American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-02-15

MIR. Lincoln's Message.
WASHINGTON Feb. 10


Hampton Roads, I have the honor to
state that on the day of the dates gave
Francis p. Blair, Sr., card written on
as follows -. Allow the bearer, I. P.
Blair Sr.. to pass our lines to go South
and return. Signed, A. Lincoln;" that
at the time was informed that Mr.. Blair
sought the card as a means of getting to
Richmond, Virginia, but he was given
no authority to speak or act for the gov
ernment, nor was | informed of anything
he would say or do on his own account
or otherwise. Mr. Blair told me that he
had been to Richmond and had seen Da-
Wis, and he (Blair) at the same time left
with Inc manuscript letter, as follows, to-
wit:
RICHMOND, VA, Jan. II, 1860.
F.P. BLAIR, ESQ, Sir.-l haxe deem
ed it proper and probably desirable to
YOU. to give you in this form the substance
of the remarks, made by me, to be re-
ported by you to President Lincoln
have no disposition to find obstacles IN
forms. and am willing now, as heretofore,
to enter into negotiations for the restora-
ton Of peace. am ready to send
Commission when have reason to sup
pose it will be received, or to receive a
Commission if the United States Govern
ment shall choose to send one. Not
withstanding the rejection Of our former
offer. | would. if you could promise that
Commissioner, Minister, or other agent
would be received, appoint one immedi-
ately. and renew the efforts to enter into
u conference with view to secure peace
to the two countries. Yours, &c,
JEFF. DAVIS.
Afterwards with theview thatit should
be shown to Davis, l wrote and delivered
to T. p. Blair letter as follows:
WASHINGTON, Jan. IS.
To Francis p. Blair, Esq:
SIR: You have shown me Mr.. Davis
letter to you on the 18th inst, you may
say to him that have constantly been,
am now. and shall continue ready to re-
ceive any agent whom he or any other in
fuental person now resisting the Nation
al authority may informally send with
view Of securing peace to oar common
country.
(Signed.) A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards Mr.. Blair dictated far and
authorized me to make an entry on the
back Of my retained copy Of the letter
last above recited, which is as fol-
lows
JAN. %, 1SG5.-To-day Mr.. Blair tells
me that on the 2lst instant he delivered
to Mr.. Davis, the original Of which the
within is copy and left it with him.
That at the time of delivery Mr. Davis
read it over twice in Mr.. Blair's presence,
at the close of which he remarked that
the part about our one common country
related to the part Of Davis's letter
about the two countries, to which Davis
replied that he 50 understood it.
TSgned1 A.LINCoLN.
Here follows a number of kilograms
relating to the admission Of Stephens,
Hunter, and Campbe into our lines,
there having deem since delayed, conse-
quent on the absence of General Grant.
The President then says: Afterwards,
by my directions, the Secretary of War
telegraphed to General Ord as fol-
lows:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON. IAN. 80, 1868. 10A. NJ.
Major Ge,erai Ord Arnly Of he James:
by direction of the President, you are
instructed to inform the three gentlemen,
Stephens, Hunter and Compbell, that a
messenger will be dispatched to them at
or near where they now are, without un-
necessary delay.
LSigned] Z, NJ STANTON,
Sec'y of War
Afterwards l prepared and put in the
hands of Major Thos. T. Eckert, the
following instructions and message:
EXECUTIvE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Jan. 80, 1865.
Major r. r. Echcrt:
SIR-You will proceed with the docu-
ments in your hands, and on reaching
General Ord will deliver him the leterad-
dressed him by the Secretary of War;
then by Gen. Ord's assistance, procure
an interview with Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell or any of them, and deliver to
him or them the papers on which your
own letter is written. Note in the copy
which you retain the time of delivery,
and to whom delivered. Receive their
snswer in writing, awaiting reasonable
time for it, which if it contains their de-
cision to come through without further
conditions will be your warrant to ask
General Ord to pass them through as di-
rected in the letter of the Secretary Of
War. If by their answer they decline to
come, or propose other terms, do not have
them passed through, and this being your
whole duty, return and report to me.
Yours, truly,
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
Messrs. Alex. II. Stephens, J. A.
Campbell, r. NJ. T. Hunter: Gentle
men-I am instructed by the President
of the United States to place this paper
in your hands, with information that if
you go through the United States mill
tary lires 1t will be understood that you
do so for the purpose of an informal con-
ference on the basis of that letter, copy
of which is on the reverse side of this
sheet, and if you choose to pass in on
such understanding, and so notify in