The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-29
HAMPTON ROADS CONFERENCE
HAMPTON ROADS CONFENENOT'
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF 1T
WHAT PROPOsED-wnAT INSISTED ON
The following will be read with In
terest
DEPARTMENT STATE, !
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF IT.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHIseroN, February 7, 1865. !
arm crxu A m no Mr. ADAMS.

MR. SEWARD TO MR., ADAMS.
SrR. Tt ia a truism that in times OF
neace there are always instigat0rs OF
war. So soon as war begins, there are
citizens who impatiently demand nego-
tiatjons for peace. The advocates for
war. after an agitation longer or shorter,
generally gain their fearful end, though
| fhe war declared is not unfrequently
unnecessary and unwise. So peace agi-
tators. i'm time of war, ultimately bring
ahout an abandonment of the conf1lct-
Sometimes without securing the advan.
tages which were originally expected
, from the conflict.
The aoitators for war i'm time of peace,
and for peace in time of war, are not
necessarily, or perhaps ordinarily. I'M
patriotic in their purposes ana motives.
Results alone determine whether tney
are wise or unwise. The treaty of peace
Concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo was
secured byan irregular negotiation under
the Ian of the Government. Some Oh
the efforts which have been mace 10
, bring about negotiations with view 10
end our civil war, are known 10 the
whole world, because they nave en-
ployed foreign as well as oothes.ic
t agents Others, with whom you have
+ had to deal confidentially, are known to
Yourself. although they have not pup
Iiclv transpired. Other efforts have
. occurred here, which are known only &c
l the persons actually moving in them
and 10 this Government. / am now u
Dive YOU for your information an accouh
. of an affair of the same general charac
t TOR which recently received much al
: tent;on here. and which doubtless vii
g excite inquiry abroad.
few DAYS ago Francis p. Blair, Esq.
of MARYLAND, obtained from the Presi
q dent a simple leave to pass through ou
II military lines, without definite view
n known to the Government. Mr.. Bal
visited Richmond, and on his return h
showed to the President letter whicl
r Jefferson Davis had written to MI
blair in which Davis wrote that MI
e Blair was at liberty to say to Presiden
g Lincoln that Davis was now, as he ma
always been, willing to send commls
d sioners, if assured they would be re
IS ceived, or to receive any that shouiu
+ sent; that he was not disposed 10 rn
oLstacles in forms. He would send com
y n,;Ss;oners TO confer with the President
e with n view to the restoration Of peac
J. hatween the two countries, ii he coul'
"a he assured they would be received. In
President thereupon, on the 18TH
January. addressed a note to Mr.. Blail
y in which the President after acknoW
n Iedping that he had read the note OF Nj
Davis. said he was, Is, and always shoui
he willing to receive any agent tnat M
lie Davis. or any other influential person
It now actually resisting the authority
= the Government, might send 10 COME
> informally with the President with
.: viaw To the restoration of peace to tn
G. neonle of our common country. M
" pIair visited Richmond with his lette
of and then came back again to Washln,
- ron. On the Goth instant we were az
vised from the camp OF Lieutena'
I'd General Grant that Alexander n. St
o. nhens. r.. M. II. Hunter and John
n Campbell were applying for leave
mass through the lines to washington
= neace commissioners to confer with u
RI President. They were permitted tyt
lieutenant general to come TO MS lea
,o uuarters, to await there the uecieioh
= ti,e President. Major Eckert was sci
to 49,, IN meet the party from RiGhmOI
v ~ General Grants headquarters. III
,o oaior was directed to deliver to them
ary If the Presidents letter to M
vi Piair with a note to be addressed
so them and signed by the major,
ng ,vhicb thew were directly infOrm'
Mt that if they should be allowed
No. mass our lines, they. would De
ny aerstood as coming for an inform
'ct conference upon the basis OF the afoI
sr- named letter of the 18th of January
ar Mr.. Blair. If they should express tn
=, ascent to this condition in writing, tn
ne Maior Eckert was directed to go gi
's' them safe conduct TO Fortress M0nr'
to when a person coming from the Pre-
dentwould meet them. 1t being thoue
nrobable. from report of their conv'
me sation with Lieutenant General Graz
ers that the Richmond party would In t
er- manner prescribed accept the conditi
HE mentioned, the Secretary OF state "
w charged by the President with the at
au of representing this Government al !,
not exnected informal conference. i
,es, Secretary arrived at Fortress Monroe
5;s. The NIGHT of the 1st day of Februa
Major Eckert met him on the morni
len of the I'd of February with the intorn
tied ton That the persons who had co
from Richmond had not accepted
adj writing, the condition upon when
was allowed to give them conduct
iIee Fortress Monroe. The MAJOR hao gi'
nip the same information by telegraph
non the President at Washington: On
a;.r;,o tbis information, the Presld