gitit 'geratiL
CARLISLE, PA.
Friday, February 17, 1865.
K. PETTENCAILL & CO.,
V-0.37 Park Row, New York, and 6
state Bt. Boston, are our Agents for the Miriam
n chase autos, and aro authorised to take Advertite
o Singerlotions for neat our lowest rattle. -
A.MASs meeting was held on Monday
night at St. Lawrence Hall, Toronto, called
by the Mayor's proclamation, for the pur
pose of condemning the Government for pro
viding to refund the money taken by the St.
Albans raiders, and also for the passage of
the Alien bill. But resolutions unqualified
ly sustaining the Government were passed
by a large majority.
A COMPANY of forty-three women recent
ly- attempted to fie° from the bonds of Mor
monism in Utah, but they were overtaken
and carried back to their masters. It is said
that the females in Utah are becoming so
determined to escape from their degrading
bondage that a crisis in Mormon affairs will
necessarily come soon.
ON'lt of the bells which merrily rang in
honor of the passage of the anti-slavery a
mendment, in Fitchburg, Mass., formerly
occupied a place in the tower of an Episco
pal church in Louisiana, where it ding-dung
ed for the slayeholders.
THE TIIIpA.T.—Fau flies would do well to
keep always at home a box of Brown's Bron
chial Troches, a simple but most marvellous
ly efficacious specific fur affections of the
throat, affording prompt relief in cases of
coughs, colds, bronchial troubles, eto. Sinn
ers, and public speakers will find them also
excellent to clear tha voice and render ar
ticulation wonderfully easy.—Monthly Mug-
MED
Grant's Forward Movement
There seems to lie unnecessary feeling
about the assumed tiailure of GeANT's for
ward movement. There is no evidence that,
lie contemplated tiny gviieral inovemont at
this tints. The hole object seems to have
been to cut oil one source of supplies to
Richmond and gain en advanced line for his
army, and in this he has been successful.—
True, he suffered some loss, and there seems
to have been some blundering in carrying
out the plan ; but there is no reasin to doubt
that the main of ieet was ettained, and that
General GRA s:T is now in better condition
than his sca , for re , itinsing,iiiroli-iviiciperatiiiii , ,
Ns 11.!ritivi.ir he shall iloiint it to di)
11.ksTiNus Riwir g:ot her,
'With eVi•rytiliit4 Wiii.•ll has transpired offi
cially in the case of Major II since
the introduction of the suljeet in the House
of Representatives by Mr. DA Nc
On the 9th inst., the tsitentln.r limi t before
the Ifou,rt a ounununieati n fr.... 1 thet•••• • •
tar of War aecomi,:trued be tie eourt-mar
tial record in the t of Major lfa,tings •
called for by a resolutbm heretofore adopted
upon motion of Mr. Nvo!.. 01 . Massachu , ett-.
This latter gentleman said that tiajnr Ilas
tings stands on the record as guilty of
twenty-six according to the
commutation of his s , •llt , llCe, at Hi , , 11,1 01 .
Ell C 111011,101" !i1 ,, 1101 , 11 0 Will Ly , the
army stamped not only with these forgeries,
but guilty of the enilie:Aletionit ofl,ooo.
The reeord ini
1 ,, I , ~, .•11. 'l'ltt
man may have been
though lei Mr hotidi .; about
'hat Ile either 1:1i1f1, hot t.n't.. It'
not guilty, it seemed to him the War Det.art
;tient should si t mide It/0 - 11111'0
him tried again. rather than from
the sentimee —urt. till
F.,t,tetitt, to tit, pnt:t!ty of obly
suspension from ',ay and rank for calen
dar months. The record shows that Major
Hastings was not only con% feted of forgery
end einbe;.zlement, but that lei bribed \VP,-
111. 1 51'5 Et/0 , 50111 01 0 111,1 VI'S front court. The
sentence of the court was that he be fined
lice visors,
until he -Mill pay the tHe, and al-n rettii r e
the :;t26tinu embezzled. While this man t%as
thus lightly dealt with, our private soldiers,
for comparatively small offeresis, were sent
to hard tabor It the Dry Tortugas or tlo' pen
itentiary. 110 wanted the papers printed,
with a view to further action on thest t hieet.
Mr. COX, of Ohio, remarked that he would
not object to the printing. The document
FllOl - 11(1 be published, in order that public
opinion may assist in correcting the outrages
of the War Department.
Mr. G ANSON, ,if New York. Why not
pass the bill which requires the herds it . f de-
partments, including the Secretary of War,
to come into thi:, /1.4,1t , e to answer such ques
tions as may bit proposed
Mr. COX. Nit e do not want their peculiar
justice brought here.
Mr. DAWES.. I desire to lay the docu
ments before the people, that they may pass
their judgment on thesubject. The endorse
ment of the document signed by Judge I lolt
is as follows: "It is recommended that the
finding and sentence be disapproved."
Mr. Dawes concluded by saying: 't The
only thing"set aside is the sentence. The ver
dict of guilty stands."
The docutnents were ordered to be printed.
Appropos of the above, we clip the follow
ing severe strictures on the action of .Judge
Bolt and the War Department upon this case,
from the Washington correspondence of the
Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch:
Speaking of the President's clemency, I
am reminded of the pardon of 31ajor Hast
ings, of the regular cavalry, whose arrest for
misconduct while an inspector of cavalry
horses is well known in Pennsylvania. It
was proved—so a court martial decided—
that he had committed twenty-six forgeries
and had thereby embezzled $26,000. It was
also proved at the trial that he had hired
witnesses to absent themselves, those wit
nesses testifying - that he had given them
three, and five thousand dollars, and other
sums, to go to Canada, where they could not
be summoned. The court believed that he
was guilty of a great crime, and they sen
tenced him to pay a fine of SHOO; to be
confined two years in prison; to restore the
$26,000 that he embezzled; and to remain
in confinement until lie had paid the fine and
restored the $26,000, if the confinement did
not exceed five years.
