Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-02-16


OFFICE u. s. Mn. TELEGRAPH,
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The following telegram was received at
Washington, Feb. 2nd. 1865, from City
Point, 9 A. NJ, Feb. ID:
To lion. UIm. H. Se,card, Secretary OF
State, Fortress Monroe.
Copy.
To h. w. Stanton, Secretary Of State,
UdshiRgtoH
The gentlemen here have accepted the
proposed terms and will leave for Fortress
Monroe at $50 A. NJ
SignepI I, s. GRANT
On the night Of the "a reached Hamp-
ton Roads and found the Secretary of State
aud Major Eckert on steamer anchored off
the shore, and learned of them that the
Richmond gents were on another steamer,
also anchored off the shore Of the Roads
and that the Secretary Of State had not yet
seen or communicated with them. | ascer-
tanned that Maj. Eckert had literally compli-
ed with his instructions, and | saw for the
first time the answer Of the Richmond gents
to him, which, in his despatch TO me of the
lst, he characterizes as not satisfactorily. -
That answer is as follows, towit
CITY POINT, February lst, 1865.
To 7hos. T. Echert, Ngor and A. d. c.!
MAJoR-Your note, delivered by your
self this day, has been considered. In re-
ply we have to say that we were furnished
with a copy of the letter Of President Lin
coin to L. p. Blair Of the 18th of January,
ult., another copy of which is appended to
your note. Our intentions are contained in
letter Of which the following is copy:
RIcuMoND January 2Sth, 1865.
In conformity wh the letter of Mr.. Lin.
coin, of which the foregoing is a copy, you
are to proceed to Washington City for in
formal conference with him upon the issue:
involved in the existing war, and for the
purpose of securing peace to the two coun-
! tries.
| With great respect, your ob't servant,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
/ The substantial object to be obtained by
the informal conference is to ascertain upon
what terms the existing war can be termin-
ated favorably. Our instructions contem-
plate a personal interview between President
Lincoln and ourselves at Washington, but
with this explanation We are ready to meet
any person or persons that President Lin
coin may appoint, at such place as he may
designate Our earnest desire is that inst
and honorable peace may be agreed upon,
and we are prepared to receive or to submit
propositions which may possibly lead to the
attainment of that end.
Respectfully yours,
ALEX. III. STEPHENS,
r. NJ. T. HUNTER,
j. A. CAMPBELL,
A note Of these gents, subsequently ad
dressed to Gen. Grant, has already been
given in Major Eckert's despatch of the lst
inst. also saw here for the first time the
following note, addressed by the Richmond
gentlemen to Maj Eckert
CITY POINT, Va, Fab I'd, 1860
I. T. Echcrt, Mgjor and Aid-de. Camp:
/ MAJoR-ln reply to your verbal state
ment that your instructions did not ALLOW
you to alter the condition upon which 4
passport could be given US, we say that W,
are willing to proceed to Fortress Monroe
and there to have an informal conference
with any person or persons that President
Lincoln may appoint, on the basis of hi,
! letter to +. p Blair Of the 18th Of January
ult, or upon any other terms or conditions
that he may hereafter propose, not incon
sistent with the essential principles of self
| ISVN'lhllItht anu IlputS pun NliItI
our institutions are founded. 1t is our ear
nest wish to ascertain, after free inter
change Of ideas and information, upon wha
princi pies and terms, if any, Just anc
honorable peace can be established, withou
the further etfusion of blood, and to con
| tribute our utmost efforts to accomplish
We think it better to add, that in accept
ing your passport we are not to be under
stood as committing ourselves to anything,
but to carry to this informal conference the
views and feeling above expressed.
Very respectfully yours,
A. II. STEPHENS,
r. NJ Il. HUNTER,
j. a. CAMPBELL.
NOTE. The above communication was
delivered to me at Fortress Monroe at 4: 81
p NJ, Feb. I'd, by Lieut.. Col. Babcock, o
Grant staff.
T. Il. ECKERT, Maj. and A, D. G.
On the morning of the 30th three gentle
men, Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, cam,
aboard our steamer and had an interview
with the Secretary of State and myself, o
several hours duration. No question o
prclminaries to the meeting was then o
there made, and in the meantime no othe
person was present. No papers were ex
changed or produced 1t was agreed tina
the conversation was to be informal anc
verbal merely. On our part, the who'll
substance of the instructions to the Secreta
nv of State, hereinbetore received, was sta
ted and insisted upon and nothing was SAT-
inconsistent Herewith. While by the 9th
er party, it was not said that in any event o
any condition they ever would consent t.
reunion, and yet they equally omitted t,
declare that they would not so consent. -
They seemed to desire a postponement o
that question and the adoption of some 9th
er course first which, as some Of then
seemed to argue, must or might not lead Il
reunion, but which course we though
would amount an indefinite postponement
The contelenc ended without result,
The foregoing containing, rs is believed
all the information sought, is respecttull
submitted
Signed A. LINCOLN.
Executive MANSION, Feb. 10, 1865.
A Rcceiut for Saving the lujou