Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-02-22
THE LATE PEACE CONFERENCE.

so-called Peace Conference between Presi-
dent Lincoln and the Rebel Commissioners
in Hampton Roads, than any article which
-might be written on the subject:
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington,
/ February 9:-SIR: 1t is truism that IN
| times OF peace there are always instigators
of war. So soon as war begins there are
citizens who strongly demand negotiations
of peace. The advocates OF war, after an
agitation longer or shorter, generally gain
their fearful end, though the war declared
Is not unfrequenty necessary and unWise.
SO peace agitators in time Of war ultimately
bring about au abandonment of the conflict,
sometimes without securing the advantages
which were originally expected from the
conflict Agitators for war In time OF peace,
and Tor peace III time OF war, are not neceS-
/ sarlly or perhaps ordinarily imperative in
their purposes or motives. Results alone
! determine whether they are wise or unwise.
| The treaty of peace concluded at Guadalupe
/ Hidalgo was secured by an irregular nego-
| tiation under the authority Of the Govern
ment. Some Of the efforts which have been
made to bring about negotiations for the
| purpose of ending our civil war, are known
| to the whole world because they have en-
| ployed foreign as well as domestic agents.
| Others with whom you have had to deal
confdentially are known to yourself. Other
| efforts have occurred here which are known
| only to persons actually moving in them and
to the government. | am now to give for
! yGffs information an account OF an affair OF
! the same general character which recently
! received much attention here, and which
! doubtless viii excite inquiry abroad.
\ few days ago Francis Blair, Esq, OBJ
tanned from the President simple leave
| through our lines. Without any defnate
view known to the Government, Mr.. Blair
| visited Richmond, and on his return he
showed the President letter which JEFF.
Davis had written to Mr. Blair, in which
Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair was at liberty to
say to President Lincoln that Davis was
| now, as he always had been, willing to send
! commissioners, if assured they would be re-
/ ceived, CT to receive any that should be
| sent; that he was disposed to send commits
sioners to confer with the President, with
| view to the restoration of peace between
the two countries if he could be assured they
would be received. The President, there
fore, on the 18th Of January, addressed
note to Mr.. Blair, in which the President, at
ter acknowledging that he read the note of
| Davis, SAID that he was, Is, and always would
be willing to receive any agents that Mr..
! Davis OF other infueDtial men. now actually
resisting the authority Of the Government,
| might send to confer informally with the
| President, with view to the restoration Of
! peace to our common countLr~
| Mr.. Blair visited Richmond with this let
! ter, and then came again back TO Washing
ton. On The 29th ult., we were advised
! from the camp of iIi6;it. Gen, Grant that j.
! IL. Stephens, r. NJ I. Hunter and ]. A.
! Campbell were applying for leave to pass
| through the lines to Washington as peace
! IL IL
! dent. They were permitted by the Lieut..
| General to come to his headquarters, to "a
| wait there the decision. Of the President.
! Maj. Eckert was sent down to meet the par
| ty from Richmond at Gen. Grants head
| quarters. The Major was directed to de-
! liver 10 them copy of the President let
/ ter to Mr.. Blair, with note to be added to
it, and signed by the Major in which they
| were directly informed that they should be
| allowed to pass our lines and they would be
| understood as coming for an informal con
/ ference upon the basis OF the above named
! letter Of the 18th of January, to Mr. Blair
II they SHOULD express their assent to this
condition in writing, then Major Eckert was
| directed to give them safe conduct to Fort
| the ress Monroe, when a person coming from
! President would meet them. 1t being prob
! able from Il report OF their conversation with
/ iieut. Gen. Grant, that the Richmond par
| ty would, IN the manner perSOnated accept
| the terms mentioned, the Secretary of State
was charged by the President with. the duty OF
| representing this Government III the expect
| ed informal conference The Secretary ar
/ rived at Fortress Monroe on the night of the
/ first day Of February Maj. Eckart met him
/ on the morning OF the ID, with information
/ that the pGTonS who came from Richmond
! had not accepted In writing the conditions
| JrpoD which he WAS .,lipyVe1 IN trivp thpr,1
/ conduct to Fortress Monroe. The Major
| had given thesame information by telegraph
| to the President at Washington. On re-
/ ceiving the information the President pre-
| pared Il telegram directing the Secretary to
! return to Washington. The Secretary was
| preparing at the same moment TO return
| without waiting for Information from the
| President, but at this juncture Lieut.. Gen.
| Grant telegraphed to the Secretary Of War
| as well as TO the Secretary Of State, that the
| Richmoud party had reconsidered and ac-
| cepted the condition rendered them through
! Maj. Eckert, and Gen. Grant urgently ad-
| ylsed the President to confer III person with
| the Richmond party. Under these circum-
stances the Secretary, by the President
| direction, remained at Fortress Monroe,
and the President joined him there on the
night of Feb ID The Richmond party
| were brought down the James river in Il.
States transport during the day, and the
transport was anchored in Hampton Roads
On the morning of the Sd the President,
atteuded by the Secretary OF State, received
Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell,
on board the United States steam trans
port River Queen, in Hampton Roads
The conference was altogether informal.
There was not in attendance secretaries,
clerks, or other witnesses. Nothing was