The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-29

nrepared telegram directing the Score
tarv TO return to Washington. me
secretary was preparing, at the same
moment. to do so, without waiting lot
instructions from the President. Butat
this juncture, Lieutenant Generai
Grant telegraphed to the Secretary VI
War, as we'll as to the Secretary OF otate,
that the party from Richmond nau re-
considered and accepted the con9Itlons
rendered them through Major EcKeit,
and General Grant urgently advised the
President to confer in person Win the
Richmond party. .,e
tary. by the Presidents direction, re-
NAMED at Fortress Monroe, and the
President Joined him there on the night
of the I'd of February. The Richmond
party was brought down the James
river in United States steam transport
during the day, and the transport was
anchored at Hampton Roads;
On the morning of the Sd the Presl.
dent, attended by the Secretary, received
Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, anu camp
hell. on board the United States steam
transport River Queen, In Hampton
Roads. The conference was altogether
informal. There was no attendance OF
secretaries, clerks, or other witnesses.
Notl,ing was written or read. The con-
versation. though earnest aud free, was
calm and courteous and kind on both
sides. The Richmond party approached
the discussion rather indirectly, ana at
no time did they either make categorical
demands. or tender formal stipulations,
or absolute refusals. Nevertheless, du-
ring the conference, which lasted fouf
hours. the several points at issue pe-
tween the Government and the insur-
rents were distinctly raised and discuss
ed fully, intelligently and in an amiable
spirit. What the insurgent party seemed
chiefly to favor was pOstponemenC OF
, the question of separation upon wpich
, the war is waged and mutual direction
, of the efforts of Government, as well al
those of the insurgents, to some extrin
sic policy or scheme for season, during
: which passion might be expected 7!
, subside and the armies to be reduced
a and trade and intercourse between th'
people of both sections resumed. IL wa
;, suggested by them that through suci
e postponement we might now nave lln
= mediate peace, with some not very Ger
tfin nrospect of an ultimate satisfactor,
adjustment of political relations De
D tween this Government and the States
section, or people now engaged In con
flict with 1t.
}. This suggestion, though deliberatel
considered, was, nevertheless regarde
by the President as one of armistlce 9
truce. and he announced that we ca
agree to no cessation or suspension
h0stilities except OH the DISARMAMENT
l. the insurgent forces, and the restoratlo
of the national authority througho!
all the States in the Union. Collaterali
and in subordination to the proposltlo
that was thus announced, the anti-sis
of very policy of the United States was r.
of viewed in all its bearings, and the Pres
re dent announced that he must not De e,
o. pected to depart from the positions l
Or had heretofore assumed in his proclm
#, ton of emancipation, and other doc
,h ments. as these positions were reiteratt
ly i'm his last annual message. 1t was fu
IL Their declared by the President that Il
lg complete restoration of the nationa! a
- thoritv was an indispensable conditit
n. of any assent on our part to whatev
I'D form of peace might be proposed. II
President assured the other party tn
'e, while he must adhere to these position
OF he would be prepared, so far as power.
n lodged with the Executive, to exercl
es' liberality.
ey His power is limited by the Constit
ce ton. And when peace shall be mad
as Congress must necessarily act In rega
Ter to appropriations of money and to 7
of admission of Representatives from
to insurrectionary States. The Richmo
to party were then informed that Congr'
he had on the 3lst ult., adopted, bya &C
M stitutional majority, joint resolutlf
tic submitting to the several States the p
I'VE position to abolish slavery throught
to the Union and that there is every reas
lb- to expect that it will soon be accept
I'VE by three fourths of the States, so as
: to become part Of the national orgaa
EN- law. The conference came to an end
to mutual acquiescence, without procuri
unit an agreement of views upon the seve
ac- matters discussed, or any of them. N
at, ertbeless, it is perhaps OF some imp
will lance that we have been able to subj
our opinions and views directly topro
So, inent' insurgents, and to hear them
esi- swer in courteous and not unfrlel
our manner.
sws I am, sir, your obedient servant,
lair WILLIAM H. SEwARI
he Charles Francis Adams, Esq, &C.,