Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-30
THE HAMPTON ROADS PEACE CONFERENCE
Official History of 1.-THE State Department to the
American Leg alton at London.

Official History OF 1.-The state department 10
American Legation at London.
The following communication of Mr.. Seward to
Mr.. Adams, sent Immediately after the famous con-
ference at Hampton Roads in February 1862 is less
important on account of new information than for
the sake of its authenticity:
Mr.. SEWARD TO Mr.. ADAMS.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, I
WASHINGTON, February Z, 1867
SIR-It is truism that in times oil peace there
are always instigators of war. SO soon as war De-
gins, there citizens who impatiently demand ne
gotiatons for peace. The advocates for war, after
an agitation longer shorter, generally gain their
fearful end, though the war declared is not unfre-
quently necessary and unwise. So peace agitators,
in time of war, ultimately bring about an abandon
ment of the conhict-sometimes without securing |
the advantages which were originally expected from
the conflict.
The agitators for war in time of peace, and for |
peace in time Of war, not necessarily or perhaps
ordinarily, unpatriotc in their purposes or motives.
Results alone determine whether they are wise or
unwise The treaty of peace concluded at Guada- |
loupe Hdalgo was secured by an irregular negota-
ton under the ban of the Government. Some OF
the efforts which have been made to bring about ne
qotiations with a view to end our civil are |
known to the whole world, because they have en- |
ployed foreign well as domestic agents. Others
with whom you have had to deal COMMENTARY, are
known to yourself although they have not publicly
transpired Other efforts have occurred here, which
are known only to persons actually moving In them
and TO this Government. | am now TO give YOU Tor
your information, an account OF an aiiair oil the
same general character. which recently received
much attention here, ana winch uouDLess VIII eAci'e
enquiry abroad.
4 few DAYS ago Francis =. Blair, Esq, of Mary |
land obtained from the President simple leave to
pass through our military lines, without definite
views known to the Government. MIR. Blair visited
Richmond, and on his return he showed the Pres
dent 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 was
now, as he had always been, willing to send COM |
missOners, if assured they would be received, or to
receive any that should be sent that he not dis
posed to find obstacles in forms. He would send |
commissioners to confer with the President with n
| view to a restoration OF peace between the two |
countries, if he could be assured they would be re-
| ceved The President thereupon on the 18th of
January, addressed note to Mr.. Blair, in which the
President after acknowledging that he had read the
note of Mr. Davis said he was 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 con-
fer informally with the PRECEDENT, with view to the
restoration of peace to the people of our own COM
mon country Mr. Blair visited Richmond with his |
letter, and then came back to Washington. On the |
| 29th ultmo, we were advised from the camp OF |
|. Lieutenant General Grant that Alexander II. Ste
phens r.. NJ. T. Hunter and John A. Campbell were |
applying for leave to pass through the lines to wash
lHbtOu, peace W COucl WIN thc
President They were permitted by the Lieutenant
General to to his headquarters, TO await there
the decision OF the President Major Eckert was sent
down to meet the party from Richmond at General |
| Grants headquarters. The Major directed to |
deliver to them copy of the Presidents letter to Mr..
Blair, with note to be addressed to them and sign
ed by the Major, in which they were directly inform
ed that if they should be allowed to pass our lines
they would be understood coming for an informal |
conference upon the basis of the afOrenamed letter
of the 18th OF January, to Mr.. Blair. IT they should
express their assent TO this condition in writing,
then Major EckeTt was directed to give them safe
conduct to Fortress Monroe, where person coming
| from the President would meet them. 1t being |
| thought probable, from a report OF their con- |
versatioE with Lieutenant General Grant that |
the Richmond party would, in the manner |
prescribed, accept the condition mentiOned |
| the Secretary of State was charged by the |
President with the duty of representing this Govern
ment in the expected informal conference. The Sc
cretary arrived at Fortress Monroe on the night of
the LIST day of February Major Eckert met him on
the morning of the I'd of February, with intorma
ton that the persons who had come from Richmond
| had not accepted in writing the condition upon
which he was allowed to give them conduct to For |
tress Monroe. The Major had given the same inior
nation by telegraph to the President at Washington
On receiving this information the President prepared
| q telegram directing the Secretary to return to
| Washington. The Secretary was preparing at the
same moment to do so without waiting for nstruc-
tons from the President. But ut this juncturc
tary of War; as well to the Secretary of State,
that the party from Richmond had reconsdered and
| accepted the conditions rendered them through
Major Eckert, and General 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,
and the President joined him there on The night OF
the % of February. The Richmond party was
brought down the James river in United States
transport during the day. ana the transport an.
| chOred at Hampton Roads.
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 secretaries, clerks or other witnesses.
| Nothing was written or read. The conversation,
| though earnest and free, was calm and courteous
! and kind on both sides. The Richmond party APP
| preached the discussion rather indirectly and mt
no time did they either make categorical de-
mands tender formal Stipulations or absolute
| refuSals. Nevertheless, during the conference,
which lasted four hours, the several points
at issue between the Government and the
| insurgents were distinctly raised, and discussed
! fully, integently, and in an amicable spirit
| What the insurgent party seemed chiefly 70 favor
was pOs:ponement of the question of separation.
| upon which the war is waged, and .he mutual di.
rectiOn of the efforts OF Government well those
of the insurgents to some eNtTinsc policy or scheme
| for season, during which passions might he eX-
|
trade and intercourse between the people Of both
| sections resumed ii suggested by them that
| through such pOstpOnement we might now have I'M
mediate peace with some not very certain prospect
of an ultimate satisfactory adjustment of political
relations between this Government and the States,
section, or people now engaged IN conflict with il.
| This suggestion, though deliberately considered,
was nevertheless regarded by the President of
armistCe or truce. and lie announced that we can
agree to no cessasOn or suspension of h0sttes eX-
} cont IN bp OI lIslnnlmpnt
gent forces and the restoration of the national
thorty Throughout all the States of the Union. Col
| aterally and in subOrdinatOn to the proposition
that was thus announced, the anti-savery policy of
| the United States reviewed in all its bearings,
and the President announced that he must not be ex
peced to depart from the positions he had hereto
| fore assumed in his proclamation of emancipation
and other documents, a. these positions were reiter-
atei in his last annual message 1t was further de-
clared by the President that the complete restoration
of the national authority an indispensable con-
don OF any assent on our part to whatever form OF
| peace might be proposed. The President assured
the other party that while he must adhere to these
positions, he would be prepared, so far as power is
lodged with the Executive to exercise liberality.
| His power is limited by the Constitution. And
when peace should be made, Congress must
necessarily act in regard TO appropriations of money
and to the admission of representatives from the in
surrectOnary States. The Richmond party were
then informed that Congress had, the 3lst utmo,
adopted, by constitutional majority, a joint reso-
luton submitting To .ho several states proposition
to abolish slavery throughout the Union, and that
there is every to expect that it will soon be
accepted by three-fOurths of the States, TO be-
come part Of the national organic law. The con-
ference came to an end by mutual acQuiescence,
without procuring an agreement of views upon the
several matters discussed, or any of them Never
theless, it is perhaps OF some Importance that we
| have been able to submit oar opinions and views
directly to promnep; insurgents and to hear them
converse in courteous and not unfriendy manner.
am sir, your obedient servant,
| WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
CHAs. FRANCIs ADAMS, Esq, &C., &c, &c
The CABINET AND THE YEGo.-Thc President
convened his Cabne. Far the purpose of submitting
tlo l,ut nlarn IF Tho