The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-02-15

The Peace conferencc---Ths Message.
The President transmits a message de
failing the essentials. As everything re
, latins to this remarkable meeting will b
, interesting, we extract copiously:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
: To the Honorable the House of Represen
; tatives:
, In response to your resolution of the Stl
inst, requesting information in relation {,
q conference recently held in Hampton
roads, have the honor to state that, on tn,
day Of that date, gave Francis P. Blair
Sen, card written on as follows: I"
"Allow the bearer, F. P. Blair, Sem, &c
pass or lines. to 60 south and return.
(Signed) "A. LINCOLN"
That, At the time, I was informed that
Mr.. Blair sought the card al a means oil
getting to Richmond, Va; but he was
given no authority to speak or act for the
government, nor was I informed of anything
he would say or do, on his own account, or
otherwise. Mr.. Blair told me that he had
been to Richmond and had seen Davis
and he (Blalr) at the same time left manu-,
script letter as follows, to.wit:
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. IL, 1865.
IF. P. BLAIR. Esq.
"SIR:-I have deemed it proper. and
probably desirable to you, to give you. in
this form, the subs.an of the remarks
made by me. to be repeated by you to
President Lincoln. have no disposition
to find obstacles in forms, AID am willing
now, as heretofore, e enter into negotiations
for the restoration Of peace. am ready
to send commission whenever I have
! reason to suppose It will be received. or to
receive = commission. If the United States
government shalt choose to send one. Not
| outstanding the rejection of our former
otfets, would, If you could promise that
commissioner, minister, or other agent
would be received, appoint one immediate.
| ly, and renew the effort to enter into q con.
ference with view 10 secure peace to the
countries.
| "Yours. &C., JEFF. DAVIS"
Afterwards, with the view that it should
be shown to Davis, l wrote and delivered
| to Blair letter, as follows:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1865.
IF. P. BLAIR, Esq.
You having shown me Mr.. Davis letter
to you on the 18th inst, you may say to
him that have constantly been, atm now,
and shall continue ready to receive any
ageLt whom he or any other influential per.
son now resisting the national authority,
may informally send me, with q view Of
securing peace to the people Of our common
country. "A. LINCOLN"
Afterwards Mr.. Blair dictated and author
lied me to make an entry on the back Of
my retained copy Of the letter last above
given, which is as follows:
JAN. %, 1865.
To-day Mr.. Blair tells me that, on the
Dist inst. he delivered to Mr.. Davis the
original Of which the within 10 copy, and
left it with him that, at the time Of de-
livering it. Mr. Davis read it over twice in
Mr.. Blair's presence, at tho close of which
he (Blair) remarked that the part about
our one common country related to the part
of Mr.. Davis letter about the two countries,
to which Davis replied that he so under.
stood it. "A. LINCOLN"
Here follow numerous dispatches be.
tween Stanton, Grant. Maj. Eckert "a mes.
senger) relating to the reception of the
Southern gentlemen.
Stephens, Campbell and Hunter tele.
graph thus to Grant:
"PErERsBuRc, Va, Jan. 80, 1885.
"Lieut. Gen. U. s. GRANT, Commander
Armies of the United States:
''SIR-We desire to pass your lines un.
der safe conduct, and to proceed to Wash.
ingtoo 20 tsoid cur,frrer,uo with, Pr~-:l-..A
Lincoln upon the subject Of the existing
war, and with view of asccrtaining upon
what terms it may be terminated, in pur-
suance Of the course indicated by him in
his letter to Mr.. Blair of Jan. l8, 1865, of
which we presume you have a copy and,
if not, we wish to see you in person, If
convenient, and to confer with you on the
subject.
Every respectfully yours,
Gen. Grant sends the above to the Presi-
dent with the following:
81 have sent directions to receive these
gentlemen, and expect to have them at my
quarters this evening, awaiting your in.
structions. U. S. GRANT"
The President, having started Maj Eckert
to Grant, telegraphed that officer as FOL-
lows:
Executive MANSION, !
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1865.
Lieut.. Gen. GRANT. City Point. Va:
"A messenger is coming to you on the
business contained in your dispatch. De,
tain the gentlemen in comfortable quarters
until he arrives, and then act upon the
MESSAGE he brings as far as applicable, II
having been made up to pass through Gen.
Ord's hands, and when the gentlemen were
supposed to be beyond our lines.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN"
The messenger, Maj. Eckert, arrived at
Grants quarters with instructions to Grant
to send S., G. and H. to Fortress Monroe.
The Secretary of State was sent to
Fortress Monroe to meet the rebel com
m,ssioners: bis instructions were as fol.
lows:
You will make known to them that
three things are indispensable. to witt
First, the restoration of the national author.
ity through all the states; second, no re.
ccding by The executive Of the United
States on the slavery question, from the
position assumed thereon in the late annual
message to congress-, and in the preceding
documents, and then, no cessation OF
hostilitivs short of an end of the war and
the disbanding Of all the forces hostile to
the government. You will inform them
that all propositions of theirs not inconsis
tent with the above will be considered and
passed upon in spirit Of sincere liberality.
You will hear all they may choose to say,
to definitely consummate anything