The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-07-29

Greeley, and which duplicate l now fur
nish to the Associated Press.
(Signed) WIN, CORNELL JRwErr.
Clifton House, G. W., July q.
Hon. HoRACE GREELEY .--.
Sra-The paper handed to Mr.. Hal
comb yesterday, in your presence, by MAJ
Hay, A. A. G as al answer to the appli-
cation in our note Of the 18th inst., is
couched in the following terms:
... "FxECUrIvE MANSION,
WAsHINGroN, July Is, 1864. !
"To Whom i: May Concern:
ANY proposition which embraces the
restoration of peace, the integrity of the
whole 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 and considered by the executive
government of the United States, and will
be met by liberal terms on other substan-
.ial and collateral points; and the bearer
or bearers thereof shall have safe conduct
both ways.
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The application to which We refer WAS
elected by your letter of the 18th inst,
in which you inform Mr.. Jacob Thompson
and ourselves that you we're authorized by
the President of the United States to ten
der to us his safe conduct on the conli-
ton tina. we were duly accredited from
Richmond as bearers of propositions look
ing to the establishment Of peace, and de-
sired to visit Washington, in fulillment of
this mission.
This assertion, to which we then gave,
and sill do give, entire credence, was &C.
cepted by US as the evidence of an uuex.
pected, but most gratifying, change in the
policy Of the President-a change which,
we felt authorized to hope, might ulti-
nately lead to the conclusion Of a peace
mulually jus. and advantageous to the
North and to the South. Exacting no
conditions but that we should be duly ac-
credited from Richmond as bearers of
propositions looking to the.establishment
o: peace. thus proffering basis for con-
ference as comprehensive as we could de-
SIRE it seemed to US that the President
opened door, which had been previously
closed against the Confederate States, for
fair interchange of sentiments, free dis
cusson Of conflicting opinions, and un-
trammeled effort to remove all causes OF
controversy by liberal negotiation. We,
indeed, could not claim the benefit of a
safe conduct which had been extended to
US in character We had no right to as
sumo and had never affected to possess
but the uniform declarations Of our Exec>
utive and Congress-, and their thrice re-
peated and as often repulsed attempts to
open negotiations, furnished a sufficient
pledge that this conciliatory manifestation
on the part of the President of the United
States would be met by them in temper
of equal magnanimity. We had, there
FORE no hesitation in declaring that, if this
correspondence was communicated to the
President Of the Confederate States, be
would promptly embrace the opportunity
presented for seeking peaceful solution
Of this unhappy strife.
We feel confident you must share our
profound regret that the spirit which die
tated the first step toward peace had moi
continued TO animate the councils of you,
President. Had the representatives. of the
two governments met to consider thi:
question, the most momentous ever sub.
mtted to human statesman, in a temper
Of becoming moderation and equity, fol-
lowed, as their deliberations would have
been, by the prayers and benedictions O
every patriot and Christian on the habita
bic globe, who is there that is SO bold a.
to pronounce that the frightful waste O
individual happiness and public prosperity
which is daily saddening The universe
heart. might not have been terminated, or
if the desolston and carnage OF war mus
still have endured for many weary year
Of blood and suffering, that there might q
least have been infused into its conduc
something more of the spirit which soft
ents and partially redeems Its brutalism
Instead of the safe conduct which W,
solicited and which your first letter CAV
US every reason to suppose would be ex
tended, for the purpose Of initiating nego
: tiations in which neither government wo',
compromise lis rights or its dignity,
document has been presented which pro
vokss as much indignation as surprise
It bears no feature of resemblance 10 tina
which was originally offered, and is unlik
any paper which ever emanated from tn
constitutional Executive Of fire., people
Addressed "To whom it nav concern,