The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-04-12

ItOSCS Ill CeUIu.t1J, Aooo' - -
tant on account of new information, than
for the sake of its authenticity
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Feb. 7, 1865.
SIR: It is truism that in times OF
peace there are always instigators OF war.
So soon as war begins, there are citizens
who impatiently demand negotiations for
peacs.sa,The advocates for war, after an
agitation longer or shorter, generally gain
their fearful end, though the war declar-
ed is not nnfrequently necessary and un-
wise. So peace agitators, in time of war,
ultimately bring about an abandonment
of the eonAict-sometimes without secu-
ling the advantages which were original
ly expected from the conflict.
The agitators for war in time of peace,
and fcrpea in time of war, are not ne
cessarily, or perhaps ordinarily, unpatr-
otic in their purposes or motives. Re-
suits alone determine whether they are
wise or unwisc. The treaty of peace
concluded at Guadalupe Hidaldo was Sc
cured by an Irregular negotiation under
the ban of the Government. Some Of
the efforts which have been made to bring
about negotiations with view to end our
civil war are known TO the whole world,
heesusc they have employed foreign as
well as domestic agents. Others, with
whom YOU have had to deal confidential
ly,,are known to yourself, although they
have not pulli,.ly transpired. Other ef-
forts have occurred here, which are known
only to persons actually moving in them
and to this Government. | am now to
give you, for your information, an ac-
count of an affair of the same general
character, which recently received much
attention here, and which doubtless will
excite inquiry abroad.
"A few days ago Francis P. Blair, Esq.
of Maryland, obtained from the President
simple leave to pass through our militia
ry lines, without definite views known to
tie Government Mr.. Blair visited Rich
mond, and on his return he showed the
President a@letter which Jefferson Davis
had written to Mr.. Blair, in which Davis
wrote that Mr.. Blair was at liberty to say
20 President Lincoln that Davis was now,
as he had always been, willing to send
commissioners, if assured they would be
reccived,gor toreccivc any that should be
sent; ti,at{he was not disposed to find
obstacles in forms. He would send COM
missioners to confer with the President
with view to restoration of peace be-
tween tho two countries, if he could be
assured they would be received. The
President thereupon, on the 18th of JAN
uaay, addressed note to Mr.. Blair, in
which the President, after acknowledging
that he had read the note of Mr.. Davis,
said heswas, is, and always should be will
ling to receive any agent that Mr.. Davis
or any other influential person now actu.
ally resisting the authority of the Gov
ernment might send to confer informally
with the President, with y view to the
restoration of peace to the people of oul
own common country. Mr. Blair visited
Richmond with his letter, and then came
back to Washington. On the 29th ult.
we were advised from the camp Of Lieut.
General Grant that Alexander H.. Ste
vens, R. NJ. T. Hunter, and John A
Campbell were applying for leave to pass
through the lines to Washington as peace
commissioners to confer with the Presi
dent. They were permitted by the
Lieut. General to come to hls headquar
tiers to await there the decision of the
President. Major Eckert was sent dowr
to meet the party from Richmond at Gen
Grants headquarters. The Major was
directed to deliver to them copy of the
Presidents letter to Mr.. Blair, with ;
note to be addressed to them and signed
by the Major, in which they were direct
ly informed thatif they should be allow
ed topass our lines, they would be under
stood as coming for an informal confer
enoo upon the basis of the aforcnamct
letter of the 18th of January to Mr.. Blair
If they should express their assent to th
condition in writing, then Major Ecker