So far so good. But when the proceed
ings reached the War Department, what an
outcry there was among the "regulars" there
ensconced I Why, he was a Sergeant of Sap
pers and shiners in '46, mi-boy, and entered
the First-Dragoons in 2-48- -Surely-old-Dave
Hastings mustn't be fined or imprisoned ; oh
no I And he wasn't. The War Department,
without setting aside the verdict of guilty,
set aside-the sentence attached to that ver-
diet,and substituted the paltry West Point
sentence of '!suspension of pay and reduction
of rank fOr six ealender months." 'Branded
as . a:forger and As an embezzler, ho has only
to remain quiet for six, months, and then re-.
turn into the army. Heiir what Mr. Dawes,
a Massachusetts - Representative, said about
this. cak in sle We: ;
The proeeed,ings of the court-mlutial of
Maier Histings, presented to me, was ad..'
companied by the. proceedings of • a court
martial upen a poor soldier who, being drunk,
happened to'insult an ()Meer, and he was sent
for'flve yedrs to the-Dry Tortugas;. and yet
nobody in.tlie War Department ever thought
that:too heavy a penalty upon the poor - sol
dier,' But *hen Iforso rinspectOr
thing of, thatkind, plunders. tho s jU j nited
States by vonchersforeff by Arim,. hY'
otliers'usedliY-hini; -knowing -Wein 'to
be forged, ho-ts onky'worthip,the opinion
of the War Department,' of six months' sus
pkiion of pay rank, at the -expiration
of which ipi3ripd he goes brtek_.whitowasbhd.
into Old • . '
•
Ruitg.4-The. largest assortment
nt.C6nriea C*forsl 44oTISontinoptAl .140
tel,
-; The - entireWlietibility tiq pertinency to
subject matter discussed, is ouo , exclise for
copying it entire. •
There, is some prospect, it seems, of a Coln-
Mission being sent to Europe, to inquire into
the various modes and principles upon which
national taxation is levied there. Ifcapable
persons are thus sent—men with no foregone
conclusions and un wedded to any pre-conceiv
ed ideas here—much good may be the result.
The misfortune Is that.this,..if it comesot all,
will come very late. The inquiry ought prop
erly have been made before we commenced
the impOsition of internal taxation. And it
is a matter of equal congratulation and sur
prise that the precipitate and frequently ab
surd system which went into operation when
the expenses of the war had to be provided
for has not boon oven more annoying and
burthensome than It is. A fact it is, which
lawmakers seem to have overlooked,'that it
requires great financial ingenuity to distrib
ute taxation so as to make its burthen
toler
able.
Until the war began, in I MI, the United
States scarcely knew anything of direct tax
ation. Sufficient money fur liberal national
expenditure was raised by the customs duties,
by occasional revenue from excise, and by
the sale of public lands. The war rendered
it indispensable that a large revenue should
be raised, to pay the interest on the Debt and
to meet expenses—the amount end increase
of which no human sagacity could even ap-
That revenue is paid, but a still
.1.. - ; . er amount might have been raised, in a
roximate
winner h , ss burthensomo to the tax-payers,
had thefrarners of the Internal Revenue Law
tnown how to do it. In Europe each tax
till is framed by or under the suporvision of
the Finance Minister, whose duty it is to
place it beforo the le‘ , islature, explaining its
details ,Lnd stating the principle upon which
is based. A moderate time is allowed to
intervene between its introduction and its
second reading. In this interval the individ
uals or the cla.9ses who niny think their in
terests likely to be affected by the new im
psto have the opportunity of submitting
linir view, to the Finaneo
times this is done , in person,—and modifica
tiims are frequently the result. Finally, the
measure it discussed, clause he clause, in the
legislature, before the pripo,ition p as .i ci . i n to
the statute-book. Ile re, our Finance M iriis-
ter 11fb ll',tiling du \Vitt' the system lAf tax
ation or its dctaiik. 1 Congre,sional Corn
t tee of Ways and MUIIIIS frames each tax
hill. :oat n which would receit ii a
inonth's lir, msinn in nil out of the lettkla
itire, in iiintislanil n r Franee, irenerally
In.n% in a lump, alioost ag n intator
All , / 110 ollt2 n•aiuu,ilde
41.1,wkr t,, takon n,.\v
taxatittn. N,t." 3trt , t part 3
awl partitntlarly
33.1ti011. after I.pritz, Ih•iti , lllt.gidatit.n 11134
finally abandoned. Fttr exanyle, Ettgland
vlung, fiat n ct•ntury . and a hall', In the tax ...t3
tipt.n the intptt,ts Minn pa-
rot . , advortkpmonts, pitinrlll4,
•
1111(1 Sla11111111”,11 ( )Itr
Ilovonuo • . \ -, 0 , 111 kvio; tho \ upon pa-
p•r. print, tind advprti ,, ntent,. and virtually
Will Ha 1.. ., all 111.'l1,papel"
stmp. it: tht• that
prv-pa, their ne\rspau:rs sent thrmigh po,t
11n. law. Again, whnii sir 7;n:4cicr
PEN!. hi, In iur 'fax, in 1842, tho
hitt , rly that
p-11)1:1Tit II :i1111111.k11,,r
thin r..vo - mue, w:l4 unfair 2t1, , 1 idt ,, ,wLl. 110
pl-Nov,•rocl, rthrt tlu;tick V:7l , i 711 r), , Pri tvz 11-0
anti a gr,at Nvrohlf,
( - 7,1.A - DsruN s mural (• , .urkgo 11,t • 11(q. dat,•,l
foroniody, wa, I :cd, ;t1,41
r: evened I Tax wa.i
did nur Ndics they
studied the details oI the English statute,
take notice or its unjust and unequal opera
tion? TII ,y did not. With their eves open,
our .4 \Vays and )mans
plan, anti inado nu di,tinction between cer
tain and uncertain The lawyer, the
in dig nein. the wan, the Or
--!tIT, in Gut, NVII., live Inv labor of
MGM
the r brain. 111.1.'111,1,
1 , 11 their oN rl exertion 4, whose sole means of
,übi•isteneci may be suddenly S \Vt'l.l. nwnv I.y
a tit of sieline , s, or by all accident which
would prevent them following their tuuul
avocation; --(11,1, , , who literally live from
hand to month, are squeezed under our in
come tax as Inueli, and no less, as the million
aire p4,irson a l reN Niue is derived front
the in tore,t. un in , .rtv;:tgos or other investirients
ehich preservehiviniplo capital in full, what
ever may happen to himself. The man whose
income is actually an accident, for it may be
dc,troyed in an hour, is taxed here equally
with his rich neighbor whose eternal income
cannot WI, for it is the permanent interest
or profit out of permanent capital. We grant
that this is also the evil of the English income
tax; but one thing we have dune which the
British Parliament, had it been proposed,
never would t e l never could have sanction
ed—We enacted, contrary to every recogniz
ed principle of taxation, thaithe income tax
for 1863' which was duly paid once, should
be paid over again. Such an ex post facto
enactment cannot be found in any statute
book but ours.
