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

Induced BY a dispatch from Gen. Grant,
| will join you at Fort Mource as soon as
| can come.
Sent in cypher AT Q An
Before starring the following dispatch
was shown me. Iprocsedsd nevertheless:
Murray TELEGRApn OFFICE L. S,
WAR DEPARTMexT.
(Cipher) The following telegram WAS
received st Washington, Feb. %, 1865,
from City Point, Va, 8 A. ", Feb, 2,
1865:
10 Hon. VIM. Fl. Seward, Secretary Of
Slate, Fort Monroe Copy 10 z NJ
Stanton, Secretary Of War, Washibg>
tony:
The gentlemen here have accepted the
proposed terms, and will leave Tor Fort
Nouroe st $50 An
(Signed) L. S. Grant,
Lieutenant General.
On the nigh. Of tbs 2d l reached
Hampton roads Found the secretary
Of state and Maj. Eckers on steamer
anchored of the, shore, ands learned Of
1hem that the Richmond gentlemen were
Oh another .tesner, also anchored off shore
in tue roads, aud that ,he secretary Of
slate had not vet seen or communicated
with them. | ascer,ai.e1 that Maj.
Ecksrt had literally complied with bis
Instructions, and saw for the frs, time
The answer OF tbs Richmond gentle en- 70
him, which, in hi. Dispatch to me Of the Ii.
he chsrsctsrizes a. not satisfactory. The
answer is ~ follows, to Wit:
10 I. I. Eckert, Maj &C.:
Maj jor-Iour note delivered bv your
,elt this day has been considered. 10 re-
ply we have to say that we were furnish
cd with copy Of :he letter of Presideu,
Lincoln to +. z. Blair, Of the lS.h OF
January .uIs., another copy Of which is
appended TO your note, Car instructions
arc contained in letter of which is a
copy;
Richmond, Jan. 2s, 1865
In conformity with the letter OF Mr..
Llnr on, of which the foregoing is COPY,
ycr are to proceed 10 Washington city tos
luformal conference with him upon tbs
Issues Involved 10 the existing war, and
for the purpose Of securing peace to the
two countries.
With great respect, your obedient
servant, JEFFEksoN DAVIS.
Substantially the ohjsc, to be attained
by The Informal conference is TO ascertain
upon what terms the existing War can b.
terminated hohorsby. Our instructions
col tempisls personal interview bet" ecu
President Lincoln and oursel, es, al " ash
ington but with this explanation We sre
ready TO meel any person or persons thai
President LlncoIh may appoint at such
place as be may Gesl gnate Onr ea'ne.t
desire lie that jnst aud honorable peace
may be agreed upon and we are prepared
to submit propositions which may possibi.
lead 10 the attainment Of that end.
Very respectfully yours,
ALFX. III. STEPHENS,
X. 81. + lIuNrER,
J. A. CAMPBELL.
y note OF these gentlemen subsequ quently
addressed 20 General Grant has alr-ad,
bsen given in Maj Eckert's dispatch Of The
l.t inst. | also cav hele for the first time
the following note addresse by The Rich
mond gentlemen to Mi. Ecker,:
City Point, FEB. ., 1865.
I. 7. Ecker, Majpr and A. ID, G.:
Msjor-ln reply 20 your verbal state
ment that your Instructions did not aIio"
you TO alter The conditions upon which p
passport could be given to Us, we say that
we are willing to proceed to Fort Monroe,
and there have an informal conference with
| any person or persons tina, Presldeu, In
ce!n may appoint on the basis OF his letter
10 +. L. BLAIR, 0! 18Th Of Jan. nit, or up>
on any other terms or conditions that he
may hereafter propose not Inconsistent
with the essential principle, Of self govern
! ment and popular rights upon who. our
institutions are founded. Ii IS our earn
esl wish to ascertain after n free enter
change of ideas aud information, upon
"ha. principles aud terms, If auy, a just
aud honorable peace can be established
without tie further eifuson cf blood, and
10 cOntrl butte our utmost Efforts To sccoui-
pllsh such result We think i, better
To add, IN accepting your passport we AT.
not 10 be understood rs committing OUT
! selves 10 anything but 10 carry TO his in
tofmai conterence The views Of feeling
above expressed
'ety respectfully yosrl,
n II. STEpHEHs,
\. NJ. ! ilUNrEE,
J. A. CAMPBELL
Note.-1he ABOVE communication wa-
delivered 10 me At IT. Monroe a, 4 o'cIoc k
p. m, Feb. I'd, by 1t. Col. Babcock, ot
Gen. Grants staff. 7. +. tcKsnr,
Major and Aid de-Caup.
On the morning Of the Sd, the three
gentlemen, Stephens, Hunter and Carp
bell, came aboard our steamer and had an
interview With the secretary Of state and
myself, Of several hours duration. NJ
questions of prsliminaries TO tbs meeting
was then and there made or mentioned
no other person was present; no pspers
were exchanged or produced, and it was
| in advance agreed tha. the conversation
WAS 20 ta informal and yert.I ,,or.lv