Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-21

peace in time of war not necessarily or perhaps
ordinarily unpatriotc in their purposes or motives
Results alone determine whether they are wise or
unwise. The treaty of peace concluded at Gauda-
loupe Hdalgo, secured by an irregular negotia-
ton under the ban of the Government. Some Of
the efforts which have been made to bring about
negotiations, with the view to end our civil war,
are known to the whole world, because they have
employed foreign as we'll as domestic agents. 9th.
Ors with whom you have had to deal cOnhdentially
are known to yourself although they have not pub
hcly tranSpired. Other efforts have occurred here,
which are known only to the persons actually mo
wing in them and to this Government i am now TO
give for your information an account of an affair
Of the same general character, which recently re-
eeiyed much attention here, and which will doubt
less excite inquiry abroad
few days ago, Francis P. Blair Esq, of Mary
lond, obtained FROM the President simple leave to
pass through our military lines without definite
views kuownto the Government Mr.. Blair visited
Richmond and on his return, be showed to the
President letter which Jefferson Davis had written
TO Mr. Blair, in which Mr.. Davis wrote that Mr.
Blair was liberty to say to President Lincoln that
Mr. Davis was now, as he always had been, Whing
to send commissioners, if assured they would De
received or to receive any that should be sent that
he was not disposed to find obstacles in forms. He
would send commissioners to confer with the Pres
ident with view of the restoration of peace be-
tween the two countries il he could be assured that
they would De received
The President, therefore, on the 18th day of jan
uary addressed note to Mr.. Blair, in which the
President after acknowledging that he had read the
note of Mr.. Davis, said that he was, and always
should be willing to receive any agent that Mr. Da-
Vis or any other influential person now actually re-
ssting the authority of the Government, might
to confer informally with the President with aVieW
to the restoration of peace to the people OF our CON-
mon country.
Mr.. Blair visited Richmond with this letter, and
th0n again came back to Washington. On the 29th
instant we were advised from the camp of Lleuten-
ant General Grant that Alexander FL. Stephens, X.
n. T. Hunter and John A. Campbell were apply
ing for leave to pass through the lines to washing
ton, as peace commissioners, to confer with the
President They were permitted by the Lieuten-
ant General to come to his headquarters to await
thsre the decision of the President Major Eckert
was sent down to meet the party from Richmond at
General Grants headquarters. The Major was d.
rected to deliver to them copy Of the Presidents
letter to Mr.. Blair, with note to be addressed to
them and signed by the Major, in which they were
directly informed that they should be allowed to
pass our lines. They would be understood as com
ing for informal conference upon the basis of the
afore-named letter of the 18th Of January to Mr..
Blair.
If they should express their assent to this condi
ton in writing, then Major Eckert was directed to
give them safe conduct to Fortress Monroe, where
Z person coming from the President would meet
them. 1t being thought probable, from report OF
the conversation with Lieutenant General Grant
that the Richmond party would, in the manner pre-
Scribed accept the condition mentioned, the Secre
tary of State was charged by the President with the
duty of representing this Government in the ex.
uected informal conference. The Secretary arrived
At Fortress Monroe in the night of the lst day Of
February. Major Eckert met him on the morning
of the 2d of February, with the information that
the persons Who had come from Richmond, had not
= Tha urhI ha
was allowed to give them conduct to Fortress Mon
roe The Major had given the same information
by telegraph to the President at Washington. On
receiving this information the President prepared
telegram directing the Secretary to return to Wash
ington.
nent, to so return, without waiting GimornatiOn
from the President But at this juncture Lieuten-
ant-Geueral Grant telegraphed to the Secretary Of
War, as we'll as to the Secretary ofState that the
party from Richmond had re-consIdered and &C
cepted the condition rendered them through Major
Eckert and General Grant urgently advised the
President to confer in person with the Richmond
party. Under these circumstances the Secretary,
by the Presidents direction, remained at Fortress
Monroe, and the President joined him there on the
night of the 2d of February.
The Richmond party was brought down the James
River in United States steam transport, during the
dav and the transport IVES anchored in Hampton
Roads. on the morning of the Sd. The President,
attended by the Secretary, received Messrs. Ste
nbens. Hunter and Campbell on board the United
States steam transport River Queen in Hampton
Roads
The conference was altogether informal. There
was no attendance of secretaries clerks or wltnes
seA Nothing was written or read. The converse
tion although earnest and free calm, courteous
and kind on both Sides The Richmond party ap-
preached the discussion rather indirectly and at no
time did they make categorical demands, or tender
formal Etipuations absolute refusals neverthe-
less during the conference, which lasted four hours,
the several points at issue between the Government
and the insurgents were distinctly raised aad dis
cussed fully inellIgenty, and in an amicable spirit
What the insurgent party seemed chiefly to favor
was postpoaement Of the question Of separation
upon which the war was waged, and . mutual dir
ection of the efforts of the Government as we'll as
those of the nturgents, to some extraneous PolIcy
or scheme for season, during which passions might
be expected to subside and the armies be reduced,
and trade and intercourse between the people OF
both sections be resumed
Itwas suggested by them that through such post
pOnement We might now have immediate peace,
with some, not very certain prospects OF an ultl-
mate satisfactory adjustment Of political relations
between the Government and the States, section or
people now engaged in conflict with it. The sug'
esstion though deliberately considered, was never
theless regarded by the President as onc of arms
tice or truce and he anQounced that we can. agree
to no cessation or suspension ol noSuhIIes sAceP'
an the basis of the disbandonment of the insurgent
forces and the restoration of transitional authority
throughout all the States in the Union collateraly,
and in subordinaton to the proposition which was
thus announced. -. :
The anti.slavery policy of the United States was
reviewed in all its bearings, and the President an.
nounced that he must not be expected to depart
from the positions he had heretofore assumed in
his proclamation of emancipation and other decu-
ments az these poRtions were reiterated in his an.
nual message. -
1t was further declared by the President that the
complete restoration of the national authority
everywhere was an indispensable condition OF any
assent on our part to whatever form of peace might
be proposed The President assured the other party
that while he must adhere to these positions h'
would be prepared so far as power was lodged with
the Executive, to exercise liberalIty. Its power,
however, is limited by the Constitution, and when
peace should be made Congress must necessarily ac
in regard to appropriations of money and to the ad
mission Of representatives from the insurrectionary