The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-14
The Hampton Roads Peace
Conference.


rbich was only the consumatioa of the
relapse of the Confederacy, for it is
No apparent now that no earthly pow
y at the command of the Confederates
could have done more than procrasti-
pste the fall, many persons have been
disposed to condemn the authorities of
tbe late Confederacy for not acceding
tethe terms offered by Mr. Lincoln
and his Premier at the Hampton Roads
Conference. As throwing some light
on this subject, and showing conclu-
Syely that these terms would have left
rs in pcecisely the same condition that
the unhappy termination of the war did,
we give place to the subjoined synop-
sis Of Mr. Stewards dispatch to Minis
Ter Adams on the subject. 1t will be
seen that submission to all proclama-
tons, and dependence on the will of
Congress as to the admission Of States,
&c, were to be the only conditions for
sheathing the sword and stopping the
war. The Confederate Commissions
ers asked, it seems, for a cessation of
hostilities for the allaying of the hea-
ted passions, and the restoration of
reason and reflection to the minds of
men, suggesting that it might, as we
beiege it would have done, result in
the renewal of the government as a
unit:
The letter of Secretary Seward to our
ambassador in Europe, Charles Fran
els Adams, giving aAa official history of
the Hampton Roads peace conference,
during the winter of 1864 and 1866,
between President Lincoln and Secre-
tary Seward on our side, and AIessrs
l. FL. Stephens, r. NJ. I. Hunter, and
J. A. Campbell on the other, is pub
lished. The Secretary says: On the
morningof the Sd, the President, at
tended by the Secretary, received
Messrs Stephens. Hunter, and Camp
bell on board the United States steam
transport, River Queen, in Hampton
Roads. The conference was altogether
informal There were not in atten-
dance secretaries, clerks, or other wit
nesses; nothing was written nor read !;
the conversation, though earnest and
free, Eas calm, courteous, and kind on
both sides
The Richmond party approached the
discussion rather indirectly, and at no
!. time did either make categorical de
mands CT tender formal stipulations or
absolute rcfusals. Nevertheless, during
the conference, which lasted four hours,
the several points at issue between the
Government and the insurgents were
distinctly raised and discussed fully
ard intelhgently. and In an amiable
spirit. What the insurgent seemed
chiefly to favor was postponement Of
the question OF separation, upon which
ahe war is waged, and mutual direc-
ton Of the efforts of the Government
IS wen rs those of the insurgents to
rome eruinsic polity OF scheme for a
aezgon, during which passion might be
expected to subside, aud the armies to
be reduced, and trade and intercourse
between the people of both sections to
be resumed. 1t was suggested by them
that through such postponement We
might have immediate peace, with
some not very certain prospect of an
Ultimate satisfactory adjustment of po-
litical reiations.
This suggestion, though deliberate
ly considered, was nevertheless regar-
ded by the President as one of armis-
tice or truce, and he announced thai
ne can agree to no cessation or sus
pension of hostilites except on the ba
sis of the disbandment of the insurgent
forces and the restoration of the States
in the Union. Collaterally and in sub
ordination to the propositions that wal
thus announced, the arti-slayery poll
er of the United States was reviewed
in all its bearings, and the Presiden
announced that he must not be expec
ted to depart from the positions he hat
heretofore assumed in his proclama
ton and other documents. These po
sitions were reiterated ip his last ON
glal message. It was fur her declared
by the President thatth complete res
toration of the national authority wa
m indispensable condition of any as
sent on our part to whatever form Q
peace might be proposes. The Fresl
dent assured the other party that
while we must adhere to these posi-
tions, he would be prepared, SO far q
power is lodged with the Executive, t.
exercise liberality. His power is llml
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