The proper principle of taxation is to press
as lightly as possible upon the necessaries, and
to draw liberally upon the luxuries of a na
tion. When Sir Hoax:try PEEL undertook
to remodel the Ilri ti,di system of taxation he
found twelve hundred articles subjected to
various duties. He remitted nearly all of
those duties. The amount realized from them
was small (a trifle over $2,500,000 per an
num), but an immense number of vexatious
custom house restrictions were swept away,
and a little army of tax-collectors was dis
pensed with. At present, in round ntm bens,
$120,000,000 are annually raised by the cus
toms duties upon cocoa, coffee, corn, fruits,
hops, spices, spirits, sugar, tea, timber, to
bacco, and wine. From the excise, $lOO,OOO,
000 is the annual revenue—four-fifths arising
from the consumption of home-manufactured
liquors, hops, and the license-duties for selling
liquors. The remainder is made up of license
duties, payable by some professions and trades, •
tobacco-dealeas, 'sosp-tnalters, vendors of
quack-medicines, letters of horses and car
riages, game-killers, distillers, vinegar -mak
ers, legally-duties, &c. To subject Netter-,
matches, bill-heads, pins, wood-ser'bvd, and'
such small...Wares:AO ad valorem .tavition,'
would-be received in any lilt/wpm' legisla=
ture,as a sorry joke. Taxation ought to visit
our domestic productions very lightly, ,or, net
at all. Upon. luxuries—of food, dress, furn
iture, fashion, travelling—the taxation ought
I to be largo. HO:epic want superfluitieS, let
them pay for their whistle. The . amount of
taxation must be paid, and can be readily
raised ; the objection is to the mode, which
augments the price of the necessaries of life.
Taxation upon a, great variety of small
arti4isproiliwedthis country, at once die-,
„,
„ .
courages enterprise ' and mdostrild rtibor; itirid
crento a necessity for n largenumber of per
sons•to•assess - lindaiollect the Impost •
,There
are, in : iltiladelphia tilone,••as,nianY ea . four .
Oollectors of ;(14orn!tlllevenue---eachreceiv 7 ,
ing a large income, with a per ceotagel;in i the
Pale of stamps. When.enc gentleman
, .
. •
Pablo Of
1-orof-Customs-in-Ntrw-Y-orkit-Trray-bira
question whether four Collectors of Internal
RfryoUne are necessary in Philadelphia.--
ly'hOrieverioursSrstem of 'itatynial 'taxation
is '43141,0de)1ed,. no doubt . consiclerEiblo
made in ill% respect. Tpo!large
a' staff of tax collectors, too highly, pnid,lis
not to be cptntneiideff.,
If possiblo,,the money raised by,,,customs
and internal taxation should rather come
from a few
_great than from many insignifi
cant articles of consumption. Those who
can best atlbrd it should contribute most to
the public necessity. Taxation, which is for
the benefit of all, should reach the pockets
of all, but in a degree proportionate to their
means of payment. We' should like to see
our national taxation based upon the broad
est principles, and anxiously await the good
time coming," when our system will be ju
diciously revised and carefully adapted to the
means of every citizen.—Philadelphia Press.
HOW NEW YORK FILLS HER
QUOTA.
The developments in New York show
how that city and State have heretofore fill
ed their quotas. - What with bounty jump
ers reenlisting half a dozen times, credits for
naval enlistments that wore never made,
and forged certificates of enlistment got up
to order, she has managed to get credit for
an immense number of soldiers never fur
nished. Her quotas have been tilled; but
her regiments in the field remain the mere
skeletons they were a year ago.
That game being now exposed, it is not
likely an attempt to repent it will he made ;
but as the quota is to be filled in some more
easy way than by delivering the required
number of men, some new and easy method
must be found of dodging the draft. The
President ha, been importuned into holding
one fourth of the quota is abeyance ; and
now there is a vigorous amount of cypher
ing going on to bring the figures of the quota
down.
The city, fo r instance, was found to be
growing with immense rapidity, up to the
Ante of the last call; but since then it hes
been discovered that there are not near so
many nice there as had been supposed. A
great many ably-bodied 'fellows between 20
arid 13, who were out and able to vote two
or three times at the Presidential election,
cannot now be found, after the most careful
search ; and a thorough revision of the en
rollment is demonstrating that NOW York is
11 much smaller city than Philadelphia, and
that instead of growing and prospering, she
is on the high road to ruin. Mr. Super
isor lilt's r expect; to be able, by thinning
out the enrollment lists, to bring the quota
down to a mene nothing,• and earn :moth
•.r grant •,.:iin,ol).) from time impoverished
treasure of that deem inn cult'.
' l'lll. line NViltill the Anwrican people
thought it 1111 111.111/li (II Vilgagi in ttpholding
tho Tttionn! h n r, and ViCil With
in th,ir t till up the artily. Now
th, grand ctrort ~ f , • N (•ry SOl . lll- to be to
key p out of the army, nil lo(ltlities claim
ereciit for slotrpne , , ill proportion to the skill
,h own by them in cheatim: the Governntent
ii, ?Iwo. \ , ..nr is to be
Iwought to it ipcoly awl honorable coneht
ht . : t in all this. A
return 441 the patriotic 5-I.irit that prevailed
during the earl) part 4.1 the war tt ill fall all
Cad it in Fix but if du; New
York t" be per , i,ted in, thertt can
he no other r4 , 111t than all indefinite pro
longt:l,l,Jit of that cunt.eht— -New-York olainis.
to I the Empire State; let her show her
the till , by a patriotic effort to fill
up Ow tunny, and an titer ainititlonnient of
nil trick, 1..• at hcr fair share of rt,pon3i-
CUNV ENTIoN OF PUBLISFIERS
of [ht. publishers of newspaper, in this State
Was held at t h e Buehler ]luuso on the 9th
inst. Col. W. \V. 11. Davis, or tho Doyles
town I)emm-0,1, wits c:til,l to th , chnir, mid
It. T . ll,su, 11 eu, or the Chantlwrshum VaC
NV:I, 11111milILC,1 'fliere
Nvai u gt , ,l 1 ,1•, ; (,t.
A Its a call the rcprc-cntazivc,
Oil 1W 4ioll, n rnuunitfer of seven e,re ap
pointed to draft, a Sorios of resolution ex
pressive of the souse of the convention upon
the repeal of the duty upon printing paper.
The committee submitted the following
which were unanimously adopted:
W ER EAS, Rt, the eonimencement of the
Wur, the price of printingpaper was from
7,1 to 9 cents per pound: Am/ iehereas, the
same quality of paper cannot now be pur
chased for less than 27 cents per pound, be
ing an increase of 30D per vent, notwith
standing the price of the raw material used
in the inetnufaeture of paper has not increas
ed more titan 50 per cent: And whereas, the
high price of printing paper, and the en
chanced value of everything consumed by
printers, have operated to rail , ' the price of
books and newspapers in such a degree that
a large portion of the reading community
can no longer afford to buy the former or
subscribe for the latter, and have in many
eases caused the suspension ,if the publication
of newspapers, this placing a serious obsta
cle in the way of the dissemination of whole
-81,1/10 reading and striking it the very foun
dation of our republican system, the intelli
gence of the masses ; therefore,
Re-laved, 'Phut we earnestly recommend to
our Senators and li.epreselltatives in Congress
the repeal of the duty on printing paper.
