The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-28
Mr. Stewards Official Account of the Hampton
Roads Negotiations.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,J
WASHINGTON, February :, 1860. )
MR. SEWARD TO MR.. ADAMS.

| q IL,
WAsHINGToS, February :, 1860.
Mr. SEWARD TO MR.. ADAMS.
I'm an official letter to MIR. ADAMS, Minister
TO the Court of ST. James, Mr.. SEWARD gave
an account of the attempted negotiations be-
tween Mr.. LINCOLN and himself on the part
of the United States, and the Commissioners
of the Confederate States. This letter is just
published The first part OF the letter is de-
voted TO an account of the two visits Of old
Mr. BLAIR 10 this city, and the two notes of
Mr.. DAVIS and Mr.. LINCOLN 10 Mr.. BLAIR
touching the Commissioners. He recounts
the incidents of the journey of the Commits
sioners and their arrival in Hampton ROADS
on the I'd of February. Mr.. SEWARD proceeds j
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 alto
re ther in formal. There was no attendance OF
Secretaries clerks, or other witnesses. Moth
ing was written or read. The conversation,
though earnest and free, was calm, and cour.
teous, and kind on both sides. The Richmond
party approached the discussion rather lndl-
rectly, and at no time did they either make
GA tpcorical demands, or tender formal Stipula-
tions, or absolute retu>als. Nevertheless,
during the conference, which lasted four hours,
the several points At issue between the Go
raised, and discussed fully, inteligently, and
in an amiable spirit. What the lnsurSent
party seemed chiefly 10 favor was 4 postpone
ment of the quest OF reparatIon upon Whlch
the war is waged, and mutual direction of
the efforts of Government, as wei! rs those OF
the insurgents, TO some eXtrinSIc policy or
scheme for n season, during which passion
might be expected TO Subslde and the armies 10
ha reduced and trade and intercourse between
the people of both sections resumed. 1t was
suggested by them that through such post
ponement we might now have immediate
peace with some not very certain prospect OF
an ultimate satisfactory al stnent OF pohtical
relations between this Government and the
States section, or people now engaged III con-
1lict withlt.
This suggestion, though deliberately consi-
dered. was nevertheless regarded by the IRE
sident as one of armiStice or truce, and he an
nounced that we can agree 10 no cessation or
suspension of hoStilitleS except on the basis OF
the disbandment Of the insurgent forces ana
the restoration of the national authorlty
throughout all the States in the Union. Col
laterally and in subordination 10 the propose
ton that was thus announced, the anti slavery
policy of the United States was reviewed IN
All its bearings, and the President announced
that he must not be expected 10 depart from
the positions he had heretofore assumed III his
Proclamation of Emancipation and other docu-
ments as these positions We're reiterated Ill
his last annual message. II was furthef de-
clared by the President that the complete
INDISPENSABLE condition of any assent on our
part 10 whatever form of peace might be pro
nosed The President assured the otherp party
that while he must adhere TO these positions,
he would he prepared so faras power Is looGed
with the Executive, TO exercise hberalliy.
His power is limited by the Constitution.
And when peace should be made, Congress
must necessarily act in regard 10 appropr!a-
tions of money and to the admission OF repre-
seutatives from the insurrecnonary States.
The Richmond party were then Informed that
Congress had, on the Slst ultimo, adopted, by
n constitutional majority, Joint resolution,
submitting 10 the several states the PROPOSE
ton 10 abolish slavery throughout the Union,
and that there is every reason 10 expect that
il will soon be accepted by three-fourths OF
the States, so rs 10 become part OF the ma
tional organic law. The conference came 10
an end by mutual acquiescence, without pro-
curing an agreement OF views upon the seNe-
raj matters discussed, or any of them. Never
theless it il perhaps of some Importance that
we have been able 10 submit our opinions anu
views directly TO prominent insurgents, ana
10 hear them answer III 4 courteous ana not
unfriendly manner
am, sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
Charles Francis AfdaS, Esq, DC, DC.