Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-07-28
TO tohom Il may concerN::

whole Union, and the abandonment of
slavery, and which comes by and with an
authority that can control the armies now at
war with the L. S., will be received and
by the Executive Government
of the United States, and will be met by
liberal terms on other substantial and collat !
eral points, and the bearer and bearers
thereof shall have safe conduct both ways.
[Signedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Major Hay would respectfully inquire
whether Prof. Holcombe and the gentle
men associated with him, desire to send to
Washington by Major Hay any messages in
reference to the communication delivered
to him on yesterday, and in that case when
he may expect to be favored with such mes
sages,
INTENTIONAL HOTEL, Thursday.
Mr.. Holcombe presents his compliments
to Major Hay, and greatly regrets if his re-
turn to Washington has been delayed by
any expectation of an answer to the CON.
munication which Mr.. Holcombe received
from him on yesterday, to be delivered to
the President Of the United States. That
communication was accepted as the response
to letter of Messrs. Clay and Holcombe
to the Hon. Horace Greeley, and to that
gentleman an answer has been transmit
ted.
The application to Which you refer was
elected by your letter Of the 18th inst, in
which you inform Mr.. Jacob Thompson
and ourselves that you were authorized by
the President of the United States TO ten
der us his safe conduct, on the hypothesis
that we were duly accredited from Rich
mond as bearers of propositions looking to
the establishment of peace, and desired to
visit Washington in the fulfillment of the
mission. This assertion, to which we then
gave and still do give entire credence, was
accepted by us as the event Of an unexpec-
ted but most gratifying change in the policy
Of the President A change which we felt
authorized to hope might terminate in the
conclusion Of peace mutually just, hon
orable and advantageous to the North and
to the South. Exactiug no condition but
that we should be duly accredited from
Richmond as bearers OF propositions look
ing to the establishment Of peace, thus
proftering basis for conference as compre-
hensiyc as we could desire, it seemed to us
that the President had opened door which
had previously been closed against the Con-
iederate States, for a full interchange of
sentiments; free discussion of conflicting
opinions and untrammelled effort to remove
all causes of controversy by liberal ncgotia-
| ton. We, indeed, could not claim the
benefit of u safe conduct which had been
offered us in a character we had no right to
assume, and had never affected to possess
but the universal declaration Of our Execu-
tive and Congress, and their thrice repeat
ed and as often rejected attempt to open
negotiations, furnished 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, therefore, no
hesitation in declaring that if this cores
pondence was communicated to the Presl-
dent Of the Confederate States, he would
promptly embrace the opportunity present
ed for seeking peaceful solution Of this
unhappy strife We feel confident you
must share our profound regret that the
spirit which dictated the first step toward
peace had not continued to animate the
counsels Of the President.
Had the representatives of the two gov
ernments met to consider this question, the
most momentous ever submitted to human
craftsmanship, in temper of becoming
moderation ana equity. formed, as thei
deliberations would have been, by the pray
ers and benedictions of every patriot an,
Christian on the habtable globe, who i
there so bold as to pronounce that tn
trightful waste of individual happiness an,
public prosperity, which is daily saddenin,
the universal heart might not have beel
Terminated; or, if the desolation and car
mage of war must still be endured throug
weary years of blood and suffering, ther
might at least have been infused int
its conduct, something more of the spiri
which soltcns and partially redeems its bru
: talites.
Instead of the safe conduct which we Sc
licited and which your first letter gave u
every reason to suppose would be eXtende
for the purpose Of initiating negotiation
! in which neither government would con
promise its rights or its dignity, II docr
! mcnt has been presented which proyokes 4
much indignation as surprise. 1t bears n
, feature of resemblance to that which wa
originally offered, and is unlike any papC
which ever before emanated from the cor
stitutional executive of free people. Ac
dressed "To whom it may concern, it pre-
cludes negotiation and prescrlbes in at
vance the terms and conditions Of peace,
1t returns to the original policy Of n
bargaining no negotiation, no truces wit
rebels, except to bury their dead, unit
every man should have laid down his arm.
, submitted to the government, and sued fl
, mercy. What may be the explanation
, this sudden and entire change in the view
of the President, of the rude withdraw
of Il courteous overture for negotiation ,
the moment it was likely to be accepted,
this emphatic recall Of words of peace ju
uttered, and fresh blasts of war to ii
' bitter end, we leave Tor the speculation {
those who have the means or the inclin
ton to penetrate the mysteries of h
cabinet or iathom the caprice Of his imper
al will.
1t is enough for US to say that we ha,
no use whatever for the paper which h;
been placed in our hands. We could NJ
transmit it to the President of the Confe,
t crate States without offering him an ndil
t nifty, dishonoring ourselves, and lncurril
3 the well mcrited scorn Of our countr.
l men.
: Whilst an ardent desire for peace pc
r vades the people of the Confederate State
. we rejoice to believe there are few, if an
u amongst them who would purchase it
the expense of liberty, honor, and selfr
Spcct If it can be secured only 10y the
submission to terms of conquest, the &c
;, Grafton is yet unborn which will witness
restoration. If there be any military aut
crat in the North who is authorized
proffer the conditions of this manifest
there is none in the South authorized
accept them.
Those who control our armies are the sc
If wants of the people, and not their master
It and they have no more inclination th'
II they have the right to subyert the local
'e stitutions of sovereign States, to overtime
A Il ~ Il