Resolved, That we condemn the conduct of
such book and newspaper publishers, as are
engaged in the manufacture of paper and
are now endeavoring to prevent the repeal of
the duty on paper, in order to hinder compe
tition with their own circulation.
Resolved, That wo hereby pledge ourselves
to oppose the re-election of every Senator and
Representative in Congress, who unites with
the monopoly of the paper manufacturers, in
preventing the passage of the bill for the re
peal of the duty on printing paper.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions
he forwarded to the Senators and Represen
tatives in Congress from this State.
On motion, the convention then adjourned
to meet at the call of the Pre6ident.
After the adjournment of the convention,
Mr. Bolton, proprietor of the llouse—who
knows how to do-the right thing at the right
time, au d always does it—invited the mem
bers to a splendid collation, 'consisting of a
variety of substantials and delicacies, which
he had caused to be prepared - for their re
freshment.. We need not add that they ac
cepted the invitation, and drank the health
of their liberal host with enthusiasm.
Tax on Sales.
Morrill's proposition ; for a tax on
sales provi'des that after next April there
slinit be le'vied on all 'sales or produce and
merchandise and other articles, including ail
personal property (but not including bullion
or coins nor securities, evidences of debt,
nor sales at auction,) one-half of one' per
centum, whore the amount of sales exceeds
fifty dollars in any one month ; the amount
of sales to bbreturised_hy_tho vondOr month
ly,' in , the manner and at the eine provided
by lavr for , the returns of Manufacturers ;
and all the provisions of tho existing inter
nal revenuy ,apt relating to the assessment
and collection and enforcement of "the lasi
pertaining' to manufacturers shall be applied"
to, sales of produce and merchandise;. this
ainended section to, remain in force for' .ono
year, during-which no.persois who shall •be
required to pay the . tax enforced by this see
tien'shrill bo required to pay an addition's'
license; tax or d.uty where theTatetii grads
Hated under 9.4.9tips*v tialiyalennt .et
ulna rlaccipts. . ,
1 g GOTIF2VIE
MESSAGE OP THE PRESIDENT
.
}Es Account of the Events that Led
to the Nfeeting.: •
Letters of the ftebekl Commission
ers and Jell. Davis.
Grant Initructed that the Conference mug
The Commissioners about to be Sent iftadk.
—Grant Telegraphs that he Believes
they Desire to Restore Pease
• , with the 'Union.
THE PRESIDENT THEN CONSENTS TO
THE CONFERENCE.
THE INEETrNG AND ITN RZAIITILTX
SEAWRD'S REPORT OP THE INTERVIEW
The Rebels Suggest a Combined
Action of both Armies to
Enforce the Monroe
Doctrine
To the Hon. the House of Representative.,
In response to your resolution of the Bth
instant, requesting information in relation
to a conference recently held in Hampton
Roads; I have the honor to state that on the
day of the datk I gave Francis P. Blair, Sr.,
a card, written on as follows "Allow the
bearer, F. Blair, Sr„ to pass our lines, go
south, and return.
"December 28, 1864."
Correspondence between the Government and
Jeff. Davis.
At the time I was informed that Mr. Blair
sought the card as a means of getting to
Richmond, Va., but he was given no author
ity to speak or act for the Government, nor
was I informed of anything ho would soy or
do on his own account or otherwise. Af
terwards Mr. Blair told me that he had been
to Richmond, arid had seen Mr. Jefferson
and he (Mr. Blair) at the seine time
left with me a manuscript letter as follows—
o wit ;
F. P. Mair, :
SIR: I have deemed it proper, and proba
bly desirable to yon, to give you in this form
the substance of the remarks made by me
to be repeated by you to President Lincoln,
d.c
I Intro no disposition to find obstacles in
forms, and now, as heretofore, to enter into
negotiations for the restoration of pence. I
am ready to send a commission whenever I
have reason to suppose it will be received;
or to receive a commissioner if the United
States Government sh all choose to send one,
that, notwithstanding the rejection of our
former offers, I would, if you could promise
that a commissioner, minister, or other agent
would be received, appoint one immediately
and renew the effort to enter into a confer-
ence, with a view to secure peace to ti e two
mmorrn
Yours, &c., 4EFFEItSuN DAVIS.
Afterwards, nod with the view that it
should be shown ttlr. Maria, I wrote awl
M
delivered to r. a letter as follows to
WASIIINOTON, January 18, 18135
F. P. BLAIR, : Your having
shown m© Mr. Davis' letter to you of the
12th ins..., you neap say to him that I have
constantly been, am now, and rinlll contin
ue ready to receive any agent whom he or
any other influential per Son now resisting
the national authority may informally send
nie With' the vie* of securing peace to the
people of our common country.
Yours,
Afterwards Mr. Blair dictated for and au
thorized mo to make an entry on my retained
copy of the letter last above recited, which
entry is as follows :
\ Inc cling
"To-day Mr. 111 air tell, me that on the
21st instant he delivered to Mr. D.Lvis the
original of which the within is a copy, and
left it with him ; that at the time or deliver
ing it Mr. Davis rend it over twice in Mr.
Blair's presence, at the close of which he
(Mr. Blair) remarked that the part about our
one common country related to the part of
Mr. Dqvis' letter about the two countries.
to which Mr. Davis replied that he so un
derstood it.
Afterwards the Secretary 'of War placed
in my hande the following tidegians, en
dorsed by hiin, as it appears:
Office United States Military To logra
ph
War Department.
[Cipher.]
The following telegram was received at
Washington Jan. 29, 1865 :
headquarters Army of the James,
6,20 P. M., Jan. 29, 1865.
lion. Edwin M. Siouton, Secrrtar; of War:
Tho following dispnteh just received from
Major General Parke, who refers it to me
for my action, I refer to you, in Lieut. Gen.
Grant's absence. •
Major General commanding.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
4 P. M., Jan. 29, 18135.
Major General E. 0 O. Ord, Major Gellert
A rmy the James:
Tho following dispatch is forwarded to
you foryour action. Since I have no knowl
edge of Gen. Grant's having had any un
derstanding of this kind, I refer the matter
to you, as the ranking officer present in the
two armies.
JOAN G. PARKE,
Major Gnneral Commanding.
From Headquarters 9th Army Corp, Jan
29—Maj.-Gen. G. Parke.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac.
