a general adjustment, upon such basis
as might be ultimately acceptable to both parties, and stop the
further effusion of blood." He assured Mr. Davis he had but one
idea of final adjustment--"the recognition of the sovereignty of
the States." Mr. Davis wired Stephens to repair to Richmond, and
he arrived on June 22, 1863. Davis and his Cabinet appear to have
seconded, with some heartiness, Stephens' scheme; all thinking it
might result in aiding the "peace party" North. The Confederate
leaders had been greatly encouraged by the gains of the Democratic
party in the elections of 1862; by repeated attacks on the
Administration by some of Lincoln's party friends; by public meetings
held in New York City at which violent and denunciatory speeches
were listened to from Fernando Wood and others, and by the nomination
of Vallandigham for Governor of Ohio. The military situation was
critical to both governments when Stephens reached Richmond.
Pemberton was besieged and doomed to an early surrender at Vicksburg.
On the other hand Lee was invading Pennsylvania, having just gained
some successes in the Shenandoah Valley; and there was a great
battle imminent on Northern soil. Stephens was directed to proceed
by the Valley to join Lee, and from his headquarters try to reach
Washington. Heavy rains and bad roads deterred the frail Vice-
President. At length the Secretary of the Confederate Navy sent
him in a small steamer (the _Torpedo_) under a flag of truce,
accompanied by Commissioner Robert Ould as his secretary, to Fortress
Monroe. He wrote from this place a letter to Admiral S. P. Lee in
Hampton Roads, of date of July 4, 1863, saying he was "bearer of
a communication in writing from Jefferson Davis, _Commander-in-
Chief_ of the land and naval forces of the Confederate States, to
Abraham Lincoln, _Commander-in-Chief_ of the land and naval forces
of the United States," and that he desired to go to Washington in
his own vessel. The titles by which Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Davis were
designated had been previously determined on by Davis and his
advisers. Anticipating there might be objection to the latter
being referred to as President of the Confederacy, the foregoing
was adopted as likely to be least objectionable. It was, however,
solemnly agreed at Richmond that if the designations or titles
adopted were such as to cause Mr. Stephens' communication to be
rejected, he was to say that he had a communication to "President