Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-03-28

MR.. sEwARD's OPTICAL ACCOUNT.
The letter from the Secretary OF State to our
ambassador in England, giving an Official his
tory Of the peace conference held in Hampton
Roads, between President Lincoln and Sacrp-
tary Seward on our side, and Messrs. A H.
Stephens, X. Nj. I. Hunter, and J. A. Camp
bell, on the part OF the rebels, has been pub
hshed.
II commences by = review OF the circum-
stances which led TO the conference and gives
4 concise and graphic record of the negotiations
on that occasion. The conference was alto
ge.her informal. There was no ATTENDANCE of
secretaries, clerks, or other witnesses. Moth
ing was written or read. The conYersa-
ton, though earnest and free, was calm and
courteous and kind on both sides. The Rich
mOnd party approached the discussion rather
indirectly. and az no time did they either make
categorical demands, or tender formal stinuIa-
tons, or absolute refUsals. Nevertheless
during the conference, which lasted four
hours, the several points at issue bet yVeen the
Government and the insurgents were dis
Iinetly raised aud discussed fully, intelligent
ly, and IN an amiable spirit What the I1sur-
gent party seemed chiefly TO favor was 3 post
poEenent OF the question OF reparation upon
which the war is waged, and a mutual drec-
lion of The efforts OF the Government. as well
as those of the insurgents, 10 some eytrinsIc
policy or scheme for 4 season. during which
passion might be expected 10 subside and
the armies 10 be reduced, and trade and inter-
course between the people of both sections re-
sumed. 1t was suggested by them that through
such postponement We might now have i'm
meClatP peace, Win some not certain
prospect of an ultimate satisfactory adjustment
OF political relations between this Government
ana the States, section or people now engaged
in con ftiCt with IL
This suggestion, though deliberately consid-
cred. was nevertheless regarded by the Presi-
dent as one of arInistce or truce, and he a.
nounced that we can agree 70 no cessation or
suspension OF hostilities except on the disband-
ment OF the msurgent forces and the restora-
ilon OF the national authority throughout all
the States In the Union. C0llaterally and in
sueordination 10 the proposition that was thus
announced, the anti-slavery policy OF the Unl-
ted States was relieved in all It's bearings. and
the President announced that ne must not be
expected 10 depart from the positions he had
heretofore assumed in his Proclamation of
Emancipation and other documents, as these
positions We're reiterated in his last Annual
Message. Ii was further declared by the
President that the complete restoration Of the
national authority was an Indispensable con-
dition Of any assent on our part 10 whatever
form of peace might be proposed. The Presi-
dentassured the other party that while he m ust
adhere to these positions, he would be pre-
pared, so tar as power is lodged with the Tx
ecutive, TO exercise liberality.
His power is limited by the Constitution
And when peace should be made, Congress
must necessarily act in regard TO appropria-
tions of money and 10 the admission Of repre-
sentatlYes from the insurrectionary States.
The Richmond party were then informed that
Congress had, on the 3ist alt, adopted, by
constitutional majority, joint resolution, SUBJ
mitting to the several States the proposition TO
abolish slavery throughout the Union, and that
there is every reason 10 expect that II will soon
be accepted by three-fourths OF the States, SO
as 10 become part of the national organic
law. The conference came to an end by mu-
tual cquiescence, without procuring an agree
ment of views upon the several matters dis
cussed, OF any of them. Nevertheless, it is
perhaps, of some importance that we have
been able TO submit our opinions and views
directly to prominent insurgents, and TO hear
them answer IN courteous and not unfriendly
manner.