Alexander 11. Stevens, R. M. T. llunter,
and W. J. A. Campbell desire to cross my
lines, in accordance with an understanding
claimed to exist with Lieutenant General
Grant, on their way to Washingten, as
peace commissioners. Shall they be admit
ted ? They desire an early answer to come
through immediately, and would like to
reach City Point to-night, if they can. If
they cannot do this, they would like to tom e
through nt 10 A. M. to-morrow morning. •
0. B. Nilsen;
Maj.-Gen. Commanding 9th Corps.
Respectfully referred to the President for
such instructions as he pleased to give.
BDWN M. STANTON,
Seeretary of
MEM
8,30 P. 29, 1865.—1 t appears tha
about the time of placing the foregoing tel
egram. in
_lands the Secrotary of Wet do-
spatched Gonoral Ord as follows, to wit
War Department,
Washington City, Jan. 29, 1865-19 P, It
Major General Ord:
This department has no knowledge of,any,
understanding by-Gan. Grant to allOwariy
person to come within his lines as months.'
sioner of any sort. You will, therefcire,•al
low, no one to come into your lines hinder
such character or profession until yea re
cslye the Presidorit's instructions, to
your Aelegram will be sent - forlas direr=
tions:
M. STANTON,r
' ' • 'Secretary of War.
[Sent,in',c_ipher at 24,..16. 399.14],
Afteirrerda by ttle. directions the Siere-
not delay the War
A. LINCOLN
Itzenmomn, Jan 12, 1865
A. LINCOL'i
JANUARY 28, 1855
" A LINCOLN."
E. 0. C. ORD,
tary of War telegraphed General
lows, to wit
War Department, Washington, D. Q.
10 A. a., Jan. 30, 1.865.
Major General . E.;, O. C. 6 . d,. - .Headguarter*
Army of the James
By direction of tho President you are in
structed 'to infollit the three gentlemen,
Weep.. Stephens, ,Bunter, and Campbell,
that a messenger will be dispatched to them
nt or near where they now are, without nec
essary delay.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War
Afterwards I prepared and put into the
bands of' Major Thomas T. Eckert the fol
lowing instructions and message :
Executive Mansion, Washington, Jan, 30
1865:
MAJOR T. Eilimmr--Sir:—You will pro
ceed with the documents placed in your
bands, and on reaching General Ord will
deliver him the letter addressed to him by
the Secretary of War. Then, by General
Ord's assistance, procure an interview with
Messrs Stevens, Hunter, and Campbell, or
any of them, deliver to him or them the pa
per on which your own letter is written
Note on the copy which you retain the time
of delivery and to whom delivered. Receive
their answer in writing, wait a reasonable
time for it, and which, if it contains their
decision to come through without further
condition, will be your warrant to ask Gen.
Ord to puss them through, as directed in the
letter of the Secretary of war to him. If by
their answer they desire to come; or pro
pose other terms, do not have them passed
through. And this being your whole duty,
return and report td' me.
Yours truly, A. LINCOLN.
A. Campbell, and
31,....tr5. Ater. Sh.t.rn.v../
R. M. 7'. Iltinler :
GSSTI,RMEN : I am instructed by the Pre
sident of the gaited States to place this flit
per in your hands, with the information that
if you pass through the United States mili
tary lines it trill be understood that you do
so for the purpose of an informal conference
on the basis of that letter, a copy of which
is on the reverse side of this sheet and that
if you choose to prism on such understand
ing, and so"notify the in writing, I will pro
cure the commanding general to.pass you
through the lines and to Fortress Monroe un
der such military precaution as he may deem
prudent, and at which place you will bemet
in due time by some person or persons for
the purpose of such informal conference,
and further that you shall hare protection
safe conduct, and safe roturn in all events
THUS'. T. ECKERT,
Major and A. D. C.
CITY POIXT, Va., Feb. 1, 1H65
Grenral Granr3 aim/
Afterwards, but before Mnjor Eckert had
deputed, the following despatch was re
eeived from Gen. Grant:
Office S. Military Telegrah,
War Department.
The follocting telegram was received nt
IVasilington Jail. 31, tif ;:), from City Point.
Va., 10.30 A. M.
January :SI, 180
i!, Excellency Al,r
s, e , diarn Pr.sulent
of the l'uited Statem :
The following communication waa re
ceived here lust evening :
Petershurg, Va., Jan.."M, 1 1. , ; 5.
Li eu t . G en . U. S . (;rant, C'0 , 7 , 17,1a7111111 . 9 the
Armies qf Me United States :
Sin : We desire to pass your lines under
safe -eenduet i - and to proceed . to Washington
to hold a conference with President Lincoln
upon the sul ject of the existing war, and
with a view of as eertu fining upon what
terms it may be terminatrut in pursuance of
the course indicated by him in hiS letter to
Mr. Blair of January 18, 1805. of which we
presume you have ft copy, end if not, we
wish to see yOU in person, if convenient, and
to conrer:with you nu the subject.
Very re,porifully,
A NIIF.II 11
.1, A . ('.\
IL M.l'. Ill•NTE11..
I have soot directions to receive them
gentlemen, and expect to have them at nty
quarters this avcning awaiting your in-
=MEE
IT. S. fiIIANT.
Lieut. Gen. Com'g Armies of the C. S
This message, it will be perceived, trans
ferred Gen. Ord's agency in the matter to
General Grant. I resolved, however, to
send Major Eckert forward with the mes
sage, and accordingly telegraphed General
Grant as follows :
' Executive Mansion,
Washington, Jnn. 31, 18G5
Lieut. Gen. Grant, Gtty Polls!, Fa.:
A messenger is coming to you on the
business contained in your dispatch. De
tain the gentlemen in comfortable quaaters
until he arrives, and then net on the mes
sily he brings, as far as applicable, it hav
ing been made up to pass through General
Grd's hands, and when the gentlemen were
supposed to be beyond our linos.
(Sent in cipher at L3O P. M.)
When Muj. Eckert departed he bore with
him a letter of the Secretary of War to Gen.
Grant., as follows, to wit :
War Dept, Vi i ashington, Jan. 30, 1865.
Lieut. Gen. Grant, ike.,
GIiNEILAL: Tho president desires that you
will please procure for the bearer, Major
Thomas T. Eckert, an.interview with Messrs.
Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, and if, on
his return to you' ho requests it, pass them
through our linos to Fortress Monroe, by
such route are under such military precau•
tion as you may deem prudent, giving them
protection and comfortable quarters while
there, and that you let a none of this have
any effect upon your movement or plans:
By order of the President:
E. M. STANTON, Soc'y of War
Initructions to Mr. Seward.
Supposing the proper point to be then
reached, I despatched the Secretary of
State with the following instructions, Major
Eckert, however, going ahead of him :
Executive Mansion, Washington Jan. 31.
lion. W. H. Seward, Secretary of Stale:
You will proceed to Fort Monroe, Ye.
there to meet and informally confer with
Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell on
the Muds of my letter to F. P. - Blair, Esq., of
January 18,.1865, a copy,of which you have.
