The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-08

The Latest Developments,
The N. Y. HeraId's History.
The Rebels gain a Conference by Ex.
traOrdinary Letter-wri'ing-An Im-
mediate Cessation of HOstilities De-
,nnnded by the Rebels.
Press D;spatchl ]


New YORK, Feb THE Herald has
an editorial to which it gives prominence,
saying the facts stated in this article are
derived from s1ch sources as to entltle
them to implicit belief. They are cor
rect beyond the possibility of mistake.
After referring to the motives which
induced Mr. Blair to visit Richmond 1T
continues: Before Mr.. Blair left for home,
Jefferson Davis addressed to him letter
expressing strong desire for peace, of
fering to waive all formalities in settling
our difficulties on the basis of two gov
ernments. The letter was adroitly
couched in such terms as to a hasty, care
less reader might conceal the clOven foot
OF cloven government which on close in
spection was plainly visible at the bot
tom of it. 1t seemed to he cunning eff
fort to place the odium OF continuing an
unnecessary war on Mr.. Lincoln.
The President speedily semi Mr.. Blair
back with assurances that he was also
desirous of peace, and in substance that
without sticking for technicalities, he
would listen to what any messenger
might have to say. if sent by jeff. Davis
or any other prominent rebel, provided
the necessity of preserving our own as
the one government of the whole United
States were first conceded. Thus far i'll
the diplomatical game, Mr.. Lincoln had
decidedly got the better Of Davis. 1t
would not do for the shaking Confedera-
CIV to leave the matter thus. The astute
Mr.. Stephens was called TO the aid of Mr.
Davis A long conference was held. 1t
was determined that Mr.. Stephens
Judge Campbell and Mr.. Hunter should
proceed North and try their joint hand
at mending matters. They entered into
Grants lines on the assurance that they
came OIL the basis of Mr. Lincolhs in
structions to Mr. Blair, but when the
President and Mr. Seward met them, it
turned out that all they wanted was an
armistice, the consideration of the main
tenance of the Union to be put off to a
more convenient season, when their
stomachs should be full of the tat to be
derived from our land and their military
stores replenished. Mr. Lincoln again
informed them that the preservation of
the Union must be condition precedent
to any other arrangements, and that he
would never consent to but one cessation
of hostilities, and that would bc the final
one.
Four hours of good natured talk en-
sued, but it all resulted i'll nothing more
than we have already stated. ! he truth
is that the rebels are very hardly pressed
by our armies They see that by the
sword they must perish. and so they
have sought to save themselves by nego-
tiation and diplomacy, but in this MIR
Lincoln has shown himself more than u
match for them. They have found him
courteous, but firm and untiexible, he has
now satisfied the clainerous peace men
of the North who have pertinaciously
insisted that soft words would melt the
hearts of the obstinate rebels. Talk Is
of no use. All that remains is to tight
it out, and the quicker the better
The Tribune says the rebels required
of the President an immediate and un-
qualified cessation of hostilities, leaving
in allegiance all questions concerning the
integrity of the Union and the righttul
authority of its government over thepeo-
pie of the several States, which the Pres
ident courteously, promptly, but deci-
dedly apprised them that he was neither
authorized nor disposed to cOncede, and
thus the conference terminated.
The World argues that the conference
was not a failure, by showing the rebel
commissioners were not authorized TO
propose any terms, but rather merely to
have an interview for information, so as
to enable the Richmond Government to
decide whether peace conference is ex-
Incident