Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-11

MS letLoI W NuIs OldltJ VI CdhuuLy 4obu
1865, of which we presume you have 6
copy, end, if not we wish to see you in
person, if convenient, and to confer will
you on the subject.
Very respectfully yeurs,
ALEX. 81. STEPHENS,
j. a. CAMPBELL,
M. 7. HUNTER.
I have sent directions to receive these
gentlemen, and expect to have them al
my quarters this evening awaiting your
instructions.
[Signed, U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General commanding Armies
of the United States.
This, it will be perceived, transferred
General Ord's agency in the mstter to
General Grant.
I resolved, however, 10 send Major
Eckert forward with his message, and &C
cording telegrsphed to General Grant as
follows;
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, !
January 81, 1865.
Lieutenant General Grant, City Point,
Virginia;
A messenger is coming to you on the bus
iness continued in your dispatch. Detsin
the gentlemen in comfortable quarters un-
til he arrives, and then act upon the mes
sage he brings IS far as applicable, it hay
ing been made up to pass through Gene
raj Ords hands, and when the gentlemen
were supposed to be beyond our lines.
[SigDed,l A. LINCOLN.
When Major Eckert departed he bore
with him letter from the Secretary Of War
to General Grant, as follows;
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHIEGToN, |
January 5Oth, 1855. !
To Lieutenant General Grant, SC:
GENERAL: The President desires that
you will please procure for the bearer,
Major T. T. Eckert an interview with
Aeasrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell,
and, if on his return to you he requests it,
pass them through our lines TO Fortress
Monroe by such route, and under such mil
itary precautions, as you may deem pru-
dent, giving them protection and comfort
able quarters while there, and that you let
none of this have any effect upon your
movements or plans.
By order of the President.
[Signed,l EN-. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Supposing the proper point to be then
reached, I dispatched the Secretary OF
State with the following instructions, Major
Eckert, however, going ahead of him:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHIEGTON, Jan. 81.
Hen. VIM. H. Seward:
SIR-You will proceed to Fort Monroe
there to meet and informally confer with
Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell.
on the basis of my letter to F. P. Blair,
Esq, of January l8, 1866, a copy of which
you have. You will make known to them
that three things are Indispensable, to-wit:
1. The restoration of the National Ru-
thority throughout all the States.
II. No receding by the Executive of the
United States onthe slavery question from
the position assumed thereon in the late
annual message to Congress, and the pre-
cedilg documents, and
III. No cessation of hostilities short of
an end of the war, and the disbanding OF
all forces hostile to the Government.
You will inform them that all PROPOSE
tions of theirs net inconsistent with the
above will be considered and passed upon
in n spirit of sincere liberality. You will
hear all they may chose to say, and report
it to me. You will not assume to definite
ly consummste anything. Yours, &C.,
A. LINCOLN.
On the day of its date the following tel
egram was sent to General Grant:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, !
Feb. l. 1866.
To Lieutenant General Grant at City
Point-Lst nothing which is transpiring
now delay your movements or plans.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards the following dispatch was
received from Washington at 2-20 P. NJ
February 1st 1865:
CITY POINT, VA, Feb. l l2-80P. NJ.
To his Excellency, A. Lincoln, President
Of the United Ststes-Your dispatch is
received. There will be no armistice, in
of the presence of MI.
and others within our lines.
The troops are kept in readiness to
move at the shortest notice if occasion
should justify it.
TSignedI U. S. GRANT,
l4lbuholhub OQhDA al SOAALA0A0AASs
To notify Major Exert that the Secre-
,ary of State would be at Fortress Mon
roe, and to put them in communication,
.he following dispatch was sent:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. 1st, 1885.
To Major General 7. T. Eckert, care of
General Grant, City Point:
Call at Fortress Monroe and put your
ielf under the direction of Mr.. Seward,
whom you viii find there.
[Signed] a. LINCOLN.
On the morning of the Sd the following
telegram was received by me:
CITY Po1xT, Va, Feb. 1st-1OP.M.
His ExceIlency A. Lincoln, President, sc,
1 have the honor to report that the de-
livery of your communication, and my let
ter at Ais this afternoon, to which / re-
ceived reply at P. NJ, but not sstisfacto-
ry. At s P NJ the following note addressed
10 General Grant, was received:
CITY POINT, Va.
General Grant:
Sir: We desire to go Washington City
to confer informally with the President
in reference TO the matters
mentioned in his letter to Mr.. Blair, of the
10th of January ultimo. Without any
in any manner on the letter,
we have the permission to do SO from the
authorities in Richmond.
Respectfully &c.
A. a. STEPHENS,
R. MT. HUNTER,
j. A. CAMPBELL.
At half past nine o'clock, in the after
noon, notified them that they could not
proceed further unless they complied with
the terms expressed in my letter. The
point of meeting designated il the above
note would not, in my opinion, be insisted