You will make known to them that three
things are indesponsibie, to wit:
First, The restoration of the national
authority throughout all the Statbs.
Second, No receding by the Executive of
the United State. on the slavery question
: from the position assumed thereon in the
- Tate annual message to Congreis and in Pre•
cdeding documents.
Third, No cessation of hostilities short of
an end otbo.war and the disbanding. of all.
the.forces hostile to thd Government. .you
will inform them'; that all propositions .of
thoirs.uot . inconsistent with tb.i above will
,be.considered and passed upon ins a . ,apixit
of iiiicero liberality. 'You will hear . rill
th - ey may choose to say . and rep'ciii it lo s tiio:'
You will' not assume to•definitely consunfate!
anything: Yours, dm., , • • ; •
A. LINGOT N • •
The_Canferefle.e_noLlo..interfere _with_theirar—
,On the day of its date the following4o.lo
- was sent to Gen. Grunt:
War Department,
Washington, D.C., Feb. 1, 1865 .
Lieut. Gen. Grant, City Pain t, Va:
Let nothing which is transpiring change,
hinder, 'or delay your military, movomenta
or plans,
Ord_as_ fol
[Sent in cipher at 0:30 A:3l.]'
Afterwards the following despatch was
received from Gen. Grant:
Office U. S. Military Telegraph,
War Department.
[ln cipher.]
The following telegram, received at Wash
ington, 2:30 P. M., Feb. 1, 1865:
From City Point, Feb. 1, 12:30 P. M.
His Excellency A. Lincoln, President United
States:
Your dispatch received. There will be
no armistice in consequence of the presence
of Mr, Stephens and others within our lines.
The troops are kept in readiness to move at
the shortest notice if occasion should justify
it. U. S. GRANT, Lieut. Gen.
To notify Major Eckert that the Secretary
of State would be at Fortress Monroe, nod
to put them in communication, the following
despatch was sent:
Washington, D. C., Feb. 1, 1865
Major T. 7'. Eckert, care Gen. Grant, City
Point, Va:
Call at Fortress Monroe and put yourself
under direction of Mr. Seward, whom you
will.find there.
On the morning of the 2d inst., the fol
lowing telegrams were received by mo re
spectively from the Secretary of State and
Major Mekert:
Fort Monroe, Va. Feb. 1, 11:30 P. M.
The President of the United Slates:
I arri•ed at ten this evening. Richmond
party not here. I remain hero.
W. H. SEWARD.
City Point, Va. Feb. 1, 101'. M.
His excellency A. Lincoln, President United
EMI
I have the honor to report the delivery of
your communication and my letter at 4:15
this afternoon, to which I received a reply
at 6 P. M., but not satisfactory.
At 8 I'. M., the following note, addressed
to Gen. Grant, was received :
To Lieut. Gen. Grant
SIR : We desire to go to Washington City
to confer formally with the President per
sonally in reference to the matters men
tioned in his letter to Mr. Blair of the Pith
of January. Without soy personal com
promise on any question on the letter, we
have the permission to do so from the au
thorities in Richmond.
Very respectfully, yourF:'
ALEN - . 11. STEPHENS,
R. M. T. HUNTER,
J. A. CAMPO:LI,.
At 9::N1 P. M. I notified them that then
could not proceed further Hitless they mm
plied with the tertntt exprectted in my letter.
The point of meeting det,ignitted in the
[Wove note ought not, in my opinion, to be
insisted upon. I think Port Monroe would
be acr(!ptable. Having complied with tuy
instruct:oils. I will return to Washington
to morrn, unless otlierwke ordered.
Gen. Grant's behef that the Rebels were dm-
On rending this despatch of Major Eckert
I was nbOut to recall him nod tlio Secretary
of State, when the folloi%ing telegram from
Geo. Grant to the Secretary of War was
shown ❑ru:
[ln cipher.]
The following telegrnm was received at
Washington 4::15 A. M., Fob. 2, from City
Point;
I:. .11. S 11-,tr
Now that the interview het wean Major
Eckert, under his written instructions, and
:hyphens and party has ended, I will
strata confidentially, but not officially, to
become it matter or record, that lam con
vinced, upon conversation with Messrs.
iile
phone and Hunter, that their intentions are
good and their desire sincere to restore
pence and Union. I have not felt myself at
at liberty to express any views of my own
or to account for mv reticeuces.
This has placed me in an awkward posi
tion, which I could have avoided by not
seeing them in the first instance. I do not
fear their going back without any expres
sion from any one in authority will have a
bad influence ; at the same tints, I recog
nize. the difficulties in the way of receiving
these informal commissioners at this time
and do not know what to recommend. I
am sorry that, however, Mr. Lincoln cannot
have en interview with the two named in.
this despatch, if not all three within our
lines. Their letter to me was all that the
President's instructions contemplated to
secure their safe conduct, if they had used
the same language to Major Eckert.
P. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General
A. LINCOLN
The President consents to the Conference
This despatch of Gen. Grnnt changed my
purpose, and accordingly I telegraphed him
and the Secretary of State respectively as
follows :
War Department,
Washington, D. C., Fab. 2, 1865.
Lieut. Gen. Grant, City Point, Va:
Say to the gentlemen that I will meet
them personally at Fort Monroe as soon as
I can get there.
[Sent in cipher at 9 P. Id.]
War Department,
• Washington, I). C., Feb. 2.
Ilona TV. 11. Seward, Fort Monroe, Va:
Induced by a despatch from Gen. Grant
I join you at Fortress Monroe as soon as
Can come. A. LINCOLN.
Before starting the following despatcl
was shown me. I proceeded nevertheless
Office U. S. Military Telegraph,
War Department.
•
[Cipher.]
The foll Owing telegram was received a
Washington, Feb. 2, 1865, from City Point
Va., 9 A. M., • '
Hon , Wm. H. Seward, Secreldry dfState, For
. tress Monroe (copy to Hon. Edwin M. Stan
ton, Secretary of War, Wa3hington, .D.. 0.)
The gentlemen hero have accepted the
'proposed terms, and will leave for yortress
Monroe at 8 30 A. M.
• U.'S. GRANT Lieutenant General.
On the'niiht of the 241 . 1 reached Hampton
Roads, found the Secretary of State,' and
'Major Eckert on a 'steamer anchored off the,
shore, and learned of them that the
mond gentlemen were on i ancthcOteamer
also anchored off shore in, ,Ahe roads, and
that thd Secretari of Snit& inr! ntit'yet Seen ,
•or cominttnicated•With'thein: l • r
that Major' Mont lite t iallYrdompliott
with his instructions r analfeaW for ttio first;
time tiro answer of titeltinlithond gontlonien
to Jinn, wliteh,, in. to , : diropatch `o,, jao
clutt'net,orizes as not, oatiifuctory,:,
river is ns foll Cris, to' , , .
