and II In advance
agreed thai the conversation TO be Informal and
verbal merely On part the whole substance Of tho
Instructions to The Secretary Of State herenbefore 70
cited stated and insisted upon and nothing said
Inconsistent herewith soAile, b ~ or party, scas
nat said that IN eng euo& w on any condition
sSosM asy spr consent to rsuniom; and yet Gsy
equally omitted 10 declare 0as they soosld - consent
They seemed to desire postponement Of that question
and the adoption Of some other course rst which, -
some OF them seemed TO argue wight nsigM not lead
to rcu;os but which course thought would amount
to indefinite postponement The conference ended
without result
The foregoing, containing b believed all the in
formation sought, is respectfully submitted
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
ExscunvH MAsnoS, Feb. 10, 1865
The following was enclosed in the message sent the
Senate:-
MR.. sEwARD's MEMORANDA.
DxrAxrMSr STATE, WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1885.
10 THE PREHDESr-
The Secretary Of State, 70 whom referred
luton Of the Senate Of the 9Th ins requesting the Prcs
dent Of the United States II in his opinion is not in
compatible with the public interests furnish to the
Senate any information In his possession concerning
recent conversation or communications with certain
rebels said have occurred under Executive sanction
including communications with the rebel Jefferson Davis
and any correspondence relating thereto has the honor
TO report that the Senate may properly DO
fered TO . special message Of the President
bearing upon the subject Of tho resolution and
transmitted TO the House this day. Appended to
this report copy Of the Instructions which have been
addressed TO Charles Francis Adams, Esq., Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenpotentary Of the United
States London and which is the only correspondence
found this department touching the subject referred
TO in the resolution. Respectfully submitted
VIM u. SEWARD.
Mr.. SEWARD TO Nh. ADAMS.
DsRARrxxn STATE WASHINGTON, Feb. ., 1885.
en-It truism that in times Of peace there al
ways instgatons Of war begins there ara
citizens who emphatcay demand negotiations Of peace
The advocates Of war after agitation longer shorter
generally gain their fearful end, though the do
clared not unfrequenty unnecessary and unwiss &c.
peace agtasons In time Of ultimately bring about
abandonment Of the conflict sometimes without
ing the advantages which originally expected from
the conflict The agtatos for In time Of peace and
for peace In time Of war, not necessarily, or per-
haps ordinarily unpatrotic In the purposes motives
Results alone determine whether they wise un-
WISE The treaty Of peace concluded at Guadalupe HI
dalgo secured by irregular negotiation under tho
sanction Of the government.
Some Of the efforts which have been made TO bring
about negotiations with view 70 end our civil war ara
known 70 tho whole world because they have employed
foreign well domestic agcnts Others with whom
you have had 70 deal con6dentiaily known your
self although they have not publicly transpred Other
efforts have occurred here which known only 70 the
persons actually moving Z. them and TO this government
am 70 give for yorr Information account OF
AFFAIR Of the general character which recently
ccived much attention here and which, doubtless will
excite inquiry abroad.
A few days ago, Francis p. Blair, ESQ, o
Maryland, obtained from the President . simple
leave pass through lines without definite views
known to the government Mr.. Blair visited Richmond,
and his return he showed 70 the President letter
which Jefferson Davis had written Mr. Blair In which
Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair liberty nay Pres
dent Lincoln that Davis now he always had BEEN
willing TO send commissioners assured thoy would
DO received to receive any that should DO sent that
he disposed to nd obstacles in FORMS that he
would send commissioners to confer with tho President
with view TO restoration Of peace between the
sections II he could be assured they would DO received
The President therefore, on tho 18th day Of January
addressed to Mr. Blair, in which the President
after acknowledging that he had read tho note
Of Mr.. Davis, said that BIO was, is, and al
ways should be willing TO receive any agents that
Mr. Davis any other influential man now actually
sstng tho authority Of tho government might send 10
confer informally with the President with view to the
restoration OF peace 70 tho people OF our common
country.
Mr. Blair visited Richmond with this letter, and then
again came back to Washington
On the goth ut we were advised from the camp OF
Lieutenant General Grant that Alexander H. Stephens
r. NJ T. Hunter and John A. Campbell were applying FOR
cave pass through tho lines Washington as peace
commissioners TO confer with tho President They wero
permitted by the Lieutenant General come his head
quarters to await there the decision OF the President
Major Eckert was sent down 10 meet the party from
Richmond at General Grants headquarters. The
Major was directed TO deliver TO Thorn o
copy OF tho Presidents letter TO Mr. Blair,
with . notc 10 DO addressed 70 them,
and signed BY the Major, in which they wcro
directly informed that they would DO allowed to