The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-22

by Jour lttter Of the l7gh instant, In which
infoIm Mr. Jacob Thompson and ourselves that
N0L were anthlrs d by tbo President OF Ihe
Unitd STATES to tender az bis safe con ln,t
On tho hy pOthess that we were " dolly
accredited fr IN Richmond as betrer5 II
propositions booking 10 the ostibli7hment
OF pence" and d. lrPd visit 70 WRshias-
ion 10 she 'ulalm'ns Of this mission.
THIS assertion, 10 which we lhen gave, end
sill DO obt re cUdrnoo was ac epted ny us as
She evidence Ct an uu,Noeytcd, has most g-gliJ
! change 10 the policy Of tho L esuloB',
c1Rnge which We tel authorized 30 lpe mis
iCtmn ste in the cnpru,inn OF % icg mu uA ~
'uai honorable and advantageous 60 she N lr.h
uJ iO She south, eNicring no co lditiOr Out hat
we hOud be duly RGTe1trd from NcHnond
as hearers Of p-OpOsiOns 10 king 60 thes tllhl-h.
meut Of peace Thus proh'ring basis for CON.
ftuncc 90 comprehensyN ~ w ,uld desire, il
seemed - us tbsl toe President oDensd d 5Or
which hat prev Ou-ly been closed against tho
CUnit derl.e Stats Tor fun interchange OF sanU.
uetts, fue discussion Of conflicting opinions,
az unirummeli . Efforts 10 remove all clu4ss
of controversy by liberal negotiations. We, Inc
deed, cou d not claim the houoi. OF q safe coa-
duct which has been extended % us 10 O. cha
fat ter we had no right TO assume, and ha never
expected o po-scss; butthe uniform delegations
Of our Executive aud Congress, and thclr thrics.
repeated and as often repulscl, gtemp's 70 open
negotiations, furnish q sutll iont pledge o
secure Us that this cOnciliatorv manifestation on
the part Of the President Of the Unied ates
would be met by them in tamper Of efull mag
nalimty. We had, therefore, no hesitation iu
dcclari < that ii this correspondence was con-
muDcated o. q g PresihCu' Of the Confederate
States, he would promptly embrace the oppJr-
tuuiy presented for seeBinR peaceful solution
Of this unhappy strife. We feel confident IN
you must shore our profound regret that the
spirit which dictated the first step towards pace
had not continued to animate the Counstls
Of your President. II h the representatives. Of
the tao Governments met TO consider this ques.
ton, the most mOmGnJOus ever submitted to
human sta esmansbip, ia temper OF becoming
moderation and equity, TO lowed ~ their delibe-
ratiOns would have been by the prayers and
benediCiuns Of every patriot and Christian on the
hObitQbIC globe, who is there so bold as TO pro-
uounce that the frighttul waste of IN liNidual
happiness and pub ic pro sperity which Is daily
been terminated; or Il the dcsolation and
carnage Of war must still be endured through
weary years Of blood aud suffering, that thero
might not at least have been infused into its con.
duct something more OF tthC spiritwhich softeusand
partially Tedeems is hOstlltes. Iu,tead OF the
safe conduct which we solicited, and which your
first letter gave MS every reason tO suppose
would be extended for the purpose OF iniJint-
ing a DeEo iation in which mel her Government
would compromise its rights or iJs dLgn ty,
q document has been presented which pro
yOkes rs much indignation ss surprise. II bears
no feature of resemblance TO that which was
originally offered aud Is unlike any paper which
ever before emanat,d from the constitutional
Executive Of free people Addressed "to
whom II may concern il procludcs negotiation,
and pre- CrbCs In advance the terms IN 1 Condi-
lions OF peace. lt returns 70 the original policy
Of "No bargaining, no negotiations, no trlCes with
Rebels, except 70 bury their dead, until every
man shull have laid down his arms, submitted TO
the Government and sued for mercy" What
may be the explanation Of this sudden and entire
change in the views Of the President and this rude
withdrawal Of courteous overture for negOtia-
tiCn NJ the moment IL was likely 70 be accented
Of this emphatic recall OF words Of peace just
uttered, and fresh blasts Of war TO the bitter end
we leave for the speculation of those who
have the means or inclination 10 penetrate the
mysteries Of his Cabinet, or iathom the ca
price OF his imperial will. IL is enough for rs to
say that we have no use whatever for the paper
which has been placed in our hands. We could
not transmit il 20 she President of the COntcdC-
rate States without offering him an indignity,
disbonOring ourselves, aud incurring the we'll
mPrited scOrn of our countrymon.
Whilst an ardent desire for peace pervades the
people Of the Confederate atcs, We rejoice IL
believe thar there are few, IL any, among them
who would purchase It Rt the expense of liberty
honor and selErespect. If il can be secured only
by their submission 20 terms Of conquest, the
gentr ration Is yet unborn which will witness itt
restitution, If there be any military autOcrat In
the North who is entitled to proder the conditions
of this manifesto, there is none IN the South au
thorizld 20 entertain them.
Those who COnnol onr armies are the servants
OF the people, not their masters and they have
| no moro inclination than they have right 70 sub
vert the social institutions of the sovereign States
to overthrow their established Constitutions, Ant
&c barter away their priceless heritage OF self
| government, This correspondence will not
however We trust, prove wholly barren Of goOc
| results
Ii there Is any citizen Of the Confederate State,
| who has chung 10 hope that peace was possible
| with this Administration of the Federal Govern
meDt, It will strip from his eyes the last tilm o
| such n deusioA. Or, if there be any whose
| hearts have grown faint under the suffering anC
| agony of this bloody struggle, II will inspire
| Them with fresh energy TO endure and brave
| whatever may yet be requisite TO preserve t
| Themselves and their children al tha
| gives dignity and value TO lfe or hope
! and cJnsOlation to death. And if tnere be any
pa'rios or Christiars in your land who shrink sp
palled nom the iimitablU virtue Of private MISERY
| and puhlCca amity which stretches before them
| we pray that In their bosom a resolution may b,
| quickened to recall the abused authority aud vim
diCate the outraged Ciyi zation Of their country
For the solicllude you have manifested TO inan
| gurate n movement which cOntemplates results
| The most noble and humane, we return our sin
cere thsDEsi aud are, most respectfully and truly
your ObediGut servants
C.C CLAY, JR.,
tANEE p IInTttNuE