714 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



and the President joined him there in the night of 

 the 2d of February. The Richmond party was brought 

 down the James River, in a United State steam 

 transport during the day, and the transport was 

 anchored in Hampton Roads. 



On the morning of the 3d inst., the President, at- 

 tended by the Secretary, received Messrs. Stephens, 

 Hunter, and Campbell on board. 



The conference was altogether informal. There 

 was no attendance of secretaries, clerks, or other 

 witnesses. Nothing was written or read. The con- 

 versation although earnest and full was calm and 

 courteous and kind on both sides. The Richmond 

 party approached the discussion rather indirectly, 

 and at no time did they make categorical demands, 

 or tender formal stipulations or absolute refusals. 

 Nevertheless, during the conference, which lasted 

 four hours, the several points at issue between the 

 Government and he insurgents were distinctly raised, 

 and discussed fully, intelligently, and in an amicable 

 spirit. 



What the insurgent party seemed chiefly to favor 

 was a postponement of th'e question of separation 

 upon which the war is waged and a mutual direction 

 ot the efforts of the Government as well as those of 

 the insurgents to some extrinsic policy ,or scheme 

 for a season, during which passions might be expect- 

 ed to subside and the armies be reduced, and trade 

 and intercourse between the people of both sections 

 be resumed. It was suggested by them that through 

 such postponement we might now have immediate 

 peace with some, not very certain, prospect of an 

 ultimate satisfactory adjustment of the political rela- 

 tions between the Government and the States, sec- 

 tion or people now engaged in conflict with it. The 

 suggestion, though deliberately considered, was 

 nevertheless regarded by the President as one of 

 armistice or truce, and he announced that we can 

 agree to no cessation or suspension of hostilities ex- 

 cept on the basis of the disbandment of the insurgent 

 forces, and the restoration of the national authority 

 throughout all the States in the Union, collaterally 

 and in subordination to the proposition which was 

 thus announced. 



The anti-slavery policy of the United States was 

 reviewed in all its bearings, and the President an- 

 nounced that he must not be expected to depart 

 from the positions he had heretofore assumed in his 

 proclamation of emancipation and other docvfments,as 

 these positions were reiterated in his annual message. 



It was further declared by the President that the 

 complete restoration of the National authority every- 

 where was an indispensable condition of any assent 

 on our part to whatever form of peace might be pro- 

 posed. The President assured the other party that 

 while he must adhere to these positions, he would 

 be prepared, so far as power is lodged with the 

 Executive, to exercise liberality. His power, how- 

 ever, is limited by the Constitution, and when peace 

 should be made, Congress must necessarily act in 

 regard to the approbation of money and to the ad- 

 mission of Representatives from the insurrectionary 

 States. 



The Richmond party were then informed that Con- 

 gress had, on the 81st ult., adopted, by a Constitu- 

 tional majority, a joint resolution submitting to the 

 several States the proposition to abolish slavery 

 throughout the Union, and that there is every reason 

 to expect that it will be accepted by three-fourths of 

 the States, so as to become a part of the National 

 organic law. 



The conference came to an end by mutual acquies- 

 cence, without producing an agreement of views 

 upon the several matters discussed, or any of them. 

 Nevertheless, it is perhaps of some importance that 

 we have been able to submit our opinions and views 

 directly to prominent insurgents, and to hear them 

 in answer in a courteous and not unfriendly manner. 

 I am sir, your obedient servant. 



WM. H. SEWARD 



P.EPOET OF MESSRS. STEPHENS, HUNTER iXD CAMPBELL. 



EXECUTIVE OFFICE, EIOII.MONI>, February 6, It' 65 

 To the Senate and House of Representatives of tin 



Confederate States of America : 

 Having recently received a written notification 

 which satisfied me that the President of the United 

 States was disposed to confer informally with unoffi- 

 cial agents which might be sent by me, with a view 

 to the restoration of peace, I requested the Hon. 

 Alexander H. Stephens, the Hon. R. M. T. Hunter, 

 and the Hon. John A. Campbell to proceed through 

 our lines and to hold conference with Mr. Lincoln, 

 or any one he might depute to represent him. 



I herewith transmit, for the information of Con- 

 gress, the report of the eminent citizens above nam- 

 ed, showing that the enemy refused to enter into 

 negotiations with the Confederate States, or any one 

 of them separately, or to give to our people any 

 other terms or guaranties than those which the con- 

 queror may grant, or to permit us to have peace on 

 any other basis than our unconditional submission 

 to their rule, coupled with the acceptance of their 

 recent legislation on the subject of the relations 

 between the white and black population of each 

 State. Such is, as I understand, the effect of the 

 amendment to the Constitution which has been 

 adopted by the Congress of the United States. 



JEFFERSON DAVIS. 

 RICHMOND VA., February 5, 1S65. 

 To the Pi'esident of the Confederate States : 



SIR: Under your letter of appointment of the 2Sth 

 ult., 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 

 30th inst., on board of a steamer in Hampton Roads, 

 where we met President Lincoln and the Hon. Mr 

 Scward, Secretary of State of the United States. It 

 continued for several hours, and was both full and 

 explicit. 



We learned from them that the message of Presi- 

 dent Lincoln to the Congress of the United Slates 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 

 people, and we were not informed that they would 

 be modified or altered to obtain that end. We un- 

 derstand from him that no terms or proposals of any 

 treaty or Agreement looking to an ultimate settlement 

 would be entertained or made by him with the Con- 

 federate States, because that would be a recognition 

 of their existence as a separate power, which, under 

 no circumstances, would be done; and for like rea- 

 sons that no such terms would be entertained by him 

 from the States separately ; that no extended truce 

 or armistice (as at present advised) would be granted, 

 without a satisfactory assurance in advance of a com- 

 plete restoration of the authority of the United States 

 over all places within the States of the Confederacy. 

 That whatever consequence may follow from the 

 reestablishment of that authority must be accepted ; 

 but that individuals, subject to pains and penalties 

 under the laws.of the United States, might rely upon 

 a very liberal use of the power confided to him to 

 remit those pains and penalties if peace be restored. 



During the conference the proposed amendment to 

 the Constitution of the United States, adopted by 

 Congress on the Slst ult., was brought to our notice. 

 This amendment declares that neither slavery nor 

 involuntary servitude, except for crimes, 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. Of all the correspondence that preceded 

 the conference herein mentioned, and leading to the 

 same, you have heretofore been informed. 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servants, 



ALEX. H. STEPHENS, 

 R. M. T. HUNTER, 

 JOHN A. CAMPBELL. 



