The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-01-01
The ROMANCE Of DiPL OMACY.
THE ADVENTURES OFJoHN WESLEY
GREENE, TIE TORY OF TYPEE,"
AND THE PEACE AMBASSADOR OF
THE EVALLANDIGHAM PARTY.

| GREENE. TIE TORY OF TYpEE. y
AND THE PEACE AMBASSADOR OF
! THE HE.VALLANDIGHAM PARTY.
There has been a good deal Of speculation
1 in the newspapers touching the identity of
the ambassador dispatched by the consvrva-
tives Of Richmond, with propositions OF
peace to the conservatives Of the Northern
States Prince John Van Buren, who want
ed to go to war, with the privege of retiring
to his base of operations, in case of collision
with the enemy, must have had per sonal
knowledge Of the informal Commissioner
when he visited the White House and infiict
ed upon the Presid mt a protractet inter
view. Fernando Wood, who proposed the
secession Of New YORK City, and the found
ing Of the Kingdom of Manhattan, with Fer
nando the First as its sovereign, must have
had intimate intercourse with the great un.
known preliminary to bis announcement
that he WOODY had positive information"
OF pro POSITIONS of compromise and peace
having been submitted to the Government
through an emu,issary from the rebel capi
tai. A few other leading Conservatives,
with antecadente of loyalty quite as good as
Fernsndo Woods were probably entrusted
with the proposed secret. Rur neither Prince
John nor Fernando the First divulged it
Stat nomi,ais umbra: the name. OF the NESS
enger Of glad tidings to the hearts of the
Conservatives stood unreveale1. As Charles
Lamb said about truth, it was too precious
to waste upon every body.
| The New York Tribune insisted that the
name was Barney and, with its usual per-
verse tenacity, it adheres to that opinion to
this hour. But 1t wasn't Barney. In spite
of the ominous fact that the initial letter is
b., suggesting generic fitness for assoeia-
ton with an computation between the
Breckinridges and Buchanans, the Buckners
and Brights, the Braggs and Riglers, it was
not Barney It is not probable that Barney
had the antecedent qualifications to recon-
mend him to the traitors South, of the sub
Rissive disposition that would accredit him
to the approval of their sympathizing breth-
ren North. The Tribune stands corrected !;
it wasn't Barney.
To the Chcagosrimes, the most able and
influential secession newspaper in the West,
was assigned the honor of duly announcing
the great Conservative ambassador prop
ria personae. The Times clothed its an
Iouncement in all the dignity and impor-
tance of stunning c,pitals, and the Embass-
ador stood revealed in the august person Of
John Wesley Green, whose narrative Of the
overtures Of peace which he brought from
Richmond, and presented to the Admins
tration, we have already published. Accom-
panying the narrative was the following ed
itorial indursement "We have not shad-
ow of doubt of its entire truthfulness This
confden is inspired by numerous inter
views with Mr.. Greene, and by numerous
testimonials as to his character"
We propose to still further inspire the
Times confidence in Embassador Greene by
adding to his numerous testimonials The
material is abundant-an undeveloped rich
ness of testimony, in fact, lies about loose
and in profusion in several cities for Green
is no common .place nondescript by q long
shot.
Early in the year 1s47, in February to
be prscise-John Wesley--we speak Of him
tenderly, as an old acquaintance-John
Wesley. we say, made his appearance in
Cincinpati in the double character of japan
ner by trade and parson by profession. He
was comely looking man, then, of medium
hight, coal black eyes and hair, smooth
shaven face, fair complexion, and a bright,
insinuating couutenance. John was silver
tongued. voluble, plausible in speech, Of :
highly imaginative turn of mind, and in his
ecclesiastical exercises very emotional. He
found secular employment in the shop Of
Mr.. George y. Winchel, and improved his
Sundays Is class leader and exhorter--
To his intimates John Wesley represented
himself as an ancient mariner, cast away
i on the hospitable shores Of Typee Island
and as the veritable Toby of Melvile's
.Typee" He remained in Mr.. Winchell's
employment till the 2lst Of February, ls4s,
when he married q young lady in this city
by whom he had two children, who are YET
living here. At this time John Wesley
: stood high in the estimation Of his acquain
tances as an industrious exemplary man
and was looked upon IS rather an ornamen,
than otherwise 10 the Church with which HI
was connected. His mother-in- law was
possessed of some property on Third stree
THE site Of the Daily Times sfice, We be
J lieve--which John Wesley persuaded her t
sell. He got the notes in his possession
had them discounted, and with the net pro