The second rule is to follow instructions. According to the instructions approved by the confederate congress, the men sent by the Davis regime had no power to negotiate anything but recognition of the legitimacy of the southern rebellion. They had no room to work. If Lincoln had suggested that the question of ending the rebellion and returning as states then the group would have gone home. Since that was off the table then, again, what was there to negotiate?
They had the papers and expressed every intention of paying.
Nonsense. Their instructions said nothing about paying for anything. Just vague suggestions about amicable solutions.
For the purpose of establishing friendly relations between the Confederate States and the United States, and reposing special trust, &c., Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A. B. Roman are appointed special commissioners of the Confederate States to the United States. I have invested them with full and all manner of power and authority for and in the name of the Confederate States to meet and confer with any person or persons duly authorized by the Government of the United States being furnished with like powers and authority, and with them to agree, treat, consult, and negotiate of and concerning all matters and subjects interesting to both nations, and to conclude and sign a treaty or treaties, convention or conventions, touching the premises, transmitting the same to the President of the Confederate States for his final ratification by and with the consent of the Congress of the Confederate States.Given under my hand at the city of Montgomery this 27th day of February, A.D. 1861, and of the Independence of the Confederate States the eighty-fifth.
Jefferson Davis
Wrong. As you earlier admitted, they also had the power to negotiate differences between the two sides.
Nonsense. Their instructions said nothing about paying for anything.
Wrong. These so-called "instructions" you keep referring to didn't stop Davis from sending them with bank papers to carry out payment if necessary.