A. LINCOLN
War Department,
A. LINCOLN
City Point, Va. Fob. 1
T. T. E('I v EIZT, ijor, etc
posed io SUb,oltt
°lnce U. S. :51ilitnry Tvlegraph
NVit.r INpartmeut.
February 1,--1o:30 P. M
A. LINCOLN
City Poi rit r -Va,--Feb.-1-0 865-
Thomas T, Eckert, Major and A. D. C.:
keVoit: Your note, delivered by yourself
this any has been considered. For reply wo
have tii:sny, that, we were furnished with a
copy of the, letter of President Lincoln to
Francii:P. Blair, of the 18th of January ult.,
anothei-copy of which is appended to your
note. Our intentions are contained in a let
ter of Well the following is a copy:
Instructions of Jeff. Davis
Richmond, Jan. 28, 1865
In c . .informity with the letter of Presi
dent Lincoln of which the foregoing is a
copy, you are to proceed to Washington
-Oity fox...informal conference with him upon
the rssues involved in the existing war, and
for the purpose of sect:ring peace to the two
countries. With great respect, your obedi-
ent servant,
The essential object to be obtained by
the informal conference is to ascertain upon
what terms the existing wnr can be
,Aermt‘
flitted honorably. Our instructions con
template a personal interview between Pres
ident Lincoln and ourselves at 'Washington,
but with this explanation wo are ready to
meet any person or persons that President
Lincoln may appoint, at such place as he
may designate. Our earnest desire is that
a just and honorable pence may be agreed
upon, and we are prepared to receive or to
submit propositions which may possibly
lead to the attainment of that d.
Very respectfully, yours,
ALEX. 11. STEPHENS,
R. M. T. HUNTER,
J. A. CAMPBELL.
The Character and result y the Meeting
On the morning of February ad the three
gentlemen, Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and
Campbell, earns aboard of. our Steam or, and
had an interview with the Secretary of State
and myself, of several hours duration. No
question of preliminary to the meeting was
then and there made or mentioned.
other person was present. No papers were
exchanged or produced, and it was in advance
agreed that the conversation was to be inform -
al and verbal merely. On our part the whole
substance of the instructions to the Secretary
of State, herein Lena.° recited, was stated and
insisted upon, and nothing was said illeigl
sistent therewith, while by the other party
it was not said that in any event, or any con
dition, they ever Wl , Olll tThllhellt to reunion,
and yet consent they equally omitted to de
clare that they would not consent. They
scorned to desire a piistp , llollll.llt of that
question and the adoption of some other
oursr lint, which as seine of thoin soeturl
inindit or might not lead to reunion
but whioh yours, iv , thought would amount
to an indefLiite pi , tininiiiniint. The confer
enc., ended without
forogoing containing, honeyed,
all the information sought, is ri-po( tinny
submitty_d.
131:AIIAM. LINCOLN
Exootitivo ILui i.m , I ,, bruary 10, 1S6:1.
ACCMIPAN INC; DuCI')IENTS
10, IsGo.
C..11.,1111!1: %VIA , 111
s•t:t In lb.' S, ii
To the Preqi
S,•crotry rc
rorrf.,l a ro—lotion or tin , s,.ioLio of tho nth
rrque,ting ..f (1 1 , , tv 1 ,10,1
Stikt., if in his opiniun. not inc“inpatilile
tho public
Si . liatc any
et•rninL; rt•ePlit 4•Nati , .ti, c.,twiltillica
ti4o, with o.•rtnin ,Said \ •
11111 , 1' EXt•C•llti \ 511114'0 , 11. 11111101111'4
( .1 11111111111C:Iti , /11, IVIOI tii r1.1,••1
.Davis, or any eorrepoudence relating there
to, has the, honor to report that the Smote
may properly he referred lu a , poLinlnu•s,”go
of the l'r. ,, i,lent,l,ltring upon lho -111,joot of
the ro , oloti., :Pot tran-nntto , l to the Ilow.e
thi , day.
Appciol.2d tc Hi, rcport is it copy of an ift
tyllic 1111 n, hc.•ll addr,s.,l to ('h:o.lps
l'raneis Extra..rdirinry
nnd 11..ilipotimtinry the
1 - ' , oite , , and N 1 lilt I , the only cor
r.,pondone.. unn l in thi:dopirt:nclit touch
ing tlll-011.j,,t reforred to in flit re.olution.
Itespoctfully
. 11. 11.
I)op't of Stnt , , IVashington, l h. 10, 'O3.
[Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.]
Depnrtment of State,
'Washington, Fehruury 9, 1;11;5
Sin: It is a truism that in tho timo of
pease there are always instigators of war.
So soon as a war begins there are citizens
who impattenlly demand negotiations of
peace. The advocates of war, after an
agitation longer or shorter, generally gain
their fearful end, though the war declared
is not nnfrequently unnecessary and unwise.
So peace agitators in time of war untimely
bring about an abandonment of conflict,
sometimes without securing the advantages
which were originally expected from the
conflict.
The'agitators for war in time of peace,
and tor peace in time of war, are not un
necessarily, or perhaps ordinarily, unpatri
otic in their purposes or motives. Results
alone determine whether they are wise or
unwise. The treaty of peace concluded at
Gaudaloupe Hidalgo was secured by an ir
regular negotiation under the don of the
Government. Some of the efforts which
have been made to bring about negotiations
with a view to the end of our civil war, are
known to the whole world, because they
have employed foreign as well ns domestic
agents.; Others with whom you have said.
to deal confidentially, are known to your
self, although they have not publicly trans
pired. Other efforts have occured her which
are known only to the persons actually
moving in them and to this Government. I
am now to give for your information an ac
count of an affair of the same general char
acter, which recently received much atten
tion here, and while doubtless will excite
injury abroad. A low days' ago Francis P.
Blair,tAig., of Maryland, obtained from the,
President 'a simple leave to pass through
our military lines, without definite views
know to the Government. Mr. Blair visited
Riehrriond l and on his return ho showed to
the President a'letter 'which Jefferson Davis
had Writen to WhiCh Mr. Davis
wrote that Mr. Blair was at liberty to say to
President Lincoln . that Mr: Davis was now
as ho alwaya hati : been„willing,to send -com
missioners if assured, they would be received
or to rfceiVe any that shold be sent; that ho
was riot dispbsed to'find obstacles in forms.
