The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-09

HON. JOH
BE makes a valuable eontributi
Davis, on the other. There has long been
considerable misrepresentation IN the pup
tic mind as to the oris1n: objects ana o re
Der of the Confederate Congress at ina.
time, and had to some extent an lnsloe
view OF the situation 5opoSe eq to-
In the beginning of the year loo9, tile
prospects of the Southern ConfederacS
were gloomy indeed. Grant with ms ho os.S
had swung around upon new base. ana
was at City Point on the James rlve rive
threatening Petersburg and Ricnmond,
then defended by. the Army OF Norther err
Virginia under the Incompatible Lee;
That army during the preceding year mac
covered itself with inperlsnlanls eio[S ,,r4 II.
the WilderneSs a SpoSs o,!
less than sixty thousand men. 1t had IN,
7icted a loss OF moro IMAM fifty Thousand
upon the enemy in the campaign, result
ing II. Grants change OF base. Eut Win
inadequate supplies of food and clothing,
it was then suffering ali the G1scomlofts
and hardships OF winter IN the tfeI1cuSs
dan in the valley of Virginia with a pow
erful and well-equipped army. had driven
back Early with his little band OF Con,
federates and had completely deyastateo
that beautiful and fertile region sherman
after destroying Atlanta and laying waste
the surrounding country was at Say; IMAM
prepared to march through the Carollnas
and form Il junction with Grant IN VIZ
GINA Such was the military situation
when IN the IS eafE },, PaEs 81 gentIeman Of
great ability and Acknowledged influence
with the Administration at Washington,
brought with him no credentials. but eX-
hibited to Mr. Davis the following card:
"oeccn1ber 2S 1864.
ALLOW the bearer, F. 2. Blair. Sr., to
(Signedl =. LlNCoLS.
MIR. BLAIR'S RETURN.
After a, private interview with Mr.. Davis,
Mr. Blair returned to Washington and, in
q few days came again TO Richmond. an
other consultation was held III the course nE,
Davis that a suspension OF hostliities
might be brought about by, a secret mill
tary convention between the belligerents
for the purpose Of maintaining the Monroe
Doctrine on this continent and thereby
preventing the threatened cStabilshmGqt
of an Empire by France IN MeNlco. ne
frankly declared that IN his opinion the
final result OF the proposed Mliltafy con-
veution and the suspension OF hostllues
would be the restoration OF the Dnlon.
On January 18th Mr.. Davis handed TO MI
Blair the following letter:
Richmond, Va, Jan. II, 1865
IF: P. Blair, ESQ: :. . AVA
'tSir,--I have deemed it proper ana
this form the substance of the remarks
made by me to be repeated by you 70
President Lincoln etc. nave no ulspo-
s;ion 70 ind obstacles IN 1orfhs, ana am
willing now as heretofore, to enter INTO
negotiations for the restoration OF peace
I am ready to send commissioner WheIl-
ever have reason TO suppose II VII ps
received or to receive a commission II
the United States goVef7In emf shall choose
10 send one. Notwithstanding the LeJec-
ton of our former offers, / Wouto, II you
could promise that commission, MINIS
ter or other agent would be received, E'E'
point one Immediately and renew the Ell
fort to enter into conference Win We"
20 secure peace 70 the Swo countries,
JEFFERSON DAVIS"
On January 18TH, MI; Lincoln delivered
TO Mr.. Blair the following communication
with the understanding 'aat II should De
shown to Mr.. Davis:
washington, Jan. IS, 1865.
..Sir,-You having shown me Mr.. Davis
letter to you OF the l2tfl instant, you may
say to him that 1 have constantly been
am now and shall continue ready 10
receive any agent whom lie or any otner
influential, person now reslst i1l me na-
with a view of securing peace 10 the
people of our common country
Yours, etc,
After having seen the foregoing letter
Mr. Davis on the Sth or January, aD-
pointed Alexander Fl. stephens, Robert
NJ r. Hunter and Jonn Is. Campbell as
and hold an informal conference with
Mr. Lincoln upon the subject referred to
in his letter of the 18th OF January, ad,
dressed to Mr.. Blair. It was intended
that the affair should be conducted with
the utmost secrecy, but the absence Of
such prominent officials necessarily at
certained that an Important .novemen
was on foot Mr.. Stepacns at that time
was vice-President; Mr.: Hunter was
Prssident Pro Ien1pore OF me 5esa.e anu
of War. On January. 18th, the commits
soners went from Richmond to Peters,
burg and on the following DAY addressed
Grant:
Petersburg, Va. Jan. 80. 1866.
.Lieutenant-Geaeral =. S: Grant. Com
handing Armies OF the United States:
der safe conduct and 70 proceed to Wash.
ington to hold a conference with President
Lincoln upon the subject Of the eo existing st
upon what terms it may be terminated In
pur suance of the course Indicated by MIN
in his letter to Mr.. Blair. CT January Is,
1865. OF which we presume you nave copy
and if not. we wish to see you in person.
if convenient and to confer with you on
the subject.
Very respectfully. yours.
ALEXANDER Fl. STEPHENS.
~ A CAMPBELL.
'.R. NJ. T. HUNTER"
In reply the following was received by
the commissioners at Petersburg dated at
Headquarters Army of the United States.
January 81 1866. and signed by y. S.
Grant Acknowledgement:
Centlemen,-Your communication Of
Yesterday requesting an interview with
myself and safe conduct to Washing
ton and return. is received. I will in
sfr,,ct the commanding officers of the
forces near Petersburs. Notifying you at
what part Of the lines and the time, when
and. txfere conYeyanCeS will be ready for