The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-02-16
Official Rebel Account Of the Peace Effort.

1 WASHINGTON, Feb 19th.-The Richmond
wing OF the 9TH inst, says that the following
documents were laid before congress tins
morning. So.
ITO the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the confederate States of Anerica:
Having recently received written notifica-
ton which satisfied me that the President
of the United States was disposed to confer
Informally with unofficial agents that might
be sent by me. with view to the reStora-
ton of peace, requested Hon. Alexander
II Stevens, Hon K. NJ T. Hunter, and Hon.
John A. Campbell to proceed throughout
our lines to hold conference with MIR.
Lincoln or such person as he might depute
to represent. him | herewith submit for
information to congress the report of the
eminent citizens above named, showing
that the enemy refuse to enter into nego-
| tiations with the confederate States or any
one of them separately, to give our peaple
any terms or guarantees than those which
a conqueror may grant, or permit us to
have peace on other basis than our uncondi
tional surrender to their rule coupled with
the acceptance of their recent legislation in
Guiding an amendment to the Constitution
for emancipation of negro slaves, and with
the right ON the part of the federal Congress
to legislate ON the subject of the relation be-
tween the white and black population of
each strife, such is, as / understand, the eff
feet of the amendment to the Constitution
which has been adopted by the Congress of
the United States.
(Signed) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
RICHMOND, Feb 1865.--To the President
of the Confederate States ~N-
SIR Under your letter of appointment
of the -28th we proceeded to seek an in
formal conference with Abraham Lincoln
president Of the United States, upon the
subject mentioned in your letter. The con-
ference was granted and took place on the
30th ult., on board steamer anchored in
Hampton Roads. with President Lincoln and
Mr. Seward, Secretary of State Of the Uni
ted States, 1t continued for several hours
and was both full and explicit, We learn,
! ed from them that the message of President
Lincoln to the Congress of the United States
in December last, explains clearly and dis
tlnCtly his sentiments as to terms and con-
ditions and method of proceeding by which
peace can be secured by the people, and
we were Informed that they would be mod
flied or altered to obtain that end We un-
derstand from him that no terms or propo-
sails OF any treaty or agreement looking to
an ultimate settlement would be entertained
or made by him with the authorities Of the
Confederate States, because that would be q
recognition of their existence as a separate
power, which under no circumstances would
be done, and for like reasons that no such
terms could be entertained by him from
states separately; that no extended truce or
armistice, as at present advised, would be
granted or allowed without satisfactory as
surances i'll advance of a complete restora-
ton of the authority of the Conststu-
ton and laws of the United States over
all places within the states Of the Confeder-
acy; that whatever consequences may follow
the re- establishment Of that authority, that
must be accepted, that the individuals sub
ject to pains and penalties under the laws of
the United States, might rely upon very
liberal llse of the power confded to him to
remit those pains and penalties, if peace be
restored During the conference the proposed
amendment to the constitution of the U.
S., adopted by Congress on the 3lst ult.,
was brought to our notice. The amendment
provides that neither slavery nor involunta-
ry servitude except for crime, should exist
within its jurisdiction, and Congress should
have the power to enforce this amendment
by appropriate legislation. Of all the confer,
ence therein mentioned, and leading to the
same you have heretofore been informed.
Very respectfully. .us
Your obedient servants,
rtsas. ALEX. H. STEPHENS,
r. M. T. HUNTER,
JNo. A. CAMPBELL.