The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-28
Mr.. Stewards Official Account of
tho Hampton Roads Ne
.a .-Efgss-as got1ations. a
The Rebels Propose an Armistic
at Home and a War Abroad.
Mr.. Lincoln Insists on Surrender
and Emancipation. pa
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHINoToN, Feb. Z, 1865.
MIR. SEWARD 10 MIR. ADAMS.

.u MIR. SEWARD TO MIR. ADAMS. ...t
SIR: 1t is truism TINT in times of
peace there are always instigators OF
war. So soon as awar begins, there are
citizens who impntiently demand ne
Cotiations for pence. The advocntes for
war, after an agitation longer or short
err generally gain their fearful end,
though the war declared is not unfre-
quently unnecessary and unwlse. 80
peace agitatOrs, in time OF war, ultl-
mntely bring about an abOndonnento OF
r. the conflict-sometimeS without Secur-
yu ing the advantages which were origi-
naily expected from the conflict. 4
The agitators forwar in time ofpeace,
and for peace in time of war, are not
II. necessarily. or perhaps ordinarily, I'M.
patriotic in their purposes and motives.
Results alone determine whether they
are wise or unwise. The trenty ofpeace
concluded ut Guadalupe Hidalgo, was
secured by an irregular negotiation
uuder the ban of the Government.
Some of the efforts which have been
made to bring about negotiations with
a view to end our civil war are known
to the whole world, because they have
employed foreign rs well as, domestic
agents; others, with whom you have had
to deal confldentially, are known t.
yourself, although they have not pub
iicly TRANSCRIBED. Other efforts have
occurred here, which are known only
to tho persons actunlly moYinSin them
give YOU for your Information an nc
count ofan affair of the same general
character which recently received
much attention here, and which doubt
less will excite inquiry abroad.
al A few days ago Francis L. Blair, esq.,,
o of Maryland, obtained from the Presi-
dent a simple leave to pass through our
military lines without definite views
known to the Government. Mr.. Blair
visited Richmond, and on his return he
showed to the President II letter which
Jefferson Davis had written to Mr.. Blair,
in which Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair
was at liberty to say to President Lin
coin that Davis was now, as he had al
ways been, willing to send commission
ers, If assured they would be received,
=. or to receive any that should be sent;
that he was not disposed to find oOSta-
cles in forms. He would send commits
sioners to confer with the President,
with Il view to n restoration of peace
between the two countries, II he conld
: benssured theyswould be received. The
President thereupon, on the 18th OF
January, addressed n note to MIR. Blair,
in which the President, after acknowl-
edEing 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 au-
thority of the Government, might send
to confer informally with the President
with view to the restoration of peace
to the people of our common country.
Mr.. Blair visited Richmond with his
letter and them came back again 10
Washington. On the 29th inst, we
were advised from the camp of Lieut.
Gen. Grant that Alexander H. Steph-
ems, r. NJ. It. Hunter and John A.
D.. Campbell, were applying for leave to
pass through the lines to Washington
as peace commissioners to confer with
the President. They were permitted by
the Northumberland to come to his
headquarters, to await there the deci-
sion of the President. Major Eckert
was sent down to meet the party from
Richmond at Gen. Grants headquar-
tiers. The Major was directed TO de-
liver to them n copy of the Presidents
letter to Mr.. Blair, with note to
be addressed to them and signed by the
Major, in which they were directly in
formed, that if they should be allowed
to pass our lines they would be under
stood us coming for an informal confer
ence upon the basiS of the afOre-named
letter of the 18th of January to Mr..
Blair. If they should express their AS
sent to this conditiOnin writing, then
Major Ecllert was directed to give them
safe conduct to Fortress Monroe, when
person coming from the President
would meet them. 1t being thought
probable, from a report of their CONVEX
sation with Lieutenant-General Grant,
manner prescribed accept the condition
mentioned, the Secretary of State was
charged by the President with the duty
of representing this Government ut the
expected informal conference. The
Secretary arrived at Fortress Monroe
on the night of the LIST day of February.
Major Eckert met him in the morning
of the I'd of February with the informa-
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
Fortress Monroe. The Major had given
the same information by telegraph to
the President at Washington. On re-
ceiving this Information, the President
prepared telegram directing the Sec
y rotary to return to Washington. The
Secretary was preparing, at the same
moment, to do so, without waiting for
instructions from the President. But
at this juncture Lieutenant-General
Grant telegraphed to the Secretary of
War, as well as to the Secretary of
State, that the party from Richmond
had reconsidered and accepted the con-
ditions rendered them through Major
Eckert, and General Gil rant urgently adj
vised the President to confer in person
with the Richmond party aa.r IrHl 4
TTndar these circumstances tha Score