"The southern states who did you think?"
George,
That is why I asked the question. By the southern states, you mean at that time the Confederate states that existed when they approached him for a meeting. Since it was the policy of the U S Government that the states of the south who have "left" were actually just states in rebellion and since those states had voluntarily abandoned their seats in the congress and since they still retained those seats and could re-occupy them if they wanted to,he saw no reason to speak to citizens of the states in rebellion on any subject since they could be represeted by proper representation if they so chose. I think the term was "wayward sisters". Does this make sense?
FC