The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-07-27

lngS, they must sun renew the contest nOt
only against our numerous veterans, bat
our immense new levies. Let every Town
and Ward, therefore, hasten to ill its quota
a. fast a. possible.
Peace RumOrs.
During the last week We have had some
rumOrs OF Peace, which are about as little /
reliable as those concerning the War. We
shall give q brief summary Of these matters, /
which are spread over considerable surface 7
in the daily papers. helping them TO a sup
ply Of news" which, however, Is prac-
tically Of no great account.
July q, George y. Saunders writes a
private and confidential note, dated at NJ
agara Falls. to Horace Greeley, at the same
place. saying that c. c. Clay, J. J. HOl-
combe, and Geo. y. Saunders are ready and
willing to 90 at once to Washington, upon
full protection being given them.
Greeley replies that he is informed these
men are accredited from Richmond as the
bearers Of propositions looking TO the estab-
Hshment OF peace; and if this be 50,
Greeley Is authorised TO tenuer them pro-
lection from the President foF their journey
to Washington, and will accompany them
himself a. soon a they can make 1t conve-
nient TO 90.
To this the rebels reply that they are not
--. f.o,- Diamond &c tho hpar-
ers of Peace propositions but being IN the
confidential employment of the rebel gov
eminent, they have no doubt they could be
so accredited if they could go through our
lines to Richmond, and they ask Greeley to
help them through.
So Greeley writes the President for fur
Their Instructions and receives the following
dispatch:
To Hon Horace Greeley. now at Interna-
tional Hotel:
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
Washington, July Is, 1864 !
To whom it may concern:
ANY proposition which embraces the
restoration of peace, the integrity OF the
Union and the abandonment Of slavery, and
which comes by and with an authority that
can control the armies now at war against
the United States. will be received anu
considered by the Executive Govern
ment Of the United States, and will be met
by liberal terms on substantial and colla,e-
raj points. and the bearer or bearers thereof
shall have safe conduct both ways.
ISignedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN
This document was forwarded to his rebel
correspondents by Greeley, and they wrote
a long letter in reply, saying that such a
message was an insult TO the Confederate
States, that it prescribed terms in advance,
SC. and self respect forbid their paying
any attention to il.
So the negotiation if it could be called
such, broke off where it began. The Ma
honal Republican says: The President
has not made, nor does he propose to make
any proposals 10, or compromise with the
the rebel officials at Richmond, or their real
or assumed agents in Canada or elsewhere. -
About the same time, a person visited
Richmond with the consent of Mr.. Lincoln,
under circumstances leading to a suspicion
that his errand might be that of Peace
missionary The person was an Episcopal
minister, James F. Jaques, who is also
Colonel of the I'D Illinois Volunteers.
After talking awhile To President Lincoln,
he obtained leave of him to go through our
lines on his way to Richmond. He was ac-
cOmpanied by a Mr.. Edward kirke. He
staid three days in Richmond and put up
at the ''crack" hotel, where he was served
with all kinds OF turkies, chickens, wines,
liquors and good things, so that his bill
,r-o,,II ho,-o ~nn ~ S5n0 Confederate
money, but the generous landlord would
not receive a cent from him. He had two
/ long interviews with Jetl. Davis, visited the
various Confederate authorities, and also
our prisoners at Libby and on Belle Isle,
whom he was surprised to find in so COM
Portable condition.
Col Jacques was not accredited in the
slightest way by President Lincoln or the
Government; but was merely permitted
to visit Richmond on his own account, to
see what he could DO a an individual to-
wards bringing about state OF things
more for the advantage of the beIligerent
parties. He gives no particulars, but feels
sanguine his labors will result in much
ultimate good.
This is a marvellous story to relate, but
there seems to he no doubt of its substan
tial truth. We do not expect any peace
however, to grow out Of this mission of The
reverend Colonel Nor do We expect thai
the Government at Washington will enter
tain proposals of peace on any other basis
than that which Mr.. Lincoln has Away
insisted on-that the rebels shall lay down
their arms, and submit themselves to the
laws and Constitution Of the United States.