Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-23
TRE PEACE OFERTURRs-A QURs-
TION or VERACETK.

The Responses Of tAs administration 10 the Mar
ratiUs Of Mr J. Wesley Greene.
From the Chicago Times. Dee. l2thI
The agent of the Associated Press in this city
having telegrsphed eastward synopsis of the
narrative of Mr.. J. Wesley Greene contained in
the Times of Wednesday morning, the admins
tratisn st Washington responded thereto as fol-
lows:
" WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 j. Wesley Greene,
who fUrnirhed the Chicago Ttines some reported
peace propositions from JEFF Davis to President
Lincoln, is an imposter. He came to Wsshiag-
ton to see President Lincoln, who ascertained
that there wss no ground for his nOnsensicAl
statements"
This was plain. blunt aud unequivoeal. But
as if not satisfied with this particular dispOsi-
ton Of the matter, an hour or two later tho
administration telegraphed to the country as
follows:
WASHINGTON, Dec. IO-On inquiry, It IS
sscertained that man calling himself J. Wesley
Greene, aud protesting to reside at PittsbUrg,
Pa, called on the President some time in No
vember, and stated to him that be had two in
tervieWs with JEFF Davis at Richmond, in the
last of October. and also related certain state
ments which he said Davis had made to him
upon the occasion. The President, however,
became satisfied that Greene had not seen Davis
at all, and that the entire story was very shall
low attempt at deception. JET. Davis can re-
deem Greene's character if be will by verifying
his statement"
This is a very decided letting down from the
first dispatch. And only two or three DAYS ear
lier the administration authorized the statement
tc be telegraphed to the country that no eOmmu-
nication embodying peace propositions has bean
made to them ln any toay. Let Us exercise pa
tience and trust that we shall yet extort the
truth in this business even from the administra-
ton.
We now desire to put few specific questions to the
administration.
l. Do the administration dsnv that the President re-
eeived letter from Mr. J. Wesley Greere, dated Pitts
burg Pa, November 10Th 1862 coutainng certain in.
formation concerning an alleged visit Of Mr.. Greene to
Do the administration deny that on the 18th of fNo-
vember, the Secretary Of War sent telegrsphc dis
patch to NJ. J. Wesley Greene at Pittsburg, request
ing him TO come Immediately to Washington, and that
AZ the time the War Department provided trans
poitation for Mr. Greene from EPi,tsburg to Wash
ingtOnf
B. Do the administration deny that. in response 10
the dispsteh OF the Secretary Of War, Mr. J. Wesley
Greene reached Washington Tuesday morning, No
yember ls, AM reported himself TO the Secretary Of
4. Do the administration deny that on this same Tues
day. November ls, Mr.. J. Wesley Greene had an inter
view first with the President and subsequently with the
President and Cabinet aud that the latter interview
lasted from about half past FIVE o'clock in the afternoon
until about II o'clock at nighti
;. Do the administration deny that they detained Mr.
J. Wesley Greene in Washington until the next Satur-
day evening, November %, aud that meanwhile he did
have the interviews with the President the President
and Cabinet and the Secrstzry OF War as detailed in
his published state meuts
6. Do the ADMINISTRATION deny that before Mr.. J.
Wesley Greene finally dismissed by the Secretary
of War, hundred dollars were paid 70 him, and
transportation to Pittsburgh furnished to him. by order
of the Secretary
We desire that the administration shall answer these
gDerifirqllv asked them
and then desire that they shall specifically
the following specific questions.
]. At what stage Of Mr.. J. Wesley Greene's stay in
Washington did the administration ascertain that ne
was an mpOstor and At what stage did the President
ascertain that there ground for his nOrsensic
statements and at what stage did the President be-
come satisfied that Greene had not Davis at a.
and that the whole story was very shallow attempt al
deception
3 And why after the President had ascertsined and
become satisfied of these things, did the Secretary OF
War direct that hundred dOlarg should be paid to
Mr. Greene and that transportation should be furnished
70 him to Pittsburgh Was this payment and this trans
portatiOn reward to d" an impOstOrl" Q"
One other question we desire to ask the Ldministra
tiou
and his statements nonssDEea" have they been tsle-
grsphed over the country ascertain his whereabouts
since he left Washington
The manner in which the administration attempt to
dispose Of Mr. Greene viii not DO. They cannot whistle
him down in thai way. He is too well fortified sit
quietly down under that sort Of treatment
We do not undertake to decide TO the motives Of
Mr.. jefferson Davis in procuring Mr. Greene to 60 10
Washington. They may have been sincere and they
may have been iusineere. Mr. Greene believes them
70 have been sincere. Whatever they were, we have
doubt than have Of our own existence that
Mr.. Greene came from Mr.. Davis at Richmond 70
President Lincoln at Washington, and We have no
more doubt than we have Of Our existence that
the administration at Washington believe he thus
We reserve further comment on the extraordinary
attitude Of tie Administration, and meanwhile perhal
the public viii hear from Mr. Greene again in our next
issue.