The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-20


mond, during which he suggested a
military convention between Gems. Lee
and Grant, to which Mr. Davis replied:
II would willingly intrust to Gen. Lee
such negotiations as are indicated" Mr..
Blair subsequently informed him that
THE idea of military convention was
rot fayorably received at Washingto on"
and Mr.. Davis then determined to send
Vice President Alex. II. Stephens, Sena-
tor r. M. T. Hunter and Judge John A.
Campbell, as commissioners for a con-
ference with the Federal authorities.
THE CONFERENCE.
clearly set forth by Mr.. Davis that
quote it in full, as follows, only omit
ting single paragraph referring to Mr..
Blair's second visit to Richmond and
the effects of his conference with certain
of his old friends y
This draft of a commission was.
| upon perusal modified by me so as to
read as follows:
" Richmond Va, January %, 1865.
In conformity with the letter of Mr..
Lincoln, of which the foregoing is a
copy, you are requested to proceed to
Washington City for an informal con-
ference with him upon the issues in
volved in the existing war, and for the
purpose of securing peace to the two
countries
Some objections were made to this
commission by the United States off
Gals, because it authorized the COM
missioners to confer for the purpose
Of securing peace to the two countries:
whereas. the letter of Mr.. Lincoln,
which was their passport, spoke of Sc
curing peace to the people of our one
common country But these objections
were fenally waived.
"The letter of Mr.. Lincoln expressing
a willingness to receive any agent
might send to Washington, a commits
sion was appointed to go there; but it
was not allowed to proceed farther
than Hampton Roads, where Mr.. Lin
coin, accompanied by Mr.. Seward, met
| the commissioners. Seward craftily
proposed that the conference should be
confidential, and the commissioners re-
gardeo this so binding on them as to
prevent them from including in their
report the discussion which occurred.
This enabled Mr.. Seward to give his
I own version of it in dispatch to the
United States minister to the French
government, which was calculated to
create distrust of, if not hostility to,
| the Confederacy on the part of the
power in Europe most effectively favor
| ing our recognition.
why Mr.. Lincoln changed his pur-
pose, and instead Of receiving the COM
| missioners at Washington, met them
at Hampton Roads, l cannot, of course,
explain. Several causes may be con-
iecturally assigned. The commission
ers were we'll known in Washington;
had there held high positions, and, so
far as there was any peace party there,
might have been expected to have in
fluence with it's members; but more i'm
portant inquiry is If Mr.. Lincoln per-
viously had determined to hear no prop
osition for negotiation, and to accept
nothing less than an unconditional sur
render, why did he propose to receive
informally our agent? If there was moth
ing to discuss, the agent would have
been without functions.
"The report of the commissioners,
dated February 5, 1865, was as follows
Ito the President of the Confederate
States;
"'Sir-Under your letter of appoint
ment of the 2Sth ultimo. we proceeded
to seek an informal conference with
Abraham Lincoln president of the United
States, upon the subject mentioned in
the letter. The conference was granted
and took place on the Both ultmo, on
board Of a steamer anchored in Hamp-
ton Roads, where we met President Lin
coin and the Hon. Mr.. Seward, Secre-
tary of State of theS United States. 1t
continued for several hours, and was
both full and explicit. We learned from
them that the message of President Lin
coin to the Congress of the United States,
in December last, explains clearly and
distinctly his sentiments as to the terms,
conditions and method Of proceeding by
which peace can be secured to the peo-
pie and we modified or altered to obtain
that end. We understood from him that
no terms or proposals of any treaty or
agreement looking to an ultimate settle
ment, would be entertained or made by
him with the authorities of the Confed-
| crate States, because that would be
recognition of their existence as sep
arate power, which, under no circum-
stances, would be done; and, for like
reason, that no such terms would be en-
| tertained by him for the States separate
ly; that no extended truce or armistice
| Gas at present advised) would be
granted or allowed without a satsfac-
| tory assurance in advance of the COM
plete restoration of the authority of the
Constitution and laws of the United
States over all places within the States
of the Confederacy; that whatever conse-
quences may follow from the re-estab-
ishment of that authority must be ac-
cepted; but that individuals subject to
pains and penalties under the laws of
| the United States might rely upon
very liberal use of the power confided
| to him to remit those pains and penal
| ties if peace be restored.
"'During the conference, the proposed
amendment 10 the Constitution of the
United States adopted by congress on
the 31st ultimo, was brought to our
notice.
"'This amendment provides that Meth
or slavery nor involuntary servitude, ex-
cept for crime, should exist within the
United States, or any place within their
Jurisdiction and that Congress should
have power to enforce this amendment
by appropriate legislation.
Uory racptfullv etc