The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-20
The Peace Mission.

1t is probable the public will never
know the complete history of the peace
conference between President LINCOLN
and the Southern commissioners No
reporters or secretaries were present at
the interview, and the things which the
pnbIic most desired to hear they VIII
never learn We have the message OF
the President giving toe kilograms which
were preliminary to the meeting, and we
have the report of Messrs. STEPHENS,
CAMPBELL and HUNTER to the rebel Con-
gress, but we have no report Of the con-
versation, arguments, statements or al
missions which must have taken place
during that memorable interview OF four
hours i'll Hampton Roads. 1t is said that
the whole question of reunion or indie
pendence was fully discussed, and no
conclusion reached, and an effort has
been made to create throughout the
North the impression that the rebels
were imperious in their demands and
would not listen to any propositions OF
reunion whatever The people have
been led to believe that the Union was
held out TO the rebels as the sole and
only condition of peace, and that it was
Indignantly rejected by them. Among
the unimportant messages relating to
the subject which were transmitted to
Congress by the President, more, it would
seem, for the purpose of quieting than Of
informing the public, there is only one
which contains ray of light. 1t was
addressed to the Secretary of War and
was written and signed as follows:
Now that the interview between Major
Eckert, under his written instructions,
and Mr. Stephens and party has ended, l
will state contidentially, but not offclal-
" TO become matter OF record, that
am convinced, upon conversation with
Mcssrs. Stephens and Hunter, that their
intentions are good, and that they are de-
siyouS Of peace and Union. / have not felt
myself at liberty to express even views
of my own OF to account tor my re-
tcence. This has placed me in an awk-
ward position. which could have avoid
ed by not seeing them in the first i'll
stance. ! fear now their going back
without any expression to any one III a'l-
thoritv will have bad influence; at the
same time, Recognize the difficulties III
the way of receiving these informal COM
missiOnerS at this time, and do not
know what 10 recommend.
am sorry, however, that Mr.. Lincoln
cannot have an interview with the two
named in this dispatch, if not all three
now within our lines. Their letter to me
WAS all that the Presidents instructions
contemplated to secure their safe con-
duct II they mad used the same language
to Major Eckert.
ISisnedl u. S. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
1t would seem from this, that, to the
plain and soldierly mind of Gen. GRANT,
these men came seekingpeace and Union,
andwe have little doubt that had he
been empowered to enter into negotia-
lions with them which would bind his
government and theirs, the whole mat
tr might have been amicably adjusted
and peace and Union secured. But d.
pI0macy the sublime art of mystification
and deceit steps in and it appears that
thorrbcls will be satisfied with nothing
less than political independence 1t has
often been said that the two armies could
very easily make satisfactory and hon.
orabie peace, if they were permitted to
do So. and General GRANTS letter goes far
to establish the truth of the assertion.