The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-27


ONCE, corner of Main and Monroe street,
Miscellaneous News.
New YORK, March 26.-The letter Of
Secretary Seward to our EmbassadoI
in Europe, Ctias. F. Adams, giving him
the official history of the Hampton
Road conference during the winter
of 1864 and 1866, between President
Lincoln and Secretary Seward on oul
II. Hunter and j. A. Campbell on the
other, is published. The Secretary
says that 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
tendance of the Secretary's clerks or
other witnesses. Nothing was written
or read. The conversation, though
earnest and free, was calm, courteous
and kind on both sides. The Richmond
party approached the discussion rather
indirectly, and at no time did either
make categorical demands or tender
Nevertheless, during the conference
which lasted four hours, the several
points at issue between the govern
ment and the insurgents were distinct
ly raised and discussed fully, intelli-
gently and in an amiable spirit
What the sinsurgent party SEEM
ed chiefly to favor was a
ration upon which the war is waged
and a mutual direction of the efforts OF
the government, as well as those of the
insurgents, to some intricate policy or
scheme for season, during which pas
sion might be expected to subside and
the armies to be reduced and trade and
intercourse between the people of both
sections resumed. Tt was suggested by
them that through such postponement
we might now have immediate peace
with some, not very certain, prospect
of an ultimate satisfactory adjustment
of the political relations between this
government and the States, section or
people now engaged in conflict with it.
This suggestion, though deliberately
considered, was nevertheless regarded
by the President as one of armistice or
truce, and he announced that we can
agree to no cessation or suspension OF
hostilities except on the basis of the
+disbandment of the insurgent forces
and the restoration of the national au-
thority throughout all the States in the
Union. Collaterally and in subordina-
nounced, the anti-slavery policy of the
United States was reviewed in all its
bearings, and the President announced
that he must not be expected to depart
from the positions he had heretofore
assumed in his proclamation of eman-
cipation, and other documents, as these
positions were reiterated in his last an
nual message. 1t was further declared
by the President that the complete res
toration of the national authority was
an indispensable condition of any as
sent 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
liberality. His power is limited by the
constitution, and when peace should be
made Congress may necessarily act in
regard to appropriations of money, and
to the admission of representatives
from the insurrectionary States. The
that Congress had, on the 3lst ult.,
adopted, by a constitutional majority,
joint resolution submitting to thes sew
eral States the proposition to abolish
slavery throughout the Union, and
that there is every reason to expect that
it will soon be accepted by three
fourths of the States, so as to be-
como part of the national or
ganic law. The conference came to an
procuring an agreement of views upon
the several matters discussed, or any
of them. Nevertheless it was 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 a courteous and
not unfriendly manner.
A Washington special says: 1t is I'M
derstood that a motion will be made in
the Senate to-day to reconsiderthe vote
of last Friday declaring the Hon. j. p.
Stockton entitled to his seat as Senator
from New Jersey, and that Mr.. Sum
ner will make an argument against the
right of Mr.. Stockton to cast q vote in
the case. /"
The State Department in this city
was formally closed yesterday after
noon with appropriate services.
The Attorney General has decided
that Southern pensioners should be
restored to the rolls of the Southern
pension agencies on proof of continued
loyalty during the war, and their claims
be paid. The principle involved in this
decision is. if correctly reported, direct
ly in conflict with the opinion of the
Second Comptroller, declaring that
balances due from the government to
persons residing in the Southern States
during the rebellion are not payable to
claimants but belong to the United
States as enemy's property. The Sec
ond Comptroller's decision is subject to
revision by the solicitor of the Treasury
when the matter is taken to the Secre-
tary of the Treasury upon application
of the claimant.
The Tribune's Washington special
The Secretary of the Treasury, at the
request of the Governor of North Caro-
lima, on Saturday forwarded him a full
set of New York standard weights and
measures to replace those destroyed
during the rebellion.