Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-01

why the Peace Conferences called.
Ii 10 best to keep facts before Us. Tor they make
history. The country should know why the
peace conference ~ Fortress Monroe failed TO
bring peace to the nation. There is great re
sponsibility somewhere. and every drop Of blood
shed. after peace was assainsbie. and not con-
cludei. is on somebody's garments
The following lettcrs seem to be the founds-
ton upoo which Jryrrasox DAVIS and President
Lrsoots rested their respective claims to con-
clsds . peace. So far a. conditions were made
In writing. they are ss follows:
rHr COMMISSIONERS TO MAJOR EcKKRT.
CRY PoIsr. Va. Feb. 1. 1865.
Thomas T. Eckert. Major and A. ID. G.:
MAJoa: Your note delivered by yourself this
day has been considered. 10 reply We have 90
say that ve were furnished With copy OF the
letter Of President Lincoln to Francis p Blair
Of the 18th OF January. ult., another copy Of
which 10 appended to your note. Our intentions
are contained in . letter Of which the following
is copy:
RscasosS, January ..
In conformity with the letter OF Mr. Lincoln Of which
ths foregoing copy you 10 proceed 70 Washing
city, Informal conference With him the issues
involved the anu the purpotc OF
curing peace 20 the two countries
With great respect.
Tour obedieut servant.
JErrEksos DAVIS.
informai conference, Is to ascertain upon what
terms the existing war can be terminated honor
ably Our instructions contemplate o personal
intervsu between President Lincoln and our
selves. at Washington, but with this explanation
We are ready to meet any person or persons that
President Lincoln may appoint, at such place as
be may designate. Our earnest desire is that a
just and honorable peace may be agreed upon.
and We are prepared TO receive or to submit
propositions which may possibly lead to the a,
tainment Of that end.
Very respectfully yours.
AIrxASpER II STEPHENS,
X NJ + HuSTER.
JoHS A. CAMPBELL.
Of the rebel government. DAVIS letter to
Messrs STEPHENS, HusrKl and CAMPBELL, con
tains all that 10 certain of rebel views about the
mode of securing peace. Mr.. LINCOLN. who was
At the conference. says in his message to con
gress:
ION our part the whole substance of the in.
structiops 70 the secretary of state hereinfors
was said inconsistent Herewith. While by the
other party Il vas not said that in any event OF
on any condition they ever would consent to re-
union. And yet thy equally omitted TO declar,
that they poaid 90 consent"
Here we have Mr.. LlscoLs's version of the
conference. The rebel commissioners did not
the union. bot they also omitted to say that they
would 90 consent. This is President LINCOLN,
view. and q very muddy one il is.
Now let US see what were the conditions which
Mr.. LINCOLN imposed upon their return to the
union, and which his Secretary SEWARD lin
sisted" upon They are thus explicitly stated By
Mr.. l.. himself
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, Jan, 81, 1868
Hon. Vim H. Seward. Secretary of State:
You will proceed TO Fortress Monroe, Va.
there to meet and informally confer with Messrs
Stephens. Hunter, aud Campbell, on the basis o.
my letter To +. p. Blair, Esq, of January IL.
copy Of which you have. You will make known
to them that three things indispensable, L
wit: First, the restoration of the national su
thority throughout al, the states; second, no re
ceding by the executive of the United States OF
the slavery question from the position assume,
thereon in the late annual message TO congress
and in the preceding documents; no cessation o
hostilities short of end of the and tn.
dsbandng OF all the forces hostile to the gov
eminent. You will inform them that all propo
sitons of theirs not inconsistent with the above
will be considered and passed upon in a spirit o
sincere liberelity. You will hear all they ma
choose to say, and repor: it to me. You viii
not assume to definitely consummate anything
Yours, &c. ABRAHAa LINCOLN"
Here We have TIE whole story Mr.. LIscoLs
before StwARD left Washington to NEE. the re
bel commissioners. gave him instructions as .
the terms on which the southern people nigh
return to the union, and these terms were jus
the ones which be knew would not be accepted
viz: The abolition Of slavery by the south. an
submission to the conditions of bis last annus
message and the emancipation proclamation
which he very innocently calls the precedin
documents" Mr.. LINCOLN having made hi
conditions, and insisted" upon them. as he ssyi
there was certainly but little room for the rebel
to say much. Need the country be greatly SUI
prsed that the" conference ended without re
sultsf' He professed to meet these souther
commissioners to heal the bleeding wounds G
the north and south; but, like an unskillful sui
geon, be first probes and lacerates the very plac
which has given pain and energy to the peopl
Of the states in rebellion.
The president seems to have but one remed
for the ailments of the nation. and that is tn
destruction Of domestic slavery in the south
The abolitionists would not allow him. SUI
pose. to make peace on any other conditions, an
hence the war must go on-conscriptions col
tinue-tbe national debt accumulate. and anoth,
hundred thousand gallant soldiers fall sacr
fee TO the bloody DEGREES of those whom SrrrHE
A. DoueLAs rightfully named 1.-The abolitio
confederstes." They are the CeSrHoSs. th
MARArs and RoBEsrIrREs Of the horrible dram
inaugurated 10 1861. and prayed for by ther
these thirty years past These abOlitionists an
rebels sre the architects Of our nations ruin. an
the people. without regard TO party divisions
must put them down. or all will be lost.