The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-02-17
Mr.. Stewards Letter.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

| washington, feb. y, 1909.
Sir: Il Is true that In times Of peace there
are always instigatos Of war. So soon % .
war begins there are citizens who emphatieally
OF war, afSer an agitation longer or shorter,
generally gain their fearful end, though the
war declared Is not unfrequentiy unnecessary
and unwise. SO peace agitators, In time OF
war, ultimately bring about an abandonment
Of the conflict sometimes without securing
the advantages which were originally expected
from the conflict. The agitators for war in
time Of peace, and for peace in time Of war. are
not unnecessarily, or perhaps ordinarily, unps-
triotic In their purposes or motives. Results
alone determine whether they are wise or un-
wise. The treaty of peace concluded at Gus-
daloupe Hidalgo, was secured by an irregular
negotiation under the Don OF the government.
Some OF the efforts which have been made to
bring about negotiations with q view to end
our civil war. are known to the whole world,
because they have employed foreign as well as
domestic agents. Others with whom you have
had to deal confdcntially are known to your
self, although they have not publicly transpired.
Other efforts have occurred here which are
known ouly 10 persons actually moving in them
and to this government m.r
am now to give for your information an ac-
count Of an nttair OF the same general charac
ter which recently received much attention here
and which doubtless will excite enquiry abroad.
A few days ago Francis p. Blair, Esq., OF Ma
ryland, obtained from the President o simple
leave to pass through our lines without definite
views known to tho government. v III.
MIR. Blair visited Richmond, and on his
return he showed to President Lincoln let
ter which Jefferson Davis had written to Mr..
Blair, in which Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair was
Mt liberty to say to President Lincoln that Da-
Wis was now, as he always had been. willing to
send commissioners II assured they would be
received, or to receive any that should be sent !;
that he was not disposed to find obstacles in
forms that he would send commissioners to-
confer with the President with view to res
toration OF peace between the two countries. II
he could be assured they would no received.
The President therefore, on the 18th day Of
January, addressed note to Mr.. Blair, in
which the President. after acknowledging that
he had read the note of Mr.. Davis, said that he
was, Is and always should be willing to receive
any agents that Mr.. Davis, or any other inau.
ential man now actually resisting the authori-
ty of the Government, might send TO confer in
formally with the President, with view to the
restoration of peace to tho people OF our COM
mon country. Mr.. Blair visited Richmond
with this letter and then again came back to
Washington on the Goth alt. 80
I'VE we're advised from the camp of Lieut.. Gen.
eral Grant that Alex. II. Stephens, r. NJ. T.
Hunter aud j. a. Cambell were applying for
leave to pass through the lines to Washington,
rs Peace Commissioners to confer with the Pres
dcnt. They were permitted by the Lieut.. Gen.
eral to come to his headquarters, to await there
the decision Of the President. Major Eckert
was sent down to meet the party from Rich
mond at General Grants headquarters. The
Major was directed to deliver to them n copy
OF the Presidents letter to Mr.. Blair, with q
note to be addressed 10 them and signed by the
Major, in which they were directly informed
that il they should be allowed to pass our lines
they would be understood rs coming for an in
formal conference upon tho bass Of the aforc-
named letter of the 18th Of January to Mr..
Blair. Ifthey should express their assent to
this condition In writing, then Major Eckert
was directed to give them safe conduct to For
tress Monroe, where person coming from the
President would meet them.
It being thought probable, from report of
their conversation with Lieut.. Gen. Grant, that
the Richmond party would, In the manner pre-
scribed, accept the conditions mentioned, the
Secretary Of State was charged by the Presi-
dent with the duty Of representing this Gov
The Secretary arrived at Fortress Monroe in
the night Of the lst Of February. Major Eek
crt met him on the morning OF the ID OF Febru-
airy, with the information that the persons who
had como from Richmond had not accepted In
writing the conditions upon which he was al
lowed to give them conduct to Fortress Monroe.
The Major had given the same Information by
telegraph to the President at Washington. The
Secretary was preparing at the same moment
from the President. but Mt this juncture Lieut..
Gen Grant telegraphed to the Secretary ofWar
rs we'll as to the Secretary Of State, that the
party from Richmond had reconsidered and ac-
ccpted the condition rendered them through
Major Eckert, and Gen. Grant urgently advised
the President to confer in person with tho
Richmond party. b
Under these circumstances the Secretary, by
the Presidents direction, remained Mt Fortress
Monroe. and the President Joined him there in
the night of the % Of February. The Rich
mond party was brought down the James river
In U. 8. steam transport during the day, and
the transport was anchored in Hampton Roads.
On the morning of the Sd inst. the President,
attended by the Secretary, received Messrs.
Stephens. Hunter and Cambell on board.
The conference was altogether informal.
There was no attendance Of secretaries, clerks.
or other witnesses. Nothing was written or
read. The onversation-although earnest and
full-was calm and courteous and kind on both
sides. The Richmond party approached the
discussion rather indirectly, and at NO time did
they make categorical demands, or tender for
NAL stipuations or absolute refusals. Never.
theless, during the conference, which lasted
four hours, the several points at issue between
the government and the insurgents were dis
tnctly raised, and discussed fully, intelligent
ly and In an amicable spirit.
What the insurgcnt seemed chiefly to favor
was postponement Of the question of separa-
ton upon which the war Is waged and mu.
tual dircGtion Of the efforts OF the Government
as well as those Of the insurgents to some ex.
trinsio policy or scheme for o season, during
which, passions might be expected to subside
and the armies DO reduced, and trade and inter.
course between the people OF both sections be
resumed. Il was suggested BY them that
through such postponcmcnt VIC might now have
immediate pcaoe with some, not very certain,
prospect Of an ultimate satisfactory adjustment
Of the political relations between the govern.
ment and the States, section or people now en-
gagged In conflict with It. The suggestion,
though deliberately considered, was neverthe.
less regarded BY the President as one armistice
or truce, and he announced that We can agree
TO no cessation or suspension Of hostilities cx.
cept on the basis OF the disbandment of the In
surgeut forces, and the restoration OF the M.
tiobal authority throughout oil the States In
the Union, collaterally and in subordnation to
the proposition which was thus announced.
The anti i.slavcry policy Of tho United States
was reviewed Ia all It's bearings, and the Prcsi.
dent announced that he must not be expected
to depart from the positions he had heretofore
assumed In his proclamation of emancipation
and other doouments, rs these positions were
reiterated In his annual message.
II was declared BY the President that the CON-
plcte restoration Of the National authority cv.
erywherc was an indispensable condition Of any
assent on our part to whatever form OF peace
might be proposed. The President assured tho
otter party that while he must adhere to these