The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-27
The Hampten Roads Peace Confsrencs
NEw YoRK. March 26


The letter of Secretary Seward to our en-
bassador in Europe, Charles +. Adams, Civ.
ing an official history Of the Hampton Roads
Peace Conference, during the winter Of 1864
and 1866, between President Lincoln and
Seward on our side, and A. II. Stephens and
X. NJ. Hunter and J. A. Campbell on the 9th.
er, is published.
The Secretary says, on the morning Of the
Sd, the President, attended by the Secretary,
received Messrs. Stephens. Hunter and
Campbell on board the United States steam
transport River Queen in Hampton Roads
The Conference was altogether informal.
There was no attendance of clerks or other
witnesses. Nothing was written or read.
The convention, though earnest and free,
was calm, courteous and kind, on both sides.
The Richmond party approached the discus
sion rather indirectly, and at no tl.ne did
either make categorical demands or tender
formal stipulations or absolute refusals; new
ertheless, during the conference, which lasted
four hours. the several points at issue between
the Government and the insurgents, we're
distinctly raised and discussed fully, intelli
gently and in an amicabe spirit
What the in urgent party seemed chiefly
TO favor was postponement Of the question
of separation upon which the yar is waged
and a mutual direction Of the efforts OF Gov
eminent IS well a. those of the insurgents to
some existence, policy or scheme for . sea-
son, during which. passion might be expected
to subside. the armies TO be reduced, and
trade and intercourse between the people Of
boil sections resumed. il was suggested by
them that through such postponement we
might now have immediate with some not
very certain prospect of an ultimate satisfac.
tory adjustment or political relations between
this Government an the States. section or peo
pie now engaged in conflict with il. This
suggestion. though deliberately considered
was nevertheless regarded by the President as
one of armistice or truce. he annoueed that
We can agree to no cessation of hostilities ex-
cept on the basis of disband.nent Of the insur-
gen, forces aud the restoration Of the naional
authority throughom all The States IN the
Union colaterialIy and insubordina,e TO the
proposition that was thus announced.
The anil slavery policy Of the President
was renewed in all its bearings and the Pres
ident announced that he NUT not be expected
to depar, from the position he had heretofore
assumed in his proclamation of emancipation
and other documents, as these positions we're
reiterated in the last annual message X was
further declared by the President that the
complete restoration Of the rational authority
was an indispensable condition of any assent
on our part TO whatever form of pence might
be proposed. The President assured the
other party that while he must adhere 10
these positions he would be prepared, SO far
Us power is lodged with the Executive to ex-
e7cise liberahty. His power is limited bv the
constitution. and when peace should he made
Congress must necessarily act in regard to
the admission of Representative from the in
surrectionary States.
The Richmond party we're then informed
that Congress had, on the lst ult-, adopted
by constitutional majority. joint Resolu
ton, submitting to the several States the
proposition to abolish slavery throughout the
Onion, mud that there Is every reason to ex-
pecs that II will soon he excepted by three
fourths of the States, SO as 10 become 4 part
of the national organized lax. The confer
ence came to an end By acquiesenee without
percelvirg any agreement Of views upon the
aeveral matters discussed. or any o them :
nevertheless. it is perhaps OF some importance
tha, ~s have been able TO sntmn our opinions
and views directly to prominent insurgents,
and hear them answer in courteous and not
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