The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-02-16
THE PEACE CONFEREMop.
The Presidsnr. special Message.

history OF the late informal conference
with rebel dignitaries in Hampton
Roads. We publish below such por-
tions as will suffice to give the reader
an accurate idea of what was dono at
the conference, in the way OF promo.
ting the ends Of Peace and Union
The larger portion Of the preliminary
telegrams and notes which passed be-
tween the parties are omitted, as not
being necessary to elucidate the main
question. Mr.. Lincoln opens the sub
ject as follows:
WASHINGTON, February 18.
To the Hon. House Of Representatives:
In response to your resolution of
the 9Th instant,requesting information
in relation to the confere :ce recently
held in Hampton Roads, l have the
honor to state that on the day of the
dates gave Francis 2. Blair. senior,
o card written on as follows:
ALLOW the bearer, f. P. Blair, semi
or, to pass our lines TO 60 South and
return.
[Signed] A. LINCOLN"
That at the time, was informed
that Mr. Blair sought the card as q
means of getting 10 Richmond, Vir-
ginia, but he was given no authority
to speak or act for the Government,
nor was | informed of any thing ne
would say or do on his own account
or otherwise Mr.. Blair told me tn at
he had been to Richmond, and had
seen Davis, and he (Blar) at the same
time left with me'a manuscript letter,
as follows, to,wit: ..3.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, Jan. IL, 1865.
F. P. Blair. Esq; ..
SIR-I have deemed it proper, and
probably desirable to you, to give you,
in this form, the substance Of the re-
marks made by me, to be repeated by
you to President Lincoln. | have
no disposition TO find obstacles in
forms, and am willingmow, as hereto
fore, TO enterinto negotiations for the
restoration of peace. / am ready to
send commission whenever l have
reason 10 suppose it will be received,
or to receige com mission, if the Uni
ted States Government shall choose to
send ono. Notwithstanding the re-
lection of our former offers, would, if
you could promise that commission,
minister or other agent would be re-
ceived, appoint one Immediately and
renew the effort to enter into confer
ence with view to secure peace to
the tlco countries. ..
Yours, &c, JEFF. DAVIS.
: Aiterward, with view that il
should be she Rn to Davis, l wrote and
delivered to Blair"a letter as follows
WASHINGTON, January 18, 1866.
F. P. Blair, Esq
SIR-You having shown me Mr.
Davis letter to you on the 18th instant
you may say to him, have constant
~ been, am now, and shall continue
ready to receive any agent whom he
or any other influential person, new
/ resisting tho national authority, may
, informally send me with view of So
curing peace TO tho people Of oul
common country.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
, Afterwards, Mr.. Blair dictated fol
, and authorized me, to make entry on
the back OF my retained copy OF the
letter last above recited, which is N
follows:
> January 20, 1865
To-day, Dir. Blair tells me that on
0 the 2lst instant he delivered to Mr.
Davis, tho original, of which the
within is copy, and left it with him
y That at the time of delivering, Mr.
Davis read it over twice IN Mr.. Blair''
presence. At the close of which, hC
(Blar) remarked the part about ont
q common 'coVntry related TO- the par
o Of Mr., Davis letter. about tho TIVE
!, countries, to which Davis replied h,
SO understood it.
(Signcd) A. LINCOLN.
Here follows q number of com
munications by telegraph and by spec
ial messenger relative to settlement o
terms Of meeting, &c. after which tn
President dispatched the Secretary o
State, Mr.. Seward, with tho followin!
o Instructions
q EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON,
January 81, 1865.
~ Hon VIM. II. Seward, Sec. Of State:
You will proceed to Fortress Mon
roe, there to meet and informaII
o confer with Mossrs: Stephens, Hunte
|. and Campbell, on tho basis Of my lctte
# TO f. p. Blair, Esq, of Jan. Is, 1865,
copy of which you have. You wi
- mako known to them that three thing
y are indispensable, to wit: First, tn
% restoration of tho national authorit
B, throughout all tho States, ScconC
:. no reoedlng by the Executive of th
United States on the slavery questio
from the position assumed thereon i
:. tho late annual message to Congress
70 and in tho preceding documents, an
a. third, no cessation OF hostiitics shol
s. of an e0d of the war aud the disbar
I. ding OF all the forces hostile to tn
10 Government, You will inform ther
" that oil propositions OF theirs not il
consistent with the above will y
N considered aad p ,ssed upon in spi1
u , it of sincere liberahty, You wi
- hear all they choose to say and n
=. port il to me. You will not assume