Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-02-15
1eCoPeVefuI' 'a
"WM. ii. SEWARD
STATE DEPARTMENT,
Washington, Feb. 10, 1868"
Mr.. SEWARD TO Mr.. ADAMS.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Feb. 9. !

SIZE: 1t is truism that in times of
peace there are always instigators for war.
So soon rs wal begins there are citizens
who emphatically demand negotiations of
peace. The advocates of war after an ng-
itation longer or shorter generally gain
their fearful eno, though the war declared
is no. unfrequently unnecessary and I'M
wise. So peace agitation in time Of war
ultimately brings about an abandonment
of the conflict, sometimes without securing
the advantages which were originally ex-
pected from the conflict The agitation for
war are not necessari Y or perhaps ordin
ariiy unpatriotic in their purpose or mo-
tives. Results alone determine whether
thew are wise or unwise The treaty of
peace concluded at Guadalorpo Hidalgo
was secured by an irregular negotiation
Some of the efforts which have been made
TO bring about negotiations with n view to
end our civil war are known to the whole
wor d, because they have employed tor
eign, as we'll as domestic agents. Others
with whom you have had to deal confiden-
TALLY, are known to yourself, although
they have not publicly TRANSFERRED. Other
efforts have occurred here, which are
known only to tho persons actually NOV
ing in them, and to this Government. |
sli1l now 10 give IOE NOuI Iuibi iihliOi
account of an affnir of the same general
character, which recently received much
attention here, and which doubtless will
excite inquiry abroad.
A few days ago Francis p Blair, Esq
obtained from the President simple ct
ter to pass through our lines, without lief
mite views known to the Government
Mr. Blair visited Rchmond, md on his
return he showed to the President letter
which JEFF. Davis had written to 81 b air
in which Davis wrote that Mi. Blair was
at liberty to say 70 President.Lincoln tina.
jeff Davis was now, as he had Away been,
willing to send commissioners, If assured
that they would be recei. ed, or to receive
any that might be sent; that he was not
disposed to find obs acles in forms that
he would send commissioners to confer
with the President with a view to Il resto-
ration of peace between the countries, if
he could be assured that they would b F:
received The President therefore, on the
18th Of January, addressed a note 70 Mr..
Blair. in which the President after &C
knowledging that he had received the note
of Mr. Da,is, and that he was and always
should be WI ling to receive any agents
that Mr.. Davis or any other influential
man now actually resisting the authority
of the government might send to confer
informally with the President, with a
view to the restoration Of peace to the PEG
pic Of our common country.
Mr.. Blair visited Richmond with the
| letter, and then again came back to Wash
! ington. On the 9th ult we were advised
/ from the camp of Lieut. Gen. Grant that
/ A. II. Stephens, r. NJ T. Hunter, and j.
! a. Campbe were applying for Leave to
pass through the lines to Washington AS
| peace commissioners to confer with tie
President They were permitted by the
| Lieutenant General TO come to his head
quarters, to await there the decision of the
President. Major Eckert was sent down
to meet the party from Richmond at Gen.
| Grants headquarters The Major was di-
rected to deliver to them a c, pv of the
Presidents letter to Mr. Blair, with n note
to be addressed to them, and signed by
| the Major, in which they were directly in
formed that if they should be allowed to
pass our lines, they would be understood
rs coming for an informal conference up
on the basis Of the aforesaid letter Of Jan
uary 10th to Mr.. Blair. Ifthey should ex-
press their assent to this condition in wis
ting, then Major Eckert was directed to
give them safe conduct to Fortress Mons
roe, when 4 person coming from the Pres
ident would meet them. 1t being thought
not improbable from n lepcr. of their con-
versation with Lieut.. Gen. Grant, that the
Richmond party would in the manner pre-
.cribed, accept the condition mentioned,
the Secretary of State was charged by the
President with the duty of representing
this Government in the expected informal
conference. The Secretary arrived Mt
Fortress Nanroa tha ,i,rht Of tho fret
day Of February Major Eckert met him
on the morning of the ID, with informa-
ton that the persons who came from Rich
mond had not accepted in writing the
condition upon which he was allowed to
give them conduct to Fortress Monroe
The Major had given the same information
I BY telegraph to the President at Wash
ton.
On receiving this inform alton the President
prepared a telegram, directing the Secretary
TO return to Washington. The Secretary vas
preparing At the same moment TO so return
without waiting for information from the
President, but this juncture 1t. Gen. Grant
telegraphcd u the Secretary of War, as well
20 the Secretary of State, that the Rich
I mond party had -econsidered and accepted
the condition rendered them, though Major
Eckert and General Grant urgently advised
the President 10 confer in person with the
Richmond party. Under these circumstances
the Secretary, by the Pres dents direction, re-
manned at Fortress Monroe, and the Presi-
dent ioined him there on tie nigh! OF Febru-
arv 2d.
The Richmond party was brought down the
James River in United States steam trans
port during the day. and the transport was
anchored in Hampton Roads. On the morn
ing of the Sd, the President. attended by the
Secretary, received MesSrs. Stephens. Hunter
and Campbell on board tn. United States
steam transport River Queen, in Hampton
Roads.
The conference was altogether Informal
There was no attendance Of secretaries clerks
or other witnesses. Nothing was written or
read. The conversation, though earnest and
free, was calm, and courteous, and kind on
both sides
The Richmond party approached the dis
cgss.os -ather indI-cc-l-, .nd 81 70 time lid