"CITY POINT, VA., Feb. 1, 1865. "To Lieutenant General Grant: "SIR: We desire to go to Washington to confer informally with the President personally in reference to the matters mentioned in his letter to Mr. Blair, of the eighteenth (18th) January ultimo, without any personal compromise on any question in the letter. "We have the permission to do so from the authorities in Richmond. (Signed,) "Very respectfully yours, "ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS, "At nine-thirty (9.30) P. M. I notified them that they could not proceed further unless they complied with the terms expressed in my letter. The point of meeting designated in above note, would not, in my opinion, be insisted upon; think Fortress Monroe would be acceptable. Having complied with my instructions, I will return to Washington to-morrow, unless otherwise ordered. Received in cipher, Feb. 2d. "THOS. T. ECKERT, On reading this dispatch of Major Eckert I was about to recall him and the Secretary of State, when the following telegram of Gen. Grant to the Secretary of War was shown me : [In cipher.] The following telegram received at Washington 4.35 A. M., Feb. 2, 1865: "FROM CITY POINT, VA., Feb. 1, 10.30 P. M. "Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War "Now that the interview between Major Eckert, under his written instructions, and Mr. Stephens and party has ended, I will state confidentially, but not officially, to become a matter of record, that I am convinced, upon conversation with Messrs. Stephens and Hunter, that their intentions are good and their desire sincere to restore peace and Union. I have not felt myself at liberty to express even views of my own or to account for my reticency. This has placed me in an awkward position, which I could have avoided by not seeing them in the first instance. I fear now their going back without any expression from any one in authority will have a bad influence. At the same time, I recognize the difficulties in the way of receiving these informal commissioners at this time and do not know what to recommend. I am sorry, however, that Mr. Lincoln can not have an interview with the two named in this dispatch, if not with all three, now 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. (Signed,) "U. S. GRANT, "Lieutenant-General." This dispatch of Gen. Grant changed my purpose; and, accordingly, I telegraphed him and the Secretary of State respectively as follows: “WAR DEPARTMENT, "WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb 2, 1865. "Lieut.-Gen. Grant, City Point, Va.: "Say to the gentlemen I will meet them at Fortress Monroe as soon as I can get there. (Signed,) Sent in cipher at 9 A. M. "A. LINCOLN." Before starting the following dispatches were shown me. I proceeded, nevertheless: "OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH, "WAR DEPARTMENT. } "The following cipher telegram received at Washington, Feb. 2, 1865: "FROM CITY POINT, VA., } "Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Fortress Monroe: [Copy to Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington.] "The gentlemen have accepted the proposed terms, and will leave for Fort Monroe at 9.30 A. M. "U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen." On the night of the 2d, I reached Hampton Roads, found the Secretary of State and Major Eckert on a steamer anchored off shore, and learned of them that the Richmond gentlemen were on another steamer, also anchored off shore in the Roads, and that the Secretary of State had not yet seen or communi cated with them. Here I ascertained that Major Eckert had literally complied with his instructions, and I saw for the first time the answer of the Richmond gentlemen to him, which in his dispatch to me of the 1st he characterizes as not satisfactory." That answer is as follows: [COPY.] "CITY POINT, VA., Feb. 1, 1865. "Thomas T. Eckert, Major and A. D. C.: "MAJOR: Your note delivered by yourself this day has been considered. In reply, we have to say that we were furnished with a copy of a letter of President Lincoln to Francis P. Blair, Esq., of the 18th of January, ult., another copy of which is appended to your note. Our instructions are contained in a letter of which the following is a copy: "RICHMOND, Jan. 28, 1865. "In conformity with the letter of Mr. Lincoln, of which the foregoing is a copy, you are to proceed to Washington City for informal conference with him upon the issues involved in the existing war, and for the purpose of securing peace to the two countries. "With great respect, your obedient servant, (Signed,) "The substantial object to be obtained by the informal conference is to ascertain upon what terms the existing war can be terminated honorably. "Our instructions contemplate a personal interview between President Lincoln and ourselves at Washington City, but, with explanation, we 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 peace may be agreed upon, and we are prepared to receive or submit propositions which may, possibly, lead to the attainment of that end. (Signed,) "Very respectfully, yours, "ALEX. H. STEPHENS, A note of these gentlemen, subsequently addressed to Gen. Grant, has already been given in Major Eckert's dispatch of the 1st inst. I also here saw, for the first time, the following note, addressed by the Richmond gentlemen to Major Eckert: [COPY.] "CITY POINT, VA., Feb. 2, 1865. "Thomas T. Eckert, Major and A. D. C.: "MAJOR: In reply to your verbal statement that your instructions did not allow you to alter the conditions upon which a passport could be given to us, we say that we are willing to proceed to Fortress Monroe and there to have an informal conference with any person or persons that President Lincoln may appoint on the basis of his letter to Francis P. Blair, of the 18th of January ultimo, or upon any other terms or conditions that he may hereafter propose, not inconsistent with the principles of self-government and popular rights, on which our institutions are founded. "It is our earnest wish to ascertain, after a free interchange of ideas and information, upon what principles and terms, if any, a just and honorable peace can be established without the further effusion of blood, and to contribute our utmost efforts to accomplish such a result. "We think it better to add that in acccepting your passport we are not to be understood as committing ourselves to anything, but to carry to this informal conference the views and feelings above expressed. (Signed,) Very respectfully yours, etc., "ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS, “J. A. CAMPBELL, "R. M. T. HUNTER." "NOTE.-The above communication was delivered to me at Fortress Monroe at 4:30 P. M., February 2d, by Lieut.-Col. Babcock, of General Grant's staff. (Signed,) "THOS. T. ECKERT, "Major and A. D. C." On the morning of the 3d, the gentlemen, Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, came aboard of our steamer and had an interview with the Secretary of State and myself of several hours duration. No question of preliminaries to the meeting was then and there made or mentioned. No other person was present; no papers were exchanged or produced; and it was, in advance, agreed that the conversation was to be informal, and verbal merely. On our part the whole substance of the instruction to the Secretary of State, herein before recited, was stated and insisted upon, and nothing was said inconsistent therewith; while by the other party it was not said that, in any event, or on any condition, they ever would consent to re-union, and yet they equally omitted to declare that they never would consent. They seemed to desire a postponement of that question, and the adoption of some other course first, which, as some of them seemed to argue, might or might not lead to re-union, but which course, we thought, would amount to an indefinite postponement. The conference ended without result. The foregoing, containing, as is believed, all the information sought, is respectfully submitted. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. This detailed report of the processes and result of a some time mysterious "negotiation," was quite satisfactory to the country. It demonstrated the futility of the resources of statesmanship," in an attempt to settle issues that the Rebels had determined to leave to the arbitrament of arms. It gave a new impulse, throughout the loyal States, to united efforts for a decisive settlement at the tribunal to which the Secession party had been so prompt to appeal. The use made of this conference at the South, and the view publicly given to the affair by the Rebel leaders will appear from their version, which is subjoined, as published in the Richmond Whig of February 7. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States: Having received a written notification, which satisfied me that the President of the United States was disposed to confer informally with unofficial agents that might be sent by me, with a view to the restoration of peace, I requested the Hon. Alex. H. Stephens, the Hon. R. M. T. Hunter, and the Hon. Johu A. Campbell to proceed through our lines, and to hold conference with Mr. Lincoln, or such persons as he might depute to represent him. I herewith submit, for the information of Congress, the report of the eminent citizens above named, showing that the enemy refused to enter into negotiations with the Confederate States, or any of them separately, or to give to our people any other terms or guarantees than those which the conqueror may grant, or permit us to have peace upon any other basis than an |