The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-02-23


der safe conduct and proceed to WASH
ington to hold q conference With Pres.
ident Lincoln upon the subject OF the ex-
listing wer. and with view OF cscertAin-
mated. In pursuance to his letter to. Mr..
Blair Of January Is, 1866, of which We
presume you have q copy, and II not.
We wish to see you In person. II conve-
nient and to confer with you on the
Very respectfully yours.
Alexander II. Stephens.
81. A. Campbell.
"R. NJ. T. Hunter
In reply the following was received by
the commissioners at Petersburg dated 1T
headquarters Army of the United States.
January 81. 1855. and signed by u. q.
Grant. Northumberland:
"Gcntlemen-Your communication Of
yesterday requesting an interview with
myself and q safe conduct to Washington
and return. Is received. ] will instruct
the commanding officers of the forces
pat OF the lines and the time when and
where conveyances will be ready for you.
Your letter to me has been telegraphed
TO Washington for instructions. / have
no doubt that before you arrive at my
headquarters. an answer will be received
directing me to comply with your re-
quest. Should diffesent reply be re-
ceived. promise you a safe and imme-
Yours very respectfully"
Meeting of Commissioners
In the afternoon Of the same day the
commissioners were met at point IRE
viously designated on the Federal lines
b. Lieutenant-C Colonel Babcock, with an
headquarters, at City Point. They were
received by General Grant with marked
civility and courtesy. and remained with
him two days before they could arrive
q nd IA nd Inc xutf hn n nj
at Washington as to the conditions upon
which they would be allowed to proceed.
On February list. Major Thomas T. Eek
ert, who had been sent with instructions
from Mr.. Lincoln as to the request OF
the commissioners. addressed to them
letter in which he informed them that
II they passed through the United States
lines 1t would be understood that they
did so for the purpose OF an informal
conference on the basis Of a paper pre-
pared by Mr.. Lincoln, a copy of which
was placed in their hands. without go
Ing into all the details Of the correspond
Major Eckert. 1t is sufficient to state that
on February 1st he telegraphed to WASH
lngton that the reply of the commission
ers was not satisfactory and that he had
further unless they compiled with the
letter. On February End. the following
telegram was sent by General Grant to
ITO Hon. E. M. Stanton. Secretary Of
War:
Nov that the interview between Major
Eckert under his written instructions,
I will state confdentaily. but not off,
cially to become a matter of record, that
! am convinced upon conversation with
Messrs. Stephens and Hunter that their
Intentions are good and their desire sin
cere to restore peace and union I have
not felt myself at liberty to express even
views of my own or to account for my
reticence This has placed me in an awk-
ward position which could have avoid
ed by not seeing them in the first in
stance. fear now their going back
without any expression to any one in au-
thority will have bad influence. At the
same time I recognize the difficulties in
the way Of receiving these informal COM
missfoners at this time and l do not
know what to recommend. i am sorry,
howeyei. that Mr.. Lincoln cannot have
an interview with the two named in this
dispatch. II not all three now within our
lines. Their letter to me was all that
the Presidents instructions contemplated
to secure their safe conduct, IL they had
| ert. U, 8. Grant
Lieutenant General
As soon as the foregoing telegram was
| shown to Mr.. Lincoln, he telegraphed to
General Grant as follows:
To Northumberland Grant City Point,
Say to the gentlemen that will meet
them personally at Fortress Monroe as
soon as can get there:
At the same time he sent to Mr.. Sc
ward. who had already gone to Fortress
Monroe, the following telegram:
TO Hon. William II. Seward. Fortress
| Monroe. Va:
Induced. by a dispatch from General
Grant, I join you at Fortress Monroe as
soon as can come
"A. Lincoln"
49,. Stephens and Lincoln.
On the morning of February 80. the
| commissioners met President Lincoln and
Secretary Seward on board OF steamer
anchored In Hampton Roads, near Fort
| ress Monroe. Mr. Stephens and Mr.. Lin
| coin had been acquaintances and friends
House OF Representatives at the same
time. had belonged 10 the same political
party and as members of the Congress
sional TAYLOR Club" had co-operated in
the nomination and election OF Zachary
Taylor to the Presidency in 1913.
At the beginning of the interview, Mr.
| Stephens addressed himself to Mr.. Lin
| coin. made pleasant allusion to their for
mer ACQUAINTANCE and friendship. to which
the latter cordially responded After
mutual inquiries as to former Congress
sional associates. Mr.. Stephens intro
duced the business of the meeting by in
| curing of Mr.. Lincoln II there was no
way Of putting an end to the existing
troubles, and bringing about a restora-
ton OF good feeling and harmony between
the different sections OF the country. At
| this point Mr.. Seward interposed and
said 1t was understood that the confer
ence would be informal, that there would
he no clerk or secretary and no record
made Of anything that was said. The
understanding, Mr.. Stephens repeated
his inquiry and in reply Mr.. Lincoln
| said that there was but one way that
| he knew of and that was for those who
| were resisting the laws of the Union
| to cease their resistance. Mr.. Stephens
| replied In substance that they had been
| induced to believe that there might be
| some other question that might divert
the attention OF both parties for a time
| listing strife until the passions of both
| sides might cool, when they would be
| in better temper to come to an amicable
and proper adjustment. etc Mr.. Lincoln
| at once understood Mr.. Stephens as re-
| ferrinR to what Mr.. Blair had suggested
| in his interviews with Mr.. Davis He
| said 1t was proper to state at the begun
| was OF his own accord, and without the
| least authority from him: that when Mr.
| Blair applied for passport to go to
| Richmond and desired to present certain
views, he had declined to hear them;
that he had given the passport, but with
| out any authority whatever to speak for
| him: that when Mr.. Blair returned from
| Richmond bringing with him Mr.. Davis
| letter. he had given the one alluded to
| for permission to cross the lines; that
| he was always willing to hear PROPOSE
| lions for peace on the condition of that
letter, and on no other; that the restor-