Ho would send commissioners to confer
with the President with a view to'tho resto
ration of peace between the two countryg, if
he ceuld,he assured they would be received:
:The rrosidcat, therefore, MI thelBth,day
of January' addressed a unto,to Mr.. Blair, in
which the-President, nfter', acklioWledkidg
',that he had read ilia not`doelli. inid
that he was and tONVilijriVilhould Uo willing to
receive any agent :that, Mr. Davis, or any
othor,inflnanti4 person now aetuallyresting
the anthority,of the Government, might send
to confer informally with the President,with
. .
5- a — view - to7the - restorati.n o peace to the
People of our common•country.
Mr. Blair visited Richmond with thin let
ter and then agains,ame back to Washington
°tithe .29th inst., we were. advised from thli
camp of Lieutenant Gen. Grant that Alex
ander IT. Stephens, R. M. T. Ilutiter, and
John A. Campbell, were applying for a leave
to pass through the lines to Washington, as
peace commissioners to confer with the
President. They wore permitted by the
Lieutenant General to come to his head
quarters to await there the debision of the
President. Major Eckert was sent down to
meet the party from Richmond at General
Grants headquarters. Tho Major was direc
ted to deliver to them a copy of the Presi
_ dent letter to • Mr. Blair, with a note to be
addressed to them and signed by the Major
in which they wore directly informed that
they were directly informed that they should
be allowed to pass our lines. They would
be understood as coining for an informal
confereeee upon the basis of the aforenamed
letter of the 18th of January to Mr. Blair, Tr
they should express their assent to this con
dition in writing, then Major Eckert was di
rected to give them safe conduct to Fortress
Monroe, where a person coining from the
President would meet them. It being thought
probable, from a report of the conversation
with Lieut. Gen. Grant, that the Richmond
I party would in the manner prescribed accept
the condition mentioned, the Secretary of
State was charged by the President, with the
duty of representing this Government in the
- expected informal conference. The Secre
tary arrived at Fortress Monroe in the night
of the first day of February. Major Eckert
met him on the morning of the 2d of Febru
ary, with the information that the persons
who had cotne from Itiehmond had not ac
cepted in writing the condition upon which
he was allowed to give them conduct to
Fortress Monroe. The Major had given the
same information by telegraph to the Presi
dent at Washington. (ho receiving this in
formation the President prepared a telegram
directing the Secretary to return to Wash
ington.
JEFFERSON DAVIS
The Secretary was preparing, at the same
moment, to return, without waiting for in
formation from the President. But at this
juncture Lieut. Gen. Grant telegraphed to
the Secretary of War, as well as to the Sec
retary of Stale, that the party from Rich
mond had reconsidered and accepted the
condition tendered them through Major
Eckert, nod General Grant urgently ad
vised the President to confer in person
with the Richmond party. Under Otago
cirrumstrnees the Secretary, by the Presi
dent's direction, remained at Fortress Mon
roe, and the President joined him there on
the night of the 2d of February.
The Richmond party was brought down
the James river in it l'uited States steata'
transport, during the day, and the transport
was am bored in Hampton Roads on the
morning of the 3d. The President attended
by the Secretary, received Messrs Stephens,
Hunter and Campbell, on board the United
States steam transport River Queen,- •in
Hampton Roads.
The conference wag altogether informal.
There WAS no attendanco of secretaries,
clerk 6, or witnesses. Nothing .was written
or read Tl , e conversation, although ear-
nest and free, WAS ClOlll and courteous and
Lind, on both si , les. The Richmond party
approached the 1 11,111Sq/011 rathrr iudiretly,
and nt no time did they make categorical
-demands nr trader formal stipulations or
111olute refusals : nevertheless, during the
follferencu, which lasted four hours, the
several points at izsike between the Govern-
went niitl the iu:nrge wits were dtatinctly
I and liit iisseil fully, intelligently,
end in Iltl illlllClllll, FICIFIL What the in-
surgent port• seemed chiefly to favor V 71,18
postponement of the question of separation,
upon which the war W. 151 waged, and a mu
tual direction of the efforts of the Govern-
merit a; well n< those Of thr insurgents, to
swue extraneous policy or Scheme for a
season, during which passions might be ex
pected to subside and the armies be red need,
and trade and intercourse between the peo
ple of both sections be resumed.
It was suggested by them that through
sorb poAponernent we might now hare im
mediate peace, with some, not very certain
prospect of on ultimate satisfactory adjust
ment of political relations between the
Government and the States, section or peo
ple now engaged in conflict with it. The
suggestion. though deliberately considered,
was nevertheless regarded by the President
as ono of armistice or truce, and ho en-
nounced that we tan agree on no caseation
or suspension of hostilities except on the
basis of the disbundonment of the insurgent
forces, and the restoration of the national
authority throughout all the States in th•
Union collaterally, and in subordination to.
to the proposition which was thus an
nounced.
Tim anti-slavery policy of the United
States was reviewed in all its bearings, and
the President announced that ho must not
be expected to depart from the positions ho
had heretofore assumed in his proclamation
of emancipation and other documents, at
these positions were reiterated in his an
nual message.
It was further declared by the President
that the complete restoration of the nation
al authcrity everywhere was an indispen
sable condition of any assent on our part to
whatever form of peace might be proposed.
The President assured the other party that.
while lie must adhere to these positions ho
would be prepared. so far as power wee
lodged with the Executive, to exercise lib
erality. Its power, however, is limited by
the Constitution, and when pence should b•
made,, Congress must necessarily aet in
t•cgard to appropriations of money and to
tho admissions of reproseumtives from the
insurrectionary States.
The Richmond party wore then informed
that Congress had on the 31st ult. adopted,
by a constitutional majority,-a joint resolu
tion submitting to the several States the
proposition to abolish- Bin-very throughout
the Union, and that there is every reason to
expect that it it will soon be accepted by
throo-fourths of the States, so as to become
a part of the national organic law.
The conference came to an end by mutual
acquiescence, without producing an agree
ment of views upon the several matters dii
oussed,nr any of them. Nevertheless, It is
perhaps of some importance that' ire hailt
been able to submit our.opinionsand 'demo
directly to prominent insurgents,. and. ta
hear thorn in aniwer, . ' oourteous and
not unfriendly manner:
I am, your obedient servant.
A Ter.ir, - ,ei. WOE.-I clasped her 'tiny
hand in . mine, I clasped her beauteous form;
I vowed to shield her from the wind, and
from tho worliUs cold storm. Sho sot her
',pontoons oyes on me, the tears did wildly
and with her little lips she said, "Cott
found you I let mo go."
Toucuirra.—l took her hand; a long, l6w
sob came struggling on my ear, I felt her
heart's tymultuous throb as full, of love end
harm and fear, she:Bo4 - while fgli ok ve4rllr
tear, . 4 .! IsM/ uric a pyrecr, :nob."
WM. H. SEW.LRD