The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-02-22
The Preside eats Message on
the Feace Conference.

! To the Honorable tie House of Represen-
,tasipes: Gsdl sd xsl le
Ia response to ysur resolution of the
8th, last, requesting infsrnatlen ia rela-
ten. to a conference recestly held in
Hampton Roads, have the honsr to state
that on the day of the date gave Fran
els P Blair, senior, card written or as
follows:
"Alisw the bearer, 3. p. Blair, ST., to
pass ear lines to go South and return.
TSigned1 0 "a. LINCOLN"
That at the time was informed that
Mr.. Blair sought the card asa means Of
getting to Riekuend, Va, bat he was
given ne asthsrity to speak or act fer
the Goverament. nor was / informed Of
anything he would say es de en his swn
account, or otherwise, Mr.. Blair told
nae that heohad Been to Richmond and
had seen Davis, and he (Blair) at the
same timesleft with me manuscript let
ter az follows, to wit: E ssAI3 -
RICHMoND, VA, Jan. IL, 1865.
F. p. Blair, Esq. s
s stSIR--I have deemed it proper. and
probably desirable to you, te give you in
this form atlie gu sstancs of the remarks
by nae to be repeated by you to Presi-
dopt Linceln.IaI have no dispositionstc
find obstacles in forms. 1 am willing
now, ASH eret tofere, to enter into Regotia-
items for the restoration of peace. 1 an
ready o5ssaa a commissions whenevcr I
havereasen to suppssssit will be received,
or to receive a cor mission if the Z. S.
t3overnnent shall sese to send one.
n Notwithstanding the rejection of our
for ner Stiorr, L would, il you coala prom
Use that "a commissioner or n,irister OF
ether agont veul1 be received, appoint
ese ln mediately, and renew the effort. to
enter into conferencs with view to
secure peace to the tive csuntries,
rs Yours, Sc. JEFF. DAVIS
+ Afterwards, with the view tkatitshoula
be shewaeto Davis, T. wrote aaI seaycr-
ed to Mr. Blair letter as Fellows: sg
- ssse WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1865.
-" F. p Blasr, Esq:
81. f'i,E lsa' - s1R-Y.u having
sbown. me Mr.. Davis. letter to ysu en-
the. 18th inst, yeu nay say to hia that |
have constantly been, am now, ysnd shall
continue ready to receive any agent whom
he, OF any other intiuential person new
resisting the National authority, May il.
formally send ne, with a view. of secur.
ing peace to to eur m eemmsn country. ~
[sighsd1 s..s@s; .''s' : e. A, LINCOLN.
B Atterwaras Mr., Blair asked fer per-
uissien and was authorized to make an
entry on the back Of my retained copy OF
ithe letter last above recited, which, is as
al - January 2Sth, 1865.
To day, Mr.. Blair TOLD me that on the
21st he delivered to Mr.. Davis the origi.
nal Of which the within is a copy, and
left it with hin; that at the time of deliv-
1.ering it Mr.. Davis read it over twice in
Mr. .Blair's presence at the close OF
which he. (BlaiD remarked that the par
agraph (our enc cemmen seouatry) rela-
ted to the part of Sir. Davis letter absui
the two countries; to which Davis replied
that he SO .understsed it. sl snsgz-3sa4
1 TSigned] A. LINCOLN"
Here follows a number Of telegrans
relating to the adBissien of Stephens
Hunter and Campbell into eur lines, there
having been some delay consequent OF
the absence Of Gen. Grant aa H'
Afterwards the fellowiag dispatch was
received from Gen. Grant:
OFFICE OF THE II. s. MIL. TELEGRAPH y
eaiA WAR DEPARTMENT
The following telegram was received a
Washington Jan. 31st, frem City Point
Va, 1880 A. NJ, January 3lst, s1s6s:
His E.cc>Hency, A. LincSln, President o.
| The United States:
| The following communicated was re
ceived here last evening: