Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-22
Message from JEFF Davis.

The Richmond Enquirer of the 18th inst-
contains message from JEFF. Davis, sent by
him into the rebel Congress on the 13th.-
He lectures Congress for its dilitoriness in
passing certain measures considered neces-
sary; informs the public that Richmond is
in greater danger than ever, and suggests
certain measures for determined resistance.
The message does not indicate a purpose to
abandon the contest. This fact on the SUBJ
ject of Peace Negotiations, is given:
1t has not, however, been hitherto stated
to you that, in the course of the conference
at Fortress Monroe, a suggestion was made
by one Of our commissioners, that the OBJ
lection entertained by Mr. Lincoln to treat
ing with the Government ofthe Confederacy,
or with any separate State, might be avoid
ed by substituting for the usual mode of ne
gotiating through commissioners or other
diplomatic agents, the method sometimes
employed of military convention, to be
entered into by the Commanding Generals
of the armies Of the two belligerents. This,
he admitted, was power possessed by him,
though it was not thought commensurate
with all the questions involved. As he did
not accept the suggestion when made, he
was afterward requested to reconsider his
conclusion upon the subject of the suspen-
sion of hostilities, which he agreed to do,
but said that he had maturely considered of
the plan, and had determined that it could
not be done.
Subsequently, however, an interview
with General Longstreet was asked for by
General Ord, commanding the enemy's Ar
my of the James, during which General
Longstreet was informed by him that there
was a possibility of arriving at a satisfac
tory adjustment of the present unhappy
difficulties by means of a military conven-
tion, and that if General Lee desired an in
terview on the subject it would not be de-
clined, provided General Lee had authority
to act. This communication was supposed
to be the consequence of the suggestion
above referred to, and General Lee, accord
ing to instructions, wrote to General Grant
on the I'd of this month, proposing to meet
him for conference on the subject, and
stating that he was vested with the requi-
site authority. General Grants reply stated |
that he had no authority to accede to the |
proposed conference; that his powers ex-
tended only to making a convention on |
subjects purely of military character, and |
that General Ord could only have meant |
that an interview would not be refused on |
any subject on which he General Grant, |
had the right to act.
1t thus appears that neither with the Con-
federate authorities Of any State, nor
through the commanding Generals, will the |
Government of the United States treat or
make any terms of agreement whatever
for the cessation of hostilities. There re-
mains, then, for us no choice but to continue |
this contest to final issue; for the people |
of the Confederacy can be but little known |
to him who supposes it possible they would |
ever consent to purchase, at the cost of deg
radiation and slavery, permission to live in
a country garrisoned by their own negroes,
and governed by officers sent by the con
querOr to rule over them.