Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-14

at General Grants headquarters. The MAYOR
was directed TO deliver 10 them copy OF the
Presidents letter to Mr. Blair, with note to
|. adore. sed to them and signed by the MAJOR
In which they were directly Informed that Il
they should be allowed 10 pass our lines they
would BIZ understood as coming for an informal
con erence upon the basis ol the aiOrenamed let
tef Of the 18Th OF January to Mr.. Bar. II
they oud express their assent to this condition
IN writing, then Major Eckert was directed to
give them safe conduct 10 Fortress Monroe, wnere
a person coming from the President would meet
them
II being thous ht probable from a report of
their conversation with l4ialt. Gen. Grant, that
the Richmond party would in the manner = e.
scriO.d accept the conditions mentioned, the Sec
relaty Of o,ate vas charged BY the President
with the duty Of representing ths Government
10 the expected informal conference.
lite Secretary arrived at FORTRESS Monroe IN
the night Of the lsl OF February. MAJOR E5kert
met him on the morning Of the u OF February,
with the information that the persons who had
come from Richmond had not accepted in writing
the conditions upon which ho was allowed to
give them conduct to Fortress Monroe. The
MAJOR had given the same information by tele
graph TO the President at Washington. On re-
celvlng this information the President prepared
a telegram, directing the Secretary to return to
Washington. The Secretary was preparing at
the same moment to 30 return without waiting
for information from the President, but at this
junGture Lieut.. Gen Grant telegraphed to the
secretary OF War, az well as to the Secretary
Of State that the party from h chmoud had
reconsdercd and accepted the condition rendered
i,a, ID 81. EtLarf nd (,raut
urgently advised the President to confer 10 per.
son with tue Richmond party.
q. nder these circumstances tho Secretary, by
the Presidents dlrectIoo remained a. Fortress
Monroe, aud the President j)Ined him there in
the night Of the 2 oil February. Inc Rich
nond party was brought down the James river
u United States steam transport during the
day, ana the transport was anchored ~ lamp
ton Roads.
GA the morning Of the 81 inst. the President,
attended by the Secretary, received Messrs.
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell on board,
The c0nlelencs,was altogether informal. There
was no Attendance OF secretaries, clerks, Or other
witnesses Nothing was written OF read. The
ngefsation-altboug earnest and iull-was
calm and courteous and kind on both sides. The
Richmond party approached the discussion
rather Indirectly and at no time did they make
categ orcal demands, or tender formal supula-
lions Or absolute rolusals. Nevertheless, during
the conference, which lasted four hours, the sew
eral points at Issue between the government and
the insurgents were distinctly raised, and dis
cussed iuily, lntelgently aud IN an amlcao
spirit.
WI hat the itsurgeat party seemed chiefly to
favor was posGponement Of the question OF
separation upon which the war is waged, and
mutual direction OF the Efforts OF the Govern
ment as well US those of the insurgents to some
extfinslc I0lcy or scheme Tor u season, during
which passions might be expected to subside
and the Armies be reduced, aud trade and in
tercourse between The people OF both sections be
resumed. IL was suggested by them that
through such postpOneIneut wo might now have
immediate peace with some, not very certain,
prospect Of an ultimate satisfactory adjustment
OF tue political relations between the Govern
ment aud the States section OF people { ow en-
gagged IN conflict with IT, Inc suggestion,
though deliberately considered, was never,hc'
less regarded by the President as one OF arm
stIce or truce, and he announced that we can
agree to no cessation or suspension OF hostlltles
except ON the basis OF the disbandment Of the
nsureent forces, and the restoration OF the
national authority throughout all the Stakes IN
the Union. CoaiciaIly AID in subordnation
to the proposition which Vas thus announced,
the anu slavery policy Of the United States
was reviewed IN all rs bearing, and the Pres
ident ant ounced that he mus. not be expected
10 depart from the positions he had heretofore
assumed in his Proclamation Of emancipation
and other documents, as these position, were
| cd d, aupuul
IL wac further declared by the President that
the complete restoration OF the National au-
thjrty everywhere was an indispensable con
dition OF any assent on our part to whatever
form OF peace might be proposed. The PresI-
# dent assured the other parry taat while no must
adhere to these positions, he would be prepared
10 lar as power is lodged with tho Executive
e to exercise lib.rality. Ills power, however
IS is limited by tho Constitution, and when peac
IT should be made, Congress must necessarily &C
,e "a regard to the Appropriation OF money and t
st the admission OF Representatives from the IN
10 surrectionary States.
ID The Richmond party were then informed til
he Congress had, on the 3lst ult., adopted, by
ir Constitutional IN jolity, pint resolution sab
uniting to the 5 raj Static the proposition 4
abolish slavery through NJ the Union, and TIN
4 here is every reason TO expcc that 1t will =
pied iy three-lour.hs Oh the States, 20 as
} become prt Of thg National organic law
( The conference came TO an end by mulut
re acquiCs 'enc,, without producing an agreemen
ye. ct views upon the several matters discussed, {
nd any OF them Nevertheless, it is perhaps {
n some Importance that We have been able to sui
N, init our opinions and views directly TO promnsr
ed Insurgents, and to hear them IN answer IN
Sc. courteous and not unIriendly mannu.
cts | am, sir, your Obedlont servant,
lei WN. II. SEWARD
ses The rebol congress has rec lived the iollowu
~, explanation aud report OF the peace conference
or ITO the Senate aud hon@ Of Representative,
ses The Confederate States NJ Amrcd:
her Having recently received written noudcatiC
nee which satisfied me thai the Pendent OF the Tn
red ted States was disposed IT, confer inlormd
Of with unofficial agents that might be sent by nj
with view to the restoration OF poaca, r
to questtd Hon. Alexander II. stephens, lion.
cor NJ. T. llun,cr aud Hon John A. Campbell
us, proceed through our lines TO hold II c0uleren
.to with Me- Llucoln, or such persons rs he mig
Ia depute ~ represent HIM. | herewith submit {
al .hu information OF Congress the report OF Il
Ell. eminent eltiElns above named, showing that Il
ar, enemy refuse to enter into negotiations with
~ Confederate States, or any one Ol them scpdral
ly, or to give cur people any other terms
40. guatantl,s than those winch conqueror una
,ter gran, OF to permit us 10 have peace On Al
ere, Of er basis thaa our unc0nd itlonal submlssr
,ad n their rule, coupled with tbs acceptance
Try their recent legislation, including an anendme
'a,, ~ the Constitution Tor The emancipation OF 4
Tvs gru slaves, aud with the right On the part
The Federal Congress to leglsate On the sui j,
re- OF the relations between the white aud Ola
iloh population OF each STATE Such Is, as und'
/, ~ stand me eject OF the amendment OF the "
srt, sutution which has been adopted by the "