The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-02-11
The Peace Conference.
Me--nRe Of President Lincoln to the IIou-e
Of Representatives

wAsHiSGroN, February 10.
10 the Honorable the House Of Reprss'ntd trss
In response to your resolution o Vie sth irst,
requesting Information IN relation to = conference
recently held iu Hampton Roads usve the honor
~ state that cp tho iay sfcF the date gave Fran
els p Blair, sr, card, written Ou iyAoW+ ~
wit.
ALLOW The tesrer, ? P Bsf sr, 70 ps's oar
lines, go South aud return
December IS l,GI. a. LtScotS."
ThN, at the time. l Was informed that W. TAr
sought the card ss a means u getting & Richmond
Va. but he was .ivcu no authority 10 sI.ss or
act for the Government nor ~A informed Of
anythiu. he woulI ssy or Do on bis own sc,ouui
otherwise. M. Rsir told me that be had lesn
TO Richmond and bad seen Nj jefferson Davis,
sni he mi BIarg at the same unle et With met
manuscript letter, A. follows to wit:
RicusoNp, Va Jan. ", 1865.
r. BLNtT- Hsq, Sal have deemed Il pro
pNr and probably dcsiraI le a. Won. 10 give vou IN
this form she substance Of us rumsrks maCs hy
rne, - he rep, ated by you, ~ Prcnicnt Lincoln,
&c, ar. have NO disposition to End obstacles iu
forms ant am Wiling now, ~ heretofore, to enter
into Negotiations Tor the restoration oi peace.
am reaiy to send comm ssion whenever | have
reason TO suppoec "a will he rCcciyol or 10 receive
scoulm.ssion II the Juitci States Gcverument
shall chooss 20 send one. ItwithstandiuR tis re-
lection Of our former offers wou q, YOU Gould
promise thA commissioner, minister or ott er
sFent would be r"ceNeI, auruIut one Immediately
aud renew the effort 90 cuie- into conference with
view to secure pease t. lAc two countries.
Yours &c,
tsisuedJ JETrEKsos DAVIS.
Afterwards with . view that It should be shown
to Nj Davis, | wrote aud delivered ~ M Blair,
letter, as follovI, to wit;
wAsurSGroS, January IL, 1865
T.. BLAtg, ESQ. Sir You having shown me
Mr. Davis letter 90 you q the 18th INST you may
ssy b. Liu shat have constantly teen, AN nov,
ana shsli continue ready to recc.y" any ayeut
bow ne, or Gug '1her iuAueuta' pers 10 ro~ Re-
sting the NatonsI authority, uoy uil'm-liy seni
ue, With view Of securing ptscc ~ lAe people u
our common country. Yours ee,
A LrSootS.
Afterwards Mr.. Il slf dictated for aud author red
me tO mako an tu,ry on the back of Nv retained
copy = he lc,ter ,sst above recited, which il
follows.
January -, l,Gs
Today NJ BAR tell, me that ON the 2lst ,ust
be delivered so Mr. psv. the ,riSinsi o; which tie
within is copy, amt leu II with him. That Al the
tune Of delivering, NJ. Davis resd IT over twice iu
NJ Nsits p'o'"1e' ~ he cl'se o. Which, he
tAr H. remarked o. a. t.e psu Sl-ut our one con-
mou country reai'd - The part of NJ. DAVIS ct
ter a out tue t-p countries, t. which NJ. u. re-
Piled hat he - undors1ooi IT, LIN'oLS.
Afterwards the sc.retAry OF war pIccl In my
hands the following telegram endorsed by tiu, ,s
spp'ars:
OrFiou L. S Huir,pY ruRcsArh(
Wac pFrA GAESr.
Ciprs-The following telegram was received at
washn.tou January ", isG5.
FEoN HRAporABrVrN
ARsN " InI JANEs .t.3u Z ".
JAHurry -, 1861
Hon. r. n Stanton S,erstirv or va:
The following despatch is Just received from
Hsur-GeuerAl Psrkc, who roiers It 10 me tor my
artO | refer Il to you in view Of Genera GrsLrs
.tssLce =. o L. Old,
MAJOR General Commanding.
Hr,pqrAGrEsA
ARHr oV TnE + VAC, 4PN.
Jan .try ~, lsbj.l
Mai Gen x o. C. Ori, Hsd q,drtrs, Army
oJ the james:
lhe following dcapstch is forwarded 10 you FOR
your action. Since have no ktowedge OF General
Grants having had any understanding o. tt.s nj,
| refer the matter 30 you as the rAuAllg oiheeT
present in the two srmirs.
J0HS q PAEKE
MAJOR General Commanding.
FAas urApquAxrsss Nlsn AEny CouP-,l
Jauu ~ 20, sos
AdJ.- John o. Pdrt~ Held4udrttr' Army
OF the Potomac
Alexander Il Stephens, Il. NJ T. Hunir, ami
! j A Campbell desire to Cross my lines IN srcor-
{ Ance wi h an understanding claimed 10 east With
Lieut. Gen. Grant, on their way 10 " Washiugton, a.
Peace Comm a. onsrs shall they be admitted ,
They desire an early auswer 30 to come thi IA
iIu med'stely They would Ike 10 roach City Point
to.uigh, e they can. Il tley cannot DO this, u ey
would Ike " come ghrouyh At 10 An. TOMORROW
| morning. U II. WiLsoN,
Major commanding Ninth Corps.
Respectfully referred to tie President for such
iuAtruu,ons IS lie may be pleased 10 sIys
SDwts ID srASIoS, Secretary u War
JAuusry 90 lsG5--:20 Pm
| II appear, that about tie tune uf placing the