Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-14

7 y,s ircormed that Mr.. BLAIR sought the card as
r,sons OF getting 10 Richmond, Va, but he was
,ven no authority TO speaker act for the POvern-
mant nor was L informed Vt anything he wopld say
or dNon his own account or other%iSe. Afterwards
Mr. Blair told me thSe he had been to Richmond
and had seen Mr., Jefferson Davis; and he Mr.. B.,
al the same time left with Inc a manuscript letter
follows, to Wit;
RICHMOND, Va, dan IL, 1865.
r p Blair, Esq.
Sir-I have deemed it proper, and probably de-
srable to you, TO give you in this form the sub
stance OF remarks made by me 10 be by
YOU TO President Lincoln, sc.
have no deposition TO ind obstacles IN forms,
and am willing now, heretofore, to enter into ne
gotiatons for the restoration of peace am ready TO
send Commission whenever have reason to sup
pose IL will be received, or 10 receive commission
the United States Government shall choose 10 ssho
one. That, Notwithstanding the rejection Oh our
fov;ner offers / would, it you could promise that
com sissoner minister or agent would be received,
apnoint one Immediately, and renew the effort to
snter into conference with a view TO secure peace
TO the two countries. Yours, &C.,,
'''~ JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Afterwards, and with the view that it should be
shown to Mr.. Davis 1 wrote and delivered to Mr..
Blair letter, as follows:
WAsHISGTOY, January IL, 1865.
:. P. Blair, Esq
S,R-Your having shown me Mr.. Davis letter TO
YOU Of the 18th instant, you may say to him that.
nave constantly been, am now, ana shall continue
ready to receive any agent whom he, or al! other
influential person now resisting the Natohsl su-
thUrity, may intOrmallyrsend 10 me with view oi
securing peace TO the people OF our one common
Yours, &C., A. LINCOLN
Afterwards Mr.. Blair dictated for, and authorized
me- to make an entry on the back OF my retained
copy OF the letter last above RECEIVED which entry
is as follows
GxNpoRsENENT.l
JANUARY %, 1865.
-To-dsy Mr. Blair tells that on the lst inst. he
delivered 10 Mr. Davis the original OF which the
within Is a copy. and left il with him THAT at the
time OF delivering II Mr. Davis read It over twice IN
Mr. Blar's presence, at the close vi which he, (Ar
Blair remarked that the part about ''oHr one COM
mon country related TO the part ot MI. D.s letter
about- 1.-The two countries, to which Mr.. u. replied
that he 50 understood il. \. LINCOLN.
It next appears, from tn kilograms, Sc. that, on
the 2gth ut., Gen. Wilcox informed Ger. Parke
thai Ncssrs. stephens, Hunter and Cdmpbell de-
sired to cross his lines sin accordance with an I'M
derstanding claimed TO exist with Lieut.. General
Grant" lie asked if they should be admitted
Gen. Parke referred the letter to Gen. Ord, who
commanded in the absence Of Gen. Grant. Ord re-
fcrred il to Secretary Stanton who replied that he
had no knowledge of the understanding with Gen.
Grant, and instructing Ord TO allow no one to come
into his lines under the profession of Peace Com
missiouers, until he received the Presidents in-
s,ructions.
Gen. Ord was afterwards instrusted by direction
of the President to inform Messrs s., II. and c.,
that messenger would he despatched to them
without unnecessary delay.
Lincoln then, as he says, prepared and put into the
hands Of Major Thomas I. Eckert the following in
structions aud Message;
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, Jany 80, 1865.
Eaior T. T. Eckert:
SIR&Eou wilLproceed with the documents placed
in your hands, and reaching Genl Ord will
deliver the letter addressed 10 him by the Sec
Rotary Of War then, by Genl Ord's assistance
procure an interview with Messrs. Stephens
Hunter and CanSbeii, or any of them, de-
liver TO him or them the paper on which your own
letter is written, note on the copy which you retain
the time OF delivery and to whom delivered receive
their answer in writing, waiting reasonable time
for it, aud which, If col tain their decision 10 come
through, without further condition, will be your
warrant 10 ask Gen'l Ord TO pass them through, as
directed in the letter of the Secretary of War to
him. Ii by their answer they decline 10 come, or
propose other terms, do not have them passed
through. And this being your whole duty, return
and report 10 me.
Yours, truly, A LIScoLN.
Wssrs AlsroRier H. Stephens, j. 4. Campbell and
r. Ii. I. Hmtsr:
Gentlcmen-I am instructed by the President of
the United States TO place this paper in your hands
EitE-the information that if YOU pass through the
Y u,,ed States military lines IL will be understood
that Won dose for the purpose q an informal con-
icreucv, ON the basis OfSthe letter, copy of which
on the reverse side ofthis sheet, and that if you
pass such an understanding, and notify me in
writing, | will procure the Commanding General to
pass YOU through the lines, and TO Fortress Mon
roe under such military precautions as he may deem
prudent, and at which place YOU will be met in due
tme by some person or persons for the purpose Of
such informal conference. And, further that you
shall have protection safe conduct and sale return
IN all events. TBOs. T. EcKERT,
Maj. and A. ID. c.
City Point, Va, Feb. l, 1865.
THE letter referred to>as tho .'basis of the con-
terence is Lncolns letter to Blair of the 18th ult
published aboyc.l
Before Major Eckert departed, General Grant
returned to City Point, aud under date of Slst-
1890 a. M.-communcated the following from
Nessrs. s, II. and c.;
PETERSBURG, VA, Jan. 90, 1865.
Lieut.. Gen. Grant, CoB'd7 armies T. s. f.:
Strive desire to pass Your lines under safe con-
duct, and to proceed to Washington to hold con-
ference with President Lincoln upon the subject of
tue existing war; ana Win A-NieW OF AScertalnlhg
upon what terms il may be terminated, in purSu-
Of the Indicated 10y him in his letter to
Mr.. Blair of January IL 1865, of which we presume
YOU have copy, and ii not we wish to see you in
person, il convenient and TO confer with you upon
the subject.
Very respectfully, yours,
(Signed) ALEX. II. STEPHENS.
J. A. CAMPBELL.
K. NJ. 7. HUNTER.
Grant added 10 the above
have sent directions TO receive these gentlemen
,, o~pe,t IN have than, or ms ouortars chic o~o,