Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1865-02-15
The Peace Question.

Mr.. Adams, our Minister to England.
gives full and succinct accountof the
interview between President Lincoln
and Mr.. Seward and the rebel com
missioners. 1t terminated without
results, as it appears the rebels had
nothing whatever to offer which would
tend to a restoration of the Union.
and from subsequent declarations of
| the arbitrator Davis it is clear he
has no terms TO offer except on the
basis Of the independence of his nigger
confederacy. The following is Mr.
Stewards despatch:
1t is a truism that in time Of peace there
are always instigators of war. So soon as
war begins there are citizens who impa-
tiently demand negotiations of peace. The
advocates of war after an agitation longer
or shorter, generally gain their fearful end.
though the war declared is not unfrequent.
Iy unnecessary and unwise. So peace agi.
tators IN time Of war ultimately bring about
/ an abandonment of conflict, sometimes
without securing the advantages which
were originally expected from the conflict.
| The agltators for war in time of peace,
and for peace in time of war, are not ne
cessarlly, or perhaps ordinarily, uupatriotic
/ IN their purposes or motives Results
alone determine whether they are wise or
unWise. The treaty of peace concluded at
Gaudsloupe Hidal 90 was secured by an ir
| regular negotiation under the don of the
| Government. Some Of the efforts which
have been made to bring about negotiations,
! with view to end our civil war, are known
to the whole world, because they have en-
| ployed foreign as well as domestic agents.
| Others, with whom you have had to deal
conddentlally, are known to yourself, al
/ though they have not publicly transpired
! Other efforts have occurred here which are
known only the persons actually moving in
them and to this Government. am now
! to give for your information an account of
an affair Of the same general character,
which recently received much attention
here, and which doubtless will excite insui
ry abroad. A few days ago Francis ?.
Blair, Esq, of Maryland, obtained from
! the President simple leave to pass through
our military lines, without definite views
| kn1wn to the Government Mr. Blair
visited Richmond, and on Lis return he
showed to the President letter which
Jefferson Davis had written to Mr.. Blair,
! in which Mr. Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair
was at liberty to say to President Lincoln
| that Mr. Davis was now, as he ALWAYS had
| been, willing to send commissioners if as
sured they would be received, or to receive
! any that should be sent; that he was not
| disposed to find obstacles in forms He
would send commissioners to confer with
the President with view to the restoration
of peace between the two countries, if he
could be assured they would be received
The President, therefore, On the 18th
day Of January addressed q note to Mr.
Blair, in which the President, after acknowl-
edging that he had read the note of Mr.
Davis, said that be W and always should
be willing to receive any agent that Mr.
Davis, or any other influential person now
actually resisting the authority Of the Gov,
ernment, might send to confer informally
with the President, with view to the res
| toraticn of peace to the people of our CON-
mon country.
Mr. Blair visited Richmond with this
letter and then again came back to Wash
ington. On the 29th instant we were
advised from the camp of Lieut., Gen. Grant,
that Alexander H. Stephens, r. NJ. T.
Hunter, and John A Campbell, were ap-
plying for leave to pass through the lines
to Washington, as peace commissioners to
confer with the President. They were
permitted by tie Lieutenant General to
come to his headquarters to await there the
decision of the President. Major Eckert
was sent down to meet the party from Rich
mond at General Grant headquarters.
/ The Major was directed to deliver to them
a copy of the Presidents letter to Mr..
! Blair, with a note to be addressed to them
and signed by the Major in which they were
! dire thy informed that they should be al
lowed to pass our lines. They would be
understood as coming for an informal con-
| ference upon the basis Of the aforeuamed
letter of the 18th Of January to Mr. Blair
| If they should express their assent to this
condition in writing, then Major Eckert
was directed to give them safe conduct to
Fortress Monroe where's person coming from
the President would meet them 1t being
thought probable, from report of the con-
versation with Lieut. Gen. Grant, that the
Richmond party would in the manner pre-
scribcd accept the condition mentioned,
the Secretary Of State was charged by the
President with the duty of representing this
Government in the expected informal con-
ference. The Secretary arrived at Fortress
Monroe in the night of the first day of
February. Major Eckert met him on the
morning of the I'd of February, with the
! - for,,ot;op that tho narsons who had come