The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-04-18

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF IT FROM SECRETARY SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, February :, 1865.
AIR SEWARD TO MR. ADAMS.

SIR:-It is a truism that in times Of peace
there are always instigatoTs Of war. Sc soon as
war begins there arc citizens who inIpa-
ticntly demand negotiations for peace. The
advocates for war after an agitation longer Or
shorter, generally gain their fearful end,
though the way declared is not unfrequcrt?y
Unnecessary and unNiHe. SO peace a9ltatorS,
in time cf war, ultimately bring aboHt an
abandonmcnt Of the cON.iict-sOmctimcs with
out securing the advantages which were OF lgl-
nal!y expected from the conflict.
The agitators for war in time Of peace, and
for peace in time ofWar are rot neccSsali lily, or
perhaps ordinarily, unpatTiotic in their pur
poses and motives. Results alone determine
whether they are wise or unWi*c. The treaty
of peace signed 1T GUadaloupe H:dHi@o was
secured by an Irregular negotiation under the
ban of the Government. Some OF the efforts
which have been made to bring about ncgotla
tionS with view to end our civil war are
known to the whole world, because they have
employed foreign as we'll as domestic agents:
others with whom you have had to deal conf
dentially, arc known to yourself, although
they have not publicly traDSlired Other CT
forts have occurred here, which are known
only to the persons actually moving in them
and to this Governments am row to give
YOU for your information an account Of an at-
fair of the same general character, which re-
Gently 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 a sim
pie /, ave to pass through cur military lines,
without definite views known to the Govern
mcnt. Mr.. Blair visited Richmond, and on
his return he showed to the President letter
which jefferson Davis had written to Mr..
Blair, in which Davis wrote that Mr.. Blair vas
at liberty to say 10 President Lincoln that
Davis was now, as he had always been, viii
ling to send Commissioners, if assured they
would be received, or to receive any that
should be sent; that he was not disposed to
find obstacles in forms. He would send. Com
miSsioners to confer with the President, with
view to the restoration Of peace between the
two countries, if he could be assured they
would be received The President, thereuDon,
on the 18th CT January, addressed 4 note to Mr..
Blair, in which the President, after acknowl-
cdgng 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 resist
ing the authority of the Government, might
send to confer informally with the President
with a view to the restoration of peace to the
people ofour common country Mr.. Blair visited
Richmond with his letter, and then came back
again to Washington. On the 29th instant,
We were advise | from the Camp ofLeutcnant-
General Grant that Alexander Il. Stephens,
r. N. T. Hunter and John \. Campbell were
applying for leave to pass through the lines
to Washington as Pc&cc Commissioners to
confer with the President. They were per-
mittcd by the Ljeutenant-GencraI to come to
his hcadQuarterS, to wait there the decision Of
the President Major Eck,rt was sent down
to meet the party from Richmond at General
Grants headquarters. The m&ior was direct
cd to deliver to them copy Of the Presidents
letter to Mr. Blair. with note to be addressed
to them ard signed by the Najcr IN which
they y ere directly informed that if they
should be allowed 10 pass our lines they would
be understood as coming for an Informal con
ference upon the basis Of the afOrenamed letter
of the 18th of Jonuary to Mr.. Blair. If they
should express their assent to this condition
in writing, then Major EckcTt was directed to
give them safe conduct to Fortress Monroe,
when a person coming from the President
would meet them. 1t being thought proba-
ble, from a report of their conversation with
Lieutenant General Grant, that the Richmond
party would in the manner prescribed accept
the condition mentioned, the Secretary Of
State was charged By the President with the
duty Of representing this Government at the
! expected informal conference.
! The Secretary arrived at Fortress Monroe
on the night Of the 1st day Of February.
! Major Eckert met him IN the morning Of the
I'd of February with the information that the
persons who had come from Richmond had
not accepted in writing the condition up
on which he was allowed to give them con,
duct to Fortress. Monroe. The Major had
given the same information by telegraph to
the President at Washington. On TeceiY-
ing this information, the President prepared a
telegram directing the Secretary to return TO
WaShiugton The Secretary was prcPaTloG'