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

Of the president, and undoubtedly with his full
Knowledge of what Blair purposed to commune.
cate The first movement Ia the conference thus
came from orr s. de. Blair returned % Washing
ton bringing the following memorandum nom
jeff Davis;
"RlcHMoND, Va, Jan r. 1863.
Z. y. Blair, Es9--Sr have deemed it
prolef and probably desirable 10 you TO gIye you
IN tbs form the substance % the remarks made
by me TO he REPEATED by you 70 President Lincoln
&C. ! have u, disposition 20 li1! obstacles ia
forms, and am willing now, as heretofore, to enter
into negotiations for the restoration Of peace. J
am ready to send commission whenever nave
reason to suppose il will be received, or to receive
a commission Il the United States Government
shall choose to send one. N0tsthsanding tho
rejection Of our former offers would, II you
could promise that a commissioner, minister, or
other agent would be received, appoint one lmme-
dhtely, snG renew the effort TO enter toto con-
ference with a view TO secure peace to the two
countries Yours, &c
JEFFERSON DAVIS
Davis thus proposed to negotiate for peace to
the two countries, or such peace conference
as independent nations might hold while at war.
President Lincoln sent Blair to Richmond again,
with the following instructions:
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1860.
r. p. Blair Esq SIR You having shown
me Mf. Davis letter TO you Of TIE u lost you
may say to hin that | have constantly bser, am
now, and shall continue ready 10 receive any agent
whom be- or any other influential person now re-.
ssting the National authority, may Informally
send me, with d view Of securing pence 10 the
people OF our common country lours,&c,
a. LNC1tN.'
Peace for " oui common county MI Liucon
was wiling to negotiate for. After Bans return
from bis sscond mission, Hunter, Stephens and
Campbell appeared at Gant'si.ass. ana toe pre.'
dent sent nj aenger with Instructions to have
them passed provided they desired a conference
for the purpose q restoring peace to our COM
mon country Secretary Sew5rd was also sen.To
Fortres. Monroe 20 receive them, i they clnc
through the lines. The pfe,iierta.o ,.egraphel
Gen. Grant not to delay oguj movements 10 the
least on account q the peace basus.. The
rebels had already reached Grants headquarters,
where the messenger found them. lBey eyaded
a direct assent TO The president conditions, and
Mr.. Lincoln was on the point Of recalling Stcte-
tary Seward and closing the door to any confer
ence, when be received the following telegram from
Gen. Grant, sent to Secretary Stanton
" hon. Edlcm ". Stanton, Secretary Of UGr.
Now that the interview between Major Eckert,
under his written instructions, and Mi Stephens
and party has ended Wi. state cotfIenualy,
but not officially 10 become a matter o. record,
that ! am convinced, upon conversation with
Msesrs. Stephens and Hunier,lhal their intentions
are good aud their desire sincere to restore peace
and Union. | have not fei myself OF liberty TO
express even views Of my own, or 10 account for
my reiicence. This has placed me IN an awkward
position which c0ad have avoided BY not see
ing them 10 the first instance. fear now their
gong back wiihcu, any expression TO any one ir
authority siI have bad influence. a. ine umc
tine | recognize the difficulties 10 the way ct re-
o,iyiag their informed commissioners a ibis sine
and do not kaog what to recommend an
sorry, however tnlt Mr.. Lincoln cannot have 40
i,trtvi,w with The TWO named IN this dispatch, i
not oil three now within our lines lhcir etts
20 me vas OIL that tie Presidents instruction.
contemplated 10 secure til nc safe conduct, If tn ?,
had used tue same language TO Cap'. Ecksr'.
|. $. GRANT, Lieutenant General
The president Immediately vent to For,us
Monroe. These pteiiminarie, having thu, b,er
rsci,ed, the president closes his message viii
the following brief statement respecting the con
ference
On the morning Of the 81 the gentlemen, Messri
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, came aboard q
our steamer and had an interview with the Secre
iary Of State and myself Of several hours duration
: No question OF prslimirarics TO the meeting wa
, then or there made or mentioned y other pei
son was present. No papers were exchanged
produced, and it was ia advance greed that III
conversation vs' 70 be informal and verbl merck
d On my part the whole substance of the instruction
10 the Secretary of Stje heieinbDforc recie3, W
stated and insisted upon, md nothing was ,oid il
consistent Herewith, while hy Oh. uihsr PARTY
was not said in any even, or on eng condto
they ever would consent 20 reunion; and vet the
equally omitted 10 declare that they would !
i consent. They seemed 10 desire pos,pobemel
@ Of that question aud the adoption Of some clhe
course first, which, as some Of them seemed
argue, nigh, or might not lead to reunion b
which course we thought would amount to an il
u definite posiponemeut.
i The conference ended withod, result.
t twill b. observed ialt there i, but little dis
d crep,ncy between the rebel nccoun, and our,
: They say the President refused to treat wit
States while our version is silent on tia point
1t is probable, however, that Stephens & Co. bay
E misrspresened the conversation III this particular
= the President having simply declined to treat wit
) anybody except on the condition that they pre-
/. posed peace for " our common country" or unio
!, instead of peace dr the "two countries, or du
/, union,
{ The position taken by the president as the col
= diton Of peace is entirely c1uec'. Tbs rebel
. must cease their rebellion and NANTES, purpot
I Of submitting to the constitution and laws OF Il
d hnd, before there can be peace or cessation
, hostidue,. And so far as til, peace eonyersatic
d. has developed the purpose OF eur government
g regard 70 peace, t will be ealiteiy a'isac,oY.
9 We sill remain oi ,hu opinion, however, hi
Blair should NOT have been suffered to 20 % Rjcl
mond IN the outset, and tia. a peace oonfe'cne
g should not have been sought by III, When ii
= rebels want peace they know whore and how
d obtain it, and when they come honestly seekir
:. It, they should be frankly met. But they shoo
/. be met by the president ut Washington and n
d at Fortress Monroe. When ,hepres.lent rtceiv
K commissioners, he should receive them at Il