The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-11

State with the fOllaStng ilnstrnctb'is,
Major Eckert, however, going ahead "f
him:
ExEcUTIyE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Jan 81. 1865
Hon Bs n Sr,eard, -Seertpy cf Stafr:
Yon viii proceed to Fortress Monroe,
there ~. lllest and informally confer with
Messrs Stephens ,hhauter aud Campbell
on the basis of my letter Ia Mr.. r. +.
Blairi Exl , of Jan lsthy 1855. acOpyIof
which writ have Yeu will make known
to them that three things are indispen.
sable, to Wit: First, the restoration Of
the natithA authority Throughout all
the States; second no receding by the eN-
ecutivs ri the United States on the
slavery arestion from the position MS
snmed thereon'iu the late annual mes
sage to Congress, and in the preceding
documents; aiid third no cessation OF
hostilIties short OF ia end Of the war and
disbaddinp Of all the forces hostile :"
the government. iou will inform them
that alf propositions At theirs moi incon-
~stent with the above will be considered
and passed upon in tho spirit Of sincere
liberality. You will hear all they may
choose ito sa aud report by teleguini
Signed A. LINCOLN.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
r..5gD WAsHIN9ToN, Feb. II, lsb5
Lieut. Gen Grant, City Point:
Let nothing which is now transplrins
change. hinder or delay yom military
movements or plans nm Et.I.H.
fSigned, g. VII A LINCOLN
.Atterward the following despatch Was
received from Gen Grant:
"OFfiCE or rHE Z s. TELEGRAPH, }
WAR DEPARTMENr }
The following telegram was received
at 2. 80 D. m, February lst, 1868:
Cry PoIST, VA. Feb. !, 1863
His ErcrIlsncy 4 Lincoln, President OF the
T. S:
Your despatch received There will be
no armistiee III consequence OF the pres
ence of Mr. Stephens and othtrs within
our lines The troops are kept III readi-
ness To move ut the shortest notice If oe-
casion should Justify it,
GSiVned I us GRANT 1t. Gen
Here follows correspondence indica-
ting that the rebel commissioners were
not disposed To accede 10 satisfactory
terms.
On receiving the dispatch OF Major
Eckert [ was about To recall him and the
Secretary Of State, when the following
telegram from General Grant to the
Secretary of War was shown me.
OFFICE UNIrED STATES Military
TELEGRAPH. WAR DEPARTMENT
The following telegram received at
Washington at 4:30 A. NJ February I'd.
from City Point Virginia February lst
at 1910 P NJ:
Hon T.. n. Stanton, Secretary of Var:
=. Now that the interview between Major
Eckert, under his written Instructions,
and Mr. r.Stephens and party, his order, |
will st ate confidentially, but not official
ly TO b ecome matter of record, that |
am convinced upon conversation with
Messrs. Stephens and Hunter that their
intentions are good, and their desires sin
cere to restore peace and nnion have
not felt myself at liberty to express
views of my own, OF TO account for my
retcence. This has placed me III al
awkward position, which ! would have
avoided by not seeing them in the first
instance. | fear now their going back
without any expression to any one in
authority will have a bad influence
Here follow dispatches 10 Gen. Grant
and Secretary Seward from the Presl-
dent. saying that he would meet the
rebel commissioners at Fortress Monroe
as soon as possible and dispatch from
Grant to the effect that the proposed
terms " ould he scceded to.
On the night III the "a inst | cached
Hampton Roads and found the Secretary
of State aud Mai Eckert OH d steamer
anchored on the shore, and learned OF
them that the Richmond gentlemen were
Oh another steamer, also anchored OF
shore in the river, and that tue Secretary
Of State had not yet seen OF ceminunl-
Gated with them | ascertained that
Mai. EckeTt had literally complied with
bis instructions, and / saw for the hrst
time the answer of the Richmond gen
tlemen 10 HIM, which III his dispatch TO
me of the Isl be characterized a. not
satisfactory That answer is as follow,
CRY PoINT, Feb /, 1868
10 rhOs + Ectert. Major. Sc:
MAJoR. Your note delivered. In re
ply we have to say that we We're hlr
nialed with a copy of the letter Of Presl
dent Lincoln 10 r Z Blair, Ot the 18th
ult. another copy Of which /, appended
10 your note Oar intentions, are con-
tanned in letter Of which the following
IS copy
RICHMOND. Jan. -. lSGj
III conformity with the letter of Mr.
Lincoln. of which the foregoing - copy,
yon are to proceed to Washington City
for a formal conference with mu upon
the issues involved In the existing war,
and for the purpose Of securing peace 10
the two countries
With great respect, your obt servant
JEFFERSON DAVIS
Tie substantial object 10 bs Obiaihei
Ly the informal conference - 10 ascsi
tam upon what terms the existing wal
can be terminated h0norIhly Our IL
stTuctions contemplate personal inter
view bet ween President Lincoln aud our
selves at Washington but with this OK
planatiou We are ready TO meet any per
son or persons that Presirent Lincoln
NAV appoint, al such place as he may
designate
Our earnest desire Is 10 ascertain upon
what terms peace may be agreed upon;
and we are prepared to receive or 70 sub
init propositions which may possibly
lead to the attainment ofthatend
Very respectfully yours,