Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-03-03
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
Letter Of Mr.. Seward TO Mr., Adams, Minister
TO England.

|
President Lincoln has sent in to Congress
a message in reference to the recent Peace
Conference. The message is too long for us
to publish, but the whole history is succintly en-
braced in Mr. Seward letter to Nr. Adams, and
the reader can get full understanding of the whole
matter from the following extract
The President ON the 18th day of January, ad-
dressed note to Mr. Blair, in which the President
after acknowledging that he had read the note of
Mr DAVIS, said that he was, and always should be,
Wiling 10 receive any agent which Mr.. Davis, or
any other influential person now actually resisting
the authority of the government might send to con-
fer informally with the President with view to the
restoration of peace to the people of our common
| country.
Mr.. Blair visited Richmond with his letter and
then again came back to Washington On the 2sth
inst, were advised from the camp of Lieut. Gen
Grant, thai Alexander III. Stephens, r. NJ. T. Hun
ter, and John a. Campbell, were applying for leave
to pass through the the hnesto ashngton as Peace
commissioners to confer with the President. They
were permitted by the Lieut.. General to come to his
headquarters to await there the decision of the Pres
| Iident Major Eckert was sent down to meet the
party from Richmond at Gen Grants Headquarters
The Major was directed TO deliver TO them copy of
the Presldents letter to Mr.. Blair with note to be
addressed to them and signed by the Major in which
they were directly informed that they should be al
lowed to pass our lines. They would be understood
as coming for an informal conference upon the ba-
sis of the afore- named letter of the 18th of Ian 10
Mr. Blair Ii they would express their assentto this
condition in writing, then Maj Ecker was directed
to give them safe conduct to Fortress Monroe where
person coming from the President would meet
them. Ii being thought probable, from report Of
the conversation with Lieut.. Cen Grant, that the
Richmond party would in the manner prescribed ac-
cept the condition mentioned the Secretary of State
was charged by the President with the duty of rep
resentlng this Government in the expected informal
conference. The Secretary arrived at Fortress
Monroe on the night of the lst of February. Mai.
Eckert met him on the morning of the End of Feb
with the information that the persons who had come
from Richmond had not accepted in writing thecon-
dition upon which he was allowed to give them con-
duct TO Fortress Monroe. The Maj. han given the
same information by telegraph to the President at
Washington. On receiving the information the
President prepared telegram directing the Secre-
tary to return to Washington.
The Secretary was preparing at the same moment
to return without waiting for information from the
President. But at this j1ncture Lieut.. Gen. Grant
telegraphed to the Secretary Of War, as well as to
the Secretary of Slate, that from Richmond
had reconsdered and accepted the condition rendered
them through Maj Eckert, and Gen. Grant urgently
advised the President confer in person with the
Richmond party. Under these circumstances the
Secretary, by the Presidents direction remained at
Fortress Monroe, and the President joined him there
on the night of the End of February.
The Richmond party was brought down the James
river IN nlted States steam transport during
day, and the transport was anchored in Hampton
Ronds on the morning of the Sd. The President,
attended by the Secretary, received Messrs Stephens
Hunter and Campbell on board the q. S. steam
transport River Queed, nHampton Roads.
The conference altogether informal. There
attendance of secretaries, clerks orwitnesses
Nothing was written read. The conversation al
though earnest and free, calm and courteous and
kind on both sides. The Richmond party approach
ed the discussion rather indirectly, and at no time
obae 1s
stpulations absolute refusal nevertheless during
the conference whsh lasted four hours, the seysra1
points at issue between the government and the in
surgents distinctly raised and discussed fully
intelligenty and in anamicable spirit What the in
surgent party seemed chiefly to favor was post
ponement of the question of separation upon which
the war was waged and mutual direction of the
efforts of the Government well well as those of
the insurgents, to some extraneous policy or scheme
for season, during which passions might be expec-
ted to subsde and the armies be reduced and trade
and intercourse between the people of both sections
resumed.
1t was suggested by them that through such post
ponement we wight now have immediate peace, with
some, not very certain, prospect of ultimate sat
isfactory adjustment of political relations, between
the Government and the States, section or people
now engaged in conflict with it. The suggestion
though deliberately considered, nevertheless re-
garded by the President of armistice or truce
and he announced that we agree to no cessation
or suspension of hostilites except on the basis of
the disbandment of he nsurgent forces and the res
toraon of the national authority throughout all the
Union eollateraly, and in subordnation to the prop
osition which was thus announced.
The anti slavery policy of the United States was
reviewed in all its bearings, and the President an
nounced that he must not be expected to depart
from the positions he had heretofore assumed in his
proclamation of emancipation and other documents
as these positions were reiterated in his annual
message.
1t was further declared by the President that the
complete restoration of the national authority every
where was an indispensable condition of any assent
on our part to whatever form of peace light be pro-
posed The President assured the other party that
while he must adhere 70 these positions he would
be prepared, so far as power was lodged with the
Executive to exercise liberaty. Its power, howev-
er, is limited by the constitution, and when peace
should be made, Congress must necessarily act in
appropriations of money and to the admission of
representatives from the insurreetionary States.
The Richmond party were then informed thatGon
gress had on the 3lst ult, adopted by Constitution
al majority, joint resolution submitting to the
eral States, the proposition to abolish Slavery
throughout the Union, and that there is every rea
SON to expect that it will be accepted by three
forhs Of the States, so as to become part of the
national organic lw.
The conference came TO an end by mutual acquies
sence without producing an agreement of views up
on the several matters discussed or any of them
Nevertheless it is perhaps of some importance that
we have been able to submit opinions and views
directly to prominent insurgents, aad to hear them
in answer, in a courteous and not anfriendly man
ner.
am, sir, your obedient servant,
VIM. a. SEWARD
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Eoreor prrRoIlJM President lincoln was at