The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-28


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 the morning oft the Sd the Presi-
dent, attended by the Secretary, receiv--
ed Aessrs. stephens, Hunter and
Campbell, on board the United States
steam transport "River Queen" in
Hampton Roads. The conference was
altogether informal. There was no at
tendance of secretaries, clerks, or other
witnesses. Nothing was written or
read. The conversation, though ear
nest and free, was calm and courteous
and kind on both sides. The Richmond
party approached the discussion rather
indirectly, and atno time did they eth
er make categorical demands or tender
formal stipulations, or absolute refu-
sails. Nevertheless. during the confer
ence, which lasted four hours, the sew
erul points at issue between the Gov
ernmeneand the insurgents We're dis
tinctly raised and discussed fully, in
diligently, and i'll an aininble spirit
What the insurgent party seemed chief
ly to favor was IL postpOnement of the
question of reparation upon which the
war is waged, and mutual direction
of the efforts of Government, as well as
those of the insurgents, TO some eXtrin-
sic policy or scheme for II season, du-
ring which passion might be expected
to su bside and the armies to be reduced,
and trade and Intercourse between the
people of both sections resumed. II
was suggested by them that through
such poStponemenJ we might now have
Immediate peace, with some not very
certain prospect of an ultimate satisfac-
tory adjustment of political relations
between this Government and the
States, section or people now engaged
in conflict with it. r."
This suggestion, though deliberately
considered, was nevertheless regarded
by the President as one of nrmistice or
truce, and he announced that we can
agree to no cessation or suspension of
hostilfties except on the basis of the
disbandonment of the insurgent forces
and the restoration of the national au
thority throughout all the States in the
Union. Collaterally and in SubOrdina-
ton to tho proposition that was thus
announced, the anti-Slavery policy of
the United States was reviewed in all
its bearings, and the President an
nolinced that he must not be expected
to depart from the positions he had
heretofore assumed in his Proclamation
of Emancipation and other documents,
as these positions were reiterated in his
last annual message. 1t was further
declared by the President thatthe COM
plete restoration oFthe national author
lily WIS All vi
any assent on our parttc whatever form
of peace might be proposed. The Pres
ident assured the otherpHrty that while
he must adhere to these positions, he
would be prepared, so far as power is
lodged with the Executive, to exercise
liberality. of"
His power is limited by the OOnstitu-
ton. Aud when peace should be made
Congress must necessarily act in regard
to appropriations of money and to the
admission of Representatives from the
discretionary States. The Richmond
party were then informed that Con-
'gress had on the 3lst ult. adopted, by n
constitutional majority, n joint resolu-
ton, submitting TO the several States
the proposition 10 abolish Slavery
throughout the Union, and that there is
every reason TO expect that il Will soon
be accepted by three-fourths of the
States, so as to become part of the ma
tionnl organic law. The, conference
came to an end bymutual acquiescence,
without procuring an agreement of
views upon the several matters discuss
ed, or any of them. Nevertheless, it is
perhaps of some Importance that we
have been able to submit our opinions
and views directly to prominent insur-
gents, and to hear them answer in
courteous and not unfriendly manner.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM Fl. SEWARD.
Charles Francis Adams, Esq, &c. i"
Ht ..#EH ------S 49,