The Portland daily press., 1900-02-16

place Ia their hands paper on which
his own letter was written and on the
reverse side Of which was the Presidents
letter tn Mr.. Blair. Immediately after
the departure Gen. Eokers, ths Secretary
of state. was despatched to Fortress Mon
roe to meet the commissioners and ia
formally confer with them ON the basis of
the letter 60 Blair.
He was instructed to make known to
them the following propositions as ba-
sis Oh which terms OF peace could be dis
oussed. First. desperation OF National
authority In all the states. Second, NO
reoeding of the executive OF the United
States from thu position taken on the
slavery question in his last annual mes
sage, nor In previous documents. Third.
no sessation OF hostflitles until the forces
hostile to the United States are dlsband-
d.. lie was directed 10 no event to def
nitely eopsummats anything. After an
interview between the three commission
era and Gen. Eckert, wihoh was not tat-
isfactory otthe latter, Gen. Eckert told
the commissioners that he could proceed
no further and notified the President Of
his action and his purpose TO return to
Washington the next day. At this point
Gen. Grant interviewed In bshalf Of the
commits toner's with the result that the
President concluded to meet the commits
sion at Fortress Monroe as soon as he
could get there.
What took place after the arrival OF the
President ID al. 1hsxtsr narrates as fol-
lows:
| February 3rd In the saloon Of the steam
er "River q leen," anchored In Hamp-
ton Roads, there gathered the most not
able company of men that this continent
has ever sen. All, except the President,
we're equipped ny long training In the
highest Offices Of state to deal with the
great questions of government and state
craft Ia their political, legal and s)c'sl
aspects. The President, the unique fig
| ure In the group, towering above the
others In intellectual and moral power,
as well as In stature. with clear, keen
vision Of the results which would In the
future unfold themselves from the prinoi-
| pies and policy which he had followed
through four years OF war and intense
political strife with unwavering faith
and fortitude, lacked the diplomatic
skill, the philosophical cast Of mind. the
| refined subtlety which were characterize
| tic OF the others. especially OF Mir. Sew
| ard and Stephens; but he had an hon.
/ eety Oh puTpUS8, u ulTBCNntsS OF thought
and sDeeob apd Irresistible logic that In
terposed an inpassshls barrier to the
| specious attempts that we're made to en-
| tanpls him. he cana pcsEelssd OF lofty
ideg and prin cipls which be had wrought
out in the stress Of battle, which he
would not allow to be transgressed; but
| still be hoped that they would accept
these principles as the preliminary condi-
tions of a firm peace. The rebel commits
| sionsrs came deter mined to avoid and
put aside discu ss,on of the underlying
principles that were involved In the long
struggls; they offered a miserable make
| shift which they hoped fhat MIR. Lincoln
In his ardent desire for psace would 60.
| cept. These men wero bold and immod-
| Gratis In their proposals. They knew
| tsas the Confederacy was already totter-
ing to Its fall; they already heard tbs
| tramp OF Sherman's lsgions marching
| northward through the Carolinss; Sher-
idan with his powerful cavalry was just
| then crassing to the south side of the
James to gain the left of Grants army,
| insent to fasten upon the only remaining
line Of supply for the rebel arny and cap.
ital, and Grant Was only waiting the
coming OF Sherman and hard roads to
move agsin upon the weakened line OF
Lea. None other than these five were In
the cabin Of the steamer. After an ex-
change of the ordinary oourtssies, both
| parties agreed tnas the discussion should
4
sndum of the CON sersation should be
made. Some years after. Mr. Stephens
wrote out fl iii his recollection she main
points OF the discussion. The report
| which the rebel com missioners made to
| their goyei nnent and that Mr. Lincoln
offered In response to resolution of Con-
gress calling for Information were brief
| and dealt only with the results Of the
con fei ence. Mr.. Stephens, addressing
President Lineuln expressed the hope
| that way uiRht be found to restore
chs cts tea to their former happy relations
The President answered that the way
| was open and easy. All that was neues-
| safy was that resistance to the National
authority should oease. Mr. Stepher 5
then adroitiy inquired of the President
| IL thsre was not some OTTER proposition
| or plan that could be offered that would
turn the attention Of the two sections
from their present trouble until their
| blood euolsd and their animosities sub.
sided, when they could approach the
settlement OF their diifculties In more
smioable mood, and withtbetter prospect
| of success than now? HLRyiRg aside our
national questions for this present, IL
there rot q continental question that we
| can givs our attention tof'' MIR. Lin
coin at once saw that MIR. Elair's scheme
| was In their possession, and that
they would try aud bridge the chssm
with IL. He said frankly that hs
Blair's plan, brit that 1t origi-
mated with MIR. llsir and had no
authority from him; indeed. that Mr.
Blair broaohed the subject ID him and
that he told him PLAINLY that ho did not
want to hear nytainz in re lard 10 1t;
that the rest ration Of ths Union was the
k2alfY bssisd Rl9P hish hs WV III llRg 70
Mr.. Lineoln's disavo~al for any con-
ne ticn with MIR. Blair's scheme, MIR.
stephens persisted In the bilief that the
| President Was committed to it, and only
required d pledge that the Union should
be ultimately restored. so, after "a brief
silence, / e proceeds to develop the Msxi-
can plan TO support the MonIoe doctrine.
| He called the Presidents attention 10 the
sentiment at the North in favor OF oppos.
| Ing the establishment of an empire in
Mexico, as evidenosd by the spseohss of
| prominent men, and the tone of the news
| papers, and that his administration was
on record as opposed to It,. "Can VS. not
| then agree to a suspension of hostilities
-unite In sustaining the Monroe doctrine
with reference to Mexico? Would not
| tV.f svar INV