Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-06
War News Fifty Years Ago
From the Richmond Dispatch Feb. C, 1861

The great news OF the day yesterday was the
return to the city of Messrs. Stephens Hunter
and Campbell. the peace comrni ssioners and the
rumors about and discussion their mission.
They returned as they had gone via Petersburg
and reached Richmond late night before last
The result OF their mission was Immediately
made known: that there is no prospcct of nracc
ME- lAncoln's only terms were unconditional
submission to the laws and Constitution Of the
United States
on reaching Fortress Monroe. Mcssrs Stephens
Hunter and Campbell met by Mr.. Seward,
the United States Secretary OF State The COM
missioners expressed desire to Mr. LIN
coln who was sent for, and came Immediately
The commissioners had five hours interview
with him. Mr. Lincoln said he had PROPOSE
ton make the people of tho south cxcent
that they must lay down their arms and submit
unconditionally the laws and the Constitu-
ton of the United states: the terms unon ,vhirh
the North and the South would live together
hereafter must be settled afterwards. lie would
exert himself to make the conditions as favora-
hle as possible, but he could not interfere with
the laws or Constitution of the United States
The question OF slavery. he said had passed
beyond his control Its abolition had been de-
creed by the Congress. and would be ratified
by majority OF the loyal States That was
about all Lincoln had to say In the long inter
view, and that being his ultmatum the CON
fcdcrate commissioners had nothing else to do
but TO come back home
General Henry \. Wise. by request addressed
the Virginia Legislature ana AS many other
people as could get in the building In the hail
o, me iiouse OF Delegates last night. His policy,
as expressed by him. is to fight it out TO tho
bitter end. lie optimistic as to the final
result. " ''
Inc United states Congress has passed an
amendment to the Federal Constitutions abolish
ing slavery throughout the United States which
III thclr acccptation Of the term means a,.o
me confederate states. The twcnty-eirht Marin
crn states constitute two thirds of IN. ,rbclo
number, and tho Northern papers claim mar nj,
oil these VIII approve the amendment ana ,n,kn
1t effective 800 'f>'
Governor William Smith has called , ,,oo.
ing OF The citizens Of Virginia TO rcspond IN tbo
answer made by Mr.. Lincoln to the con fcdcr,tn
peace delegates sent TO confer with him in rcrarI
To terms OF peace. " " 'ce'in
Eighty Of the enemy n few DAYS .ro co.,
nfiscd our cavalry plckcts at Edinhuro L. 80
valley, and captured the lieutenant i'm ro,rn,',',
ana fourteen men. Later, Captain t;rands,.,ff
ana Lieutenant Mohlcr, with mon rrom, ~
iW"iith Virginia Cavalry, pursued tho I,cdcr,is
ana oV"rtakinG them attack ed "a nd routcd ,hn,
r"'a"urIhg the Confcdcratcs and tnkinr 81
'ce' prisoners and twenty horses
The waters Of the frcshct in Jamo. pi
10 WORK on the Dutch Gap Canal ana ,bnrr 10y
,IihS Oh our cannon upon the workmcn and 49,
troops in charge. anu the
mere was n novel scene in the Sunrcr,o f,.
vi 'nc uhitcd states few days ago < D.
negro lawyer OF Massachusctts va. IN,
ilo''"h oi 'harlcS Summer. admitted bcforn -.
.o", as Il practitioner Rock is tho mr., , va '''''
10 pe'ouc lawyer in IN. State of N,s.t ~
S't'S ana me hrst in the country OH, ''"-
nave gotten license in New YORK s,,'aa :, may
success iii the Bay state ''"'" ROCKS