me a wide-
spread rumor that negotiations for peace were in progress which
might interfere with the anti-slavery action of Congress. On the
8th of February Mr. Thaddeus Stevens moved and the House unanimously
adopted a resolution requesting "the President to communicate to
the House such information as he may deem not incompatible with
the public interest relative to the recent conference between
himself and the Secretary of State and Messrs. Alexander H. Stephens,
Robert M. T. Hunter, and John A. Campbell in Hampton Roads." Mr.
Lincoln replied at once, giving in detail every step which had led
to the conference, and all that was accomplished by it. It was
brought about by the elder Francis P. Blair, who under a flag of
truce had visited Richmond early in January. Mr. Lincoln had
steadily insisted on three preliminary conditions: First, the
absolute restoration of the national authority in all the States;
second, no receding from the positions taken on the slavery question;
third, no cessation of military operations on the part of the
Government till the hostile forces surrendered and disbanded. On
these conditions the Confederate agents could not treat, and the
conference came to no agreement. In his message Mr. Lincoln made
one significant remark. "By the other party it was not said that
in any event or on any condition they would ever consent to re-
union; and yet they equally omitted to declare that they would not
so consent." The proceedings left no special interest, except one
characteristic anecdote of Mr. Lincoln. The Confederate agents
desired the recognition of the power of "President" Davis to make
a treaty. Mr. Lincoln would not consent to this, would not in any
event or in any way recognize another "President" within the
territory of the United States. Mr. Hunter cited the example of
Charles I. treating with rebels in his own kingdom. Mr. Lincoln
replied that his only distinct recollection of that matter was that
Charles lost his head!

MR. FESSENDEN IN THE TREASURY.

Soon after the Baltimore Convention, Mr. Chase resigned his position
as Secretary of the Treasury. The relations between himself and
the President had become personally somewhat unpleasant, but that
there had been no loss of confidence or respect was proven by the
President's nomination of Mr. Chase to be Chief Justice of the
United States as the successor of the venerable Roger B