I have no disposition to find obstacles in forms, and am willing, now as heretofore, to enter into negotiations for the restoration of peace, and am ready to send a commission whenever I have reason to suppose it will be received, or to receive a commission if the United States Government shall 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 conference with a view to secure peace to the two countries. Yours, etc., JEFFERSON DAVIS. Afterwards, and with the view that it should be shown to Mr. Davis, I wrote and delivered to Mr. Blair a letter, as follows, to wit: F. P. BLAIR, Esq. WASHINGTON, January 18, 1865. SIR: Your having shown me Mr. Davis's letter to you of the 12th instant, you may say to him that I have constantly been, am now, and shall continue ready to receive any agent whom he or any other influential person now resisting the national authority may informally send to me with the view of securing peace to the people of our one common country. Yours, etc., A. LINCOLN. Afterwards Mr. Blair dictated for and authorized me to make an entry on the back of my retained copy of the letter last above recited, which entry is as follows: JANUARY 28, 1865. To-day Mr. Blair tells me that on the 21st instant he delivered to Mr. Davis the original of which the within is a copy, and left it with him; that at the time of delivering it Mr. Davis read 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. Davis's letter about "the two countries," to which Mr. Davis replied that he so understood it. A. LINCOLN. Afterwards the Secretary of War placed in my hands the following telegram, indorsed by him, as appears: OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, The following telegram received at Washington January 29, 1865, from headquarters Army of James, 6.30 p. m., January 29, 1865: "Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, "Secretary of War: "The following dispatch just received from Major-General Parke, who refers it to me for my action. I refer it to you in Lieutenant-General Grant's absence. "E. O. C. ORD, Major-General, Commanding.” Major-General E. O. C. ORD, 'HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC, 'Headquarters Army of James: "The following dispatch is forwarded to you for your action. Since I have no knowledge of General Grant's having had any understanding of this kind, I refer the matter to you as the ranking officer present in the two armies. 'JNO. G. PARKE, Major-General, Commanding.' 'FROM HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, 29th. 'Major-General JNO. G. PARKE, 'Headquarters Army of Potomac: 'Alexander H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and J. A. Campbell desire to cross my lines, in accordance with an understanding claimed to exist with Lieutenant-General Grant, on their way to Washington as peace commissioners. Shall they be admitted? They desire an early answer, to come through immediately. Would like to reach City Point to-night if they can. If they can not do this, they would like to come through at 10 a. m. to-morrow morning. 'O. B. WILCOX, Commanding Ninth Corps.' 'Major-General, "JANUARY 29-8.30 p. m. "Respectfully referred to the President for such instructions as he may be pleased "EDWIN M. STANTON, to give. "Secretary of War." It appears that about the time of placing the foregoing telegram in my hands the Secretary of War dispatched General Ord as follows, to wit: WAR DEPARTMENT, Major-General ORD. Washington City, January 29, 1865-10 p.m. (Sent at 2 a. m. 30th.) SIR: This Department has no knowledge of any understanding by General Grant to allow any person to come within his lines as commissioner of any sort. You will therefore allow no one to come into your lines under such character or profession until you receive the President's instructions, to whom your telegram will be submitted for his directions. EDWIN M. STANTON, Afterwards, by my direction, the Secretary of War telegraphed General Ord as follows, to wit: Major-General E. O. C. ORD, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., January 30, 1865-10.30 a. m. Headquarters Army of the James. SIR: By direction of the President, you are instructed to inform the three gentlemen, Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, that a messenger will be dispatched to them at or near where they now are without unnecessary delay. EDWIN M. STANTON, Afterwards I prepared and put into the hands of Major Thomas T. Eckert the following instructions and message: Major T. T. ECKERT. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 30, 1865. SIR: You will proceed with the documents placed in your hands, 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. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, or any of them. Deliver to him or them the paper 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, waiting a reasonable time for it, and which, if it contain their decision to come through without further condition, will be your warrant to ask General Ord to pass them through, as directed in the letter of the Secretary of War to him. If by their answer they decline to come, or propose other terms, do not have them pass through. And this being your whole auty, return and report to me. A. LINCOLN. CITY POINT, VA., February 1, 1865. Messrs. ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS, J. A. CAMPBELL, and R. M. T. HUNTER. GENTLEMEN: I am instructed by the President of the United States to place this paper in your hands, with the information that if you pass through the United States military lines it will be understood that you do so for the purpose of an informal conference on the basis of the letter a copy of which is on the reverse side of this sheet, and that if you choose to pass on such understanding, and so notify me in writing, I will procure the commanding general to pass you through the lines and to Fortress Monroe under such military precautions as he may deem prudent, and at which place you will be met in due time by some person or persons for the purpose of such informal conference; and, further, that you shall have protection, safe conduct, and safe return in all events. F. P. BLAIR, Esq. THOMAS T. ECKERT, Major and Aid-de-Camp. WASHINGTON, January 18, 1865. SIR: Your having shown me Mr. Davis's letter to you of the 12th instant, you may say to him that I have constantly been, am now, and shall continue ready to receive any agent whom he or any other influential person now resisting the national authority may informally send to me with the view of securing peace to the people of our one common country. Yours, etc., A. LINCOLN. Afterwards, but before Major Eckert had departed, the following dispatch was received from General Grant: OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, The following telegram received at Washington January 31, 1865, from City Point, Va., 10.30 a. m., January 30, 1865: "The following communication was received here last evening: 'Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, 'PETERSBURG, VA., January 30, 1865. 'Commanding Armies United States. 'SIR: We desire to pass your lines under safe conduct, and to proceed to Washington to hold a conference with President Lincoln upon the subject of the existing war, and with a view of ascertaining upon what terms it may be terminated, in pursuance of the course indicated by him, in his letter to Mr. Blair of January 18, 1865, of which we presume you have a copy; and if not, we wish to see you in person, if convenient, and to confer with you upon the subject. 'Very respectfully, yours, 'ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS. "I have sent directions to receive these gentlemen, and expect to have them at my quarters this evening, awaiting your instructions. "U. S. GRANT, "Lieutenant-General, Commanding Armies United States" This, it will be perceived, transferred General Ord's agency in the matter to General Grant. I resolved, however, to send Major Eckert forward with his message, and accordingly telegraphed General Grant as follows, to wit: Lieutenant-General GRANT, City Point, Va.. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 31, 1865. (Sent at 1.30 p.m.) A messenger is coming to you on the business contained in your dispatch. Detain the gentlemen in comfortable quarters until he arrives, and then act upon the message he brings as far as applicable, it having been made up to pass through General Ord's hands, and when the gentlemen were supposed to be beyond our lines A. LINCOLN. When Major Eckert departed, he bore with him a letter of the Secretary of War to General Grant, as follows, to wit: Lieutenant-General GRANT, Commanding, etc. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., January 30, 1865. GENERAL: The 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 he requests it pass them through our lines to Fortress Monroe by such route and under such military precautions as you may deem prudent, giving them protection and comfortable quarters while there, and that you let none of this have any effect upon your movements or plans. By order of the President: EDWIN M. STANTON, Supposing the proper point to be then reached, I dispatched the Secretary of State with the following instructions, Major Eckert, however, going ahead of him: Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State: EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 31, 1865. You will proceed to Fortress Monroe, Va., there to meet and informally confer with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell on the basis 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 indispensable, to wit: 1. The restoration of the national authority throughout all the States. 2. No receding by the Executive of the United States on the slavery question from the position assumed thereon in the ate annual message to Congress and in preceding documents. 3. No cessation of hostilities short of an end of the war and the disbanding of all forces hostile to the Government. You will inform them that all propositions of theirs not inconsistent with the above will be considered and passed upon in a spirit of sincere liberality. You will hear all they may choose to say and report it to me. You will not assume to definitely consummate anything. Yours, etc., ABRAHAM LINCOLN. On the day of its date the following telegram was sent to General Grant: Lieutenant-General GRANT, City Point, Va.: WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., February 1, 1865. (Sent at 9.30 a. m.) Let nothing which is transpiring change, hinder, or delay your military movements or plans. A. LINCOLN. Afterwards the following dispatch was received from General Grant: OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, War Department. The following telegram received at Washington 2.30 p. m. February 1, 1865, from City Point, Va., February 1, 12.30 p.m., 1865: "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, Lieutenant-General." To notify Major Eckert that the Secretary of State would be at Fortress Monroe, and to put them in communication, the following dispatch was sent: Major T. T. ECKERT, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., February 1, 1865. Care of General Grant, City Point, Va.. Call at Fortress Monroe and put yourself under direction of Mr. S., whom you will find there. A. LINCOLN. On the morning of the 2d instant the following telegrams were received by me respectively from the Secretary of State and Major Eckert: FORT MONROE, VA., February 1, 1865—11.30 p. m. The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His Excellency A. LINCOLN, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. CITY POINT, VA., February 1, 1865—10 p.m. President of the United States: 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. |