You said: “It is not obvious that they were there for the same reason (to negotiate peace)”.
Certainly they were. Look them up in any history book. They were called the Peace Commissioners.
Wish that Lincoln could have been known as the “Peace President”.
“Where the Davis regime had been trying to starve the fort into submission.”
You know that that was a contrivance created by the Lincoln administration to give their warship expedition cover from public opinion.
And who called them that? The confederate congress didn't call them that when they passed the legislation recommending a delegation be sent. Davis didn't call them that in his letter to Lincoln. The delegation didn't call themselves that when they communicated with Seward. The title 'Peace Commission' is a bit of post-rebellion Southron revisionism, circa late 20th century. Peace was not their purpose, recognition of the legality of their actions was.
Wish that Lincoln could have been known as the “Peace President”.
He could have gone down in confederate history as that by surrendering to Davis' demands. Instead he did the right thing and opposed secession and the armed rebellion the South initiated to further their aims.
You know that that was a contrivance created by the Lincoln administration to give their warship expedition cover from public opinion.
It is well documented.