Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-10

tions are Contained In q letter of which thu,
following is q copy: "0n 'HS
"RionnoNp, Jan. % IsS-In eontorw,,x
with the ie5ter OF Mr. Lincoln, OF Which ~,
foregoing ts copy, you are TO proceed 70 W.s
ington city for informal coufsre o. ,r,,h -;
upon the issues involved in the exi,tirS ,r u,,A
and fer the purpose OF securing peace TO tne
two countries. ~
With great respect, your obedent servant,
(Signed) JErFRRscr Dave
The substantial object to be obtsinstS - A. ~;
informal conference is TO ascertain upon M,
terms the existing war can be terminated hon
orably.
Our instru ctions contemplate personal An
teryiew between President Iincplu and onr
selves at Wash,ugt IN city, bnt, with explsna
ton, we are ready to meet any person or par.
sons that President Lincoln may appoint, at
such place as be may designate. Our earnest
desire Is that a just and honorable peace may
be agreed upon. and wa are prepared To re.
ceive or submit propositions which may, pos
sibly. lead TO the attainment OF that end.
Very respectfully, yours,
ALEX. H. STRrHxSs,
NJ. T. HUNTER,
JNO. A. CAMPBELL.
A note OF these gentlemen, suoseq ueutly ad-
dressed to Gen. Grant, has already been given
in Major Eckerts dispatch OF the LIST inst
/ also here saw, fer the first time. the follow
ing note, addressed by the Richmond gentls-
men to Major Eckert:
Cory PoINT. Va, Feb 9. 1865 - Thomas r.
Eckert, Major and 4. ID. C.-MaiUr: In reply to-
your statement that your instructions did nos
dlfOW } on 10 alter tne cOnultlOnS upon whlcn
a pass port could hs given TO us wa saw that
we are willing 10 proceed 10 Fortress Monroe
and there 10 have an informal conference with
any person or persons that President Lin coin
may appoint on the basis of his letter to Fran.
CHS p Blair, of the 18th of January uitimo or
upon any o her terms or conditions that h,
may hereafter propose, not inconsistent witt
the pr ncipes OF stI-goyFrnm Pnt and poputf
rights, ON which our institutions are founded.
1t is our earnest wish 10 ascertain. after
free interchange of ideas and Information
upon what principles and ter ms, If Any, Jus.
and honorable peace can be established with
out the further efusion OF blood, and to con.
tribute our utmost efforts to accomplish SUN
results
We think il better to add that In accepting
your passport we are not TO be uudpTsf God -
committing ourselves TO anything, ont 10 earn
to this informal conference the views and fee
ipes above mentioned
Very respectfully yours, &c,
(Signed,) ALEXANDER II. STErHESs,
J. A. CAMPBELL,
r. III T. HUNTER
Note The above communication WAS de
liyered to me at Fortress Monroe at I 70 y. IN,
Feb. I'd, by Lieut. Col Babcock. of tfrnera
Grants staff. THos T ECKgRT.
Major and A ID q.
On the morning OF the Sd, the gentlemen
Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, camt
aboard of cur steamer and had an interview
with The Secretary of State and myself OF sew.
eral hours duration. No question of prelim.
inari-s to the meeting was then and there mad,
or mentioned No other person vas present
10 papers were exchanged or produced; ana il
was, IN advance agreed that the conversation
was TO be informal, and verbal merely.
On our part, the whole substance of the in
structions TO the Secretary OF State, heTeinh a-
tore recited, stated and insisted npsg and
nothing was said inconsistentIy herewith
VIII lie by the other party it WAS not said that,
in any event, or on any condition. they crsr
would cons sent to reunion, and yet they uually
omitted 10 declare that they neuer would so
consent. They seemed to desire postpone
ment OF that ques tiun. and the adoption ofsome
other course first, which, as some OF them
seemed tn argnr, might or NIGH, not lead TO re-
unicn, but which course. We thought, wonid
amount to Indefinite po>tpunemeut The
conference ended without result Fhe forage
ing, containing, as is belle we'd, all the iuforma-
ton sought, is respectfully submitted.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.