New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-26
Mr. S,war1's Official Account Of the
Hampton Raids Negotiations.
The Rebels Propose an Armlstice
al Home and o War Abroad.
Mr.. Lincoln Insists on Surrender and
Emancipation.
DEPARTMENT oP STATE,
WASHINGTON. Feb. 7, le65.
MR.. SEWARD TO Mr.. ADxMs.

| SIR: II is truism that in times of peace there
are always nstigators Of SO a begins
there citizens who impatenty demand negotiations
for peace The advocates for war, after an agitation
| longer or shorter, generally gain their fearful end
though the declared not uDfrequently unneces.
sary and unwse. So peace agitators. in time Of war
ultimately bring about an abandonment of the conflict
sometimes without securing the advantages which
were originally expected from the conflict.
The agtnors for in time Of peace, and for peace
in tme Of war. are not necessarily. or perhaps ord
narily unpitrotc in their purposes aud motives Re-
alone determine whethe they are wise or unwise.
The treaty OF peico concluded at GIadaupe Hidalgo,
secured by irreQul negotiation under the ban
Of the Government, Some Of the efforts which have
been made to bring about negotiations with view to
end our civil war known to the whole world, be-
cause they have employed foreign we'll as domestic
agents, Others, with whom you have had to deal conf
dentiay, known to yourself, although they have
not publicly tanspired. Other efforts have occurred
| here which known only to the prisons actually
moving them aud 10 this Government / am now
give you for your information account of an affair
Of the same general character which recently received
much attention here, and which doubtless will excite
inquiry abroad.
few days ago Francis P. Blair. esq, Of Maryland,
obtained from the President simple leave 10 pass
through military lines without definite views known
to the Government. Mr.. Blair visited Richmond. and
bis return be showed TO the President letter which
Jefferson Davis had written to Mr.. Blair, in which
Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair was at liberty to say TO
President Lincoln that Davis now as he had always
been, willing to send Commissioners. II assured they
would be received, TO receive any thst should be
sent; that be was not disposed to find obstacles in
forms He would send Commissioners TO confer with
the President with Wow to a restoration Of peace be-
tween the two countries IL he could be assured they
would b. received. The President thereupon, on the
18th OF nuary addressed note TO Mr.. Bair In which
the President after acknowledging that ne had read the
note Of Mr. Davis said he waA is and always should
be- willing to receive any agent that Mr. Davis, or any
other influential person. now actually resisting
the authority Of the Government, might send
to confer Informally with the President with
view to tho restoration Of peace to the people OF
| our common country. Mr. Blair visited Richmond with
his letter and then came back again to Washington.
On the Goth inst we advised from the camp Of
Lieut. Gen. Grant that Alexander II Stephens, X. NJ.
7. Hunter and John A. Campbell were applying for
leave to pass through the lines 10 Washington a. Peace
Commissioners to confer with the President. They
were permitted by the LieutenaUtGenera to come to
his headquarters to await there the decision OF the
President Major Eckert was sent down 10 meet the
party from Richmond at Gen. Grants headquarters.
The Major was directed deliver to them copy Of the
Presidents letter to Mr.. Blair. with note to be ad.
dressed to them and signed by the Major in which they
we're directly informed that If they should be allowed
to pass our lines they would be understood as coming
for an informal conference upon the basis Of the aore
named letter OF the lsth of January to Mr. Blair. II
they should express their assent TO this condition in
writing, then Major Eckert directed to give them
safe conduct to Fortress Monroe, when person CON-
ing from the President would meet them. 1t being
thought probable from report Of their conversation
with Lieutenant. G General Grant that the Richmond
party would in the prescribed accept the con-
dtion mentioned the Secretary Of State was charged
by the President with the dury OF representing this
Government at the expected informal conference The
Secretary arrived at Fostress Monroe the night Of
the LIST day Of February. Major Eckert met him In the
morning Of the I'd Of February with the information
that the persons who had from Richmond had not
accepted in writing the condition upon which
be allowed to give them conduct to Fortress Mon.
roe The Major had given the same Information by
telegraph the President at Washington. On rocev.
ing this information the President prepared telegram
directing the Secretary to return to Washington. The
So without waiting for instructions from the President
But at this juncture Lieut. Gen Grant telegraphed to
the Secretary of War; as well as to the Secretary Of
State that the party from Richmond had reconsdcred
and accepted the conditions rendered them through
Major Eckert, and Gen. Grant urgently advised the
President to confer In person with the Richmond party
Under these circumstances the Secretary BY the
Presidents direction. remained at Fortress Monroe,
Aha ioine him there niQhf the
I'd Of February. The Richmond party was brought
down the james River In United States steam trans.
port during the day and the transport was anchored at
Hampton Roads.
On tho 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
secretaries clerks or other witnesses. Nothing
written or read The conversation though earnest and
free. was calm aad courteous and kind on both
sides. The Richmond party approached the dis.
cussion rather indirectly. and at no time did they
either make categorical demands or tender formal stp
ulations absolute refusas Nevertheless duringth the
conference which lasted four hours the several points
at issue between the Government and the insurgents
were distinctly raised and discussed fully ineligenty
and in amiable spirit. What the insurgent party
seemed chiefly to favor was Q postponement Of the
question Of reparaton upon which the war Is wagod
and q mutual direction of the efforts Of Government
a. we'll as those of the insurgents to extrnsc o
cy or scheme for season. during which passion might
be expected to subsde and the armies to be reduced
and trade and intercourse between the people Of both
sections resumed. It was suggested BY them that
through such postponement We might now have imme
i 18th nntyo rfain