The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-02-17

erument, nor was | informed OF ANYTHING
be would say or Go on bis own account
or otherwise, Mr Blair told ne that he
had been to Richmond and had seen Da-
Wis, and be (Blai.) at the same time left
with me a manuscript letter as follows, to-
wit:
Richmond, Va, Jan. II, 1865.
T. p. Blair, Esq:
Sir have deemed it proper and Prob
ably desirable to you TO give you in this
form the substance of the remarks made
by me to be repeated by You to President
Lincoln.
have no disposition to find obstacles in
forms and am willing now as heretofore to
enter into negotiations for the restoration
Of peace. | am ready 10 send a commits
sion heneyer have reason to suppose it
will be received, or to receive a colrmis,
sion, If the United States shall chose to
send one, notwithstanding the rejection OF
our former offers. | would, if You could
promise that a commission. minister or
other agent would Ue received, appoin,
one Immediately, and renew the effort to
enter into a conference with q view TO So
cure peace to the two coautIies.
Yours, &c, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Afterwards, with a view ,ha, i, should
be shown to Davis, wrote and delivered
to Blair letter as follows:
Washington, Jan. IS, go.
f. z. Blair, Esq:
S;r-Non having shown me Mr.. Davis
letter to YOU, on The Il h inst, You may
say to him, that | have constantly been,
am now and shall continue ready 10 receive
any agent whom he or any other -iniluen-
tiai persons, now resisting the national All
thorily, may informally send ms with q
view of securing peace to the people OF
our oue common country.
(Signed) } 4. LINCOLN.
Afterwards, Mr. Blair dictated for and
authorized me to make an entry Oh tie
back Of my retained copy Of the letter last
recited, which is as follows:
January %, 1865
10 day Mr. Blair tells ne that on the
2lst inst, he delivered to Mr.. Davis TIE
original Of which the within is copy, and
left it with him. that at The time of de-
llvering it, Mr.. DAVIS read it over twice in
Mr.. Balr's presence, al the close Of whica
be (5Iai) remarked, that the part about
our one common country related to the
part OF Mr.. Davis letter abou, the two
counties, 10 which Mr.. DAVIS replied that
he SO understood it.
(Sigued,) A. LINCOLN.
Then follows number Of telegrams re-
latng 20 the mission Of Stephens, Hunter
and Campbell into our lines. There hav>
ing been some delay consequent on the
absence Of Gen. Graut.
Tie president then says, afterwards by
my directions, the secretary Of war tele,
graphed Gen. Ord as follows:
WAR Dept, WAsHISoros, 10 AM
Jan. 80, 1865.
Maj. Gen. Ord, Headquarters Army OF the
james;
BY direction Of the president you are
Instructed to inform the three gentlemen,
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, that
messenger will be dispatched TO them at
or near where they Cow are without un-
necessary delay.
E. Al. STANTON,
SeCy Of War.
Afterwards ! prepared and put into the
hands Of Thos. 7. Eckerl, the following
instructions and message:
Executive MANSION, WAsHINGTox, J
January 80, 1865
Maj T. T. Ecker.,
oir-You will proceed with the docu-
ments placed in your hands and on
reaching Gen. Ord will deliver him the
letter addressed TO him BY the SECRETARY Of
war, Then by Gen. ORD. assistance pro.
cure an interview with Stephens, Hunter
aud Campbell or any OF them, deliver to
him or them The papers on which your
own letter is written; note on the copy
which you retain, the time Of delivery and
10 whom delivered. Receive their answer.
IN writing, waiting reasonable time for
II, which if il contains their decision 10
cor1e through, ~ilLos: further coc1i,ion