The New York herald., 1865-02-02
They Are Without Credentials, Have
No Power to Negotiate Peace,
and Are Merely Informal
y Agents Of JEFF. Dayh.
Their Coming the Result Of Mr.. Blair'S
Visit to Richmond.
Sketches of the Rebel Com
missiOners.
Agents Of the French and English Governments
Reported in Richmond,
&C., &C., &c.
Our Special Washington Despatch.

Our Special Washington Despatch.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l. 1855.
We have had surfeit of peace rumors here to-day,
and IL is exceedingly difficult, OF the of contra
dctory statements arrive at the truth. The
the case appear TO be these The delegation from Rich
mond admitted within the lines yesterday, and
Aay started down the James river army transport
They were, however, stopped at Fortress Monroe, and
Becretay Seward started for Annapolis at to meet
shem.r> ....
There is reason 70 believe that they are
Washington at present, bat any negotiations confer
regard settlement Of the difficulties will be
conducted the fortress by Secretary Seward behalf Of
shs government This may be done to prevent the publi
sy which would necessarily attend their presence here
The whole affair s involved In good deal Of mystery,
and, while accredited representatives Of the rebel gov
eminent would not be received yet the President will
hing receive and consider any suggestions which they
may be dcsirous OF making, looking to settlement upon
NJ basis Of the Unon leaving tho question
q slavery be determined by the action Of the States
upon the constitutional amendment
II must be borne In mind that this whole Blair negotia
ton has been conducted under the auspices of Mr. Sew
those negotiations,
Secretary Seward En- Route to Meet tho
Rebel Peace Com missioners.
rs BAIrMoRE Feb. 1, 1865.
Tho Annapolis correspondent of the Ameri;an an
nounces arrival there this morning Of Secretary Sew
ard accompanied by his private secretary, who i'm
nsdiaely left for Fortress Monroe, General Grants
despatch steamer to meet the rebel commissioners.
They met at the depot by General Berry, and
escorted the executive chamber where they well
coined by Governor Bradford.
Mr.. 8. CadwaIIader's Despatch.
(tryp pofxr Va Ian
The peace rumors which have gained such circulation
IN the North by the visits OF Francis Blair Sr
and General Singleton the rebel capital have length
acquired prominence in army circes, and being dis
eussed in fold and camp As might be expected, the
feeling is dferent but few officers privates believe
honorable peace obanabe at present. have faith
In the schemngs and potngs OF such ambassadors To
the army the practical reality, to be ended only
In practical manner. Our government de-
mands unconditional submission to the fede-
raj authority and the laws and proclamatons
smancpating slaves The rebels hght for national In
dependence and the perpctuation Of slavery The
must Of necessity, go until Of the parties will
sent to modification Of the terms. Our practical
diplomats with and carbine believe the time has
not yet arrived for the rebels to submit without cond
lions and equally certain the spirit Of people
would submit to nothing less.
II cannot be concealed, however, that q marked
change has taken place in Southern minds regarding
Tie conditions and desrabity Of peace within
few months The tone Of tho Richmond press
b such that the 'hated subjectn bears
discussion. They ecsatic in thor admiration OF
the golden, glorious future possible could the Union
Hon and rebel lamb but agree 10 lie down In the green
pastures Of national amty and reconstruction.
But these vague yearnings daily taking tangi-
Als forms The first and second missions OF the elder
Blair did much TO tickle vanity molify the re-
sentiment OF Jefferson Davis Rumors OF peace became
- common in Richmond as Washington For some days
past mysterious intmstons the Richmond papers
have been forcshadowlng some coming event Specula-
Hon was tipoc-excitement intense Yesterday the
announcement made In their papers that 'Vice Pre-
I addent Alexander H. Stephens, Mr. John A. Campbell,
:. former Assistant Secretary Of War; and Hon. X NJ 7.
Huntr, were on their way TO Washington commits
aSonen OF peace" II was stated that these
sSsn1emen left Richmond for Petersburg Sunday al
ssrnoon would pass through lines and Grants
military railroad TO City Point on Monday and were
doubtless then well their way to the federal capital
Yesterday morning these persons applied for admission
through our lines by dag OF In front Of the Ninth
corps am Informed and bclIeve-ai.hough official ro
tkence has prevented confirmation Of the rumor-some
technical formatics delayed the Immediate transmission
q reply, but day will reveal the truth or Al. have
stated.
The Richmond papers claim to know nothing OF the
powers with which these commissioners are clothed u,
lhavc very faint expectations Of peace resulting Thev
rcdct failure will still further unite the Southern peo
pb and believe In that the missoa will not be
fahTe.
The Press Despatch.