Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-10
SOME WORDS on PEACE AND WAR.
Statement by Mr.. Horace Greeley.

In this weeks Independent Mr. HORACE
GREELEY gives under his own name the follow
ing statement regarding the recent peace ne
gotiations. Some of the facts presented are
not new TO the public, but that they Ray
know the construction which Nj. GREELEY
puts upon them We give his statements entire:
Last week was signalized by two efforts to
initiate negotiations with view to the paci-
fcation of our country. The more impoT
portant of these had Richmond for its arena.
Mr.. J. Il. Gilmore-more widely known as
Edmund krke, author of Among the
Pines paid an unofficial visit to Richmond
accompanied BY Rev. Col. James F. Jluues
of the Seyenty-third Illinois, and had ia
miliar interview with Jefferson Davis and
several OF his Leutenants. They went with
the full knowledge of the President, intent
on devisinc or discovering some ground of
accommodation and adjustment between the
belhgerents now devastiug the Republic, and
appear TO have been treated with signal
courtesy, and even generous hospitality, but
hal no success. Mr.. Gilmore gives the net
product of the unofficial mission in this pi-
quaint passage
g jefferson Davis said TO me last Sunday,
and, with all his faults, | believe him a man
of truth tbs mast 20 o5JfW tie last Of
this ga.sratioa fails u, hiS trsckS, and his chi
dea se,ze his haalsket AMI right our battles, 1eicSS
0o1t acknowledge right Of Self-gou6y7ane1t--
Ne are not fighting for dageyy. We are right
ing for independence; and hot, or ertegnjnation,
gce r'H huge'F
Mr.. Davis, | believe, has not vet acknowl-
edged the right of his black countrvmen To
selEgovernment' or independence either.
Nor does he acknowledge the right of North
Carolina to secede from his confederacy, and
thus disconnect herself from a rebellion into
which she was precipitated by the grossest
frauds. The Unionists of the South were
conceded no right but apostacy, on peril of
extermination by Davis and his upholderS.-
Yet he, doubtless, is fighting for I" independ-
ence"-for freedom TO impose chains on half
the people of the Slave States, and to reign
as autocrat over the residue. "Independ-
ence' is to him power, state, luxury import
ance; but TO the undistinguished many, even
of whites, under his sway. it is quite other
than these. We may safely assume that he
viii make no peace that restores the Union,
so long as there is possible alternative
Yet the Gilmore-Jaques mission is no failure,
though it resulted but in demonstrating this.
In the other effort Tor peace, was partci-
pant, as follows:
Some time since, it was announced by tel
egraph from Halifax that Messrs. c. c. Clay,
of Alabama; Jacob Thompsoa, OF Mississippi,
(EX-United States Senators > Prof j. I. Hol-
combe, of the University of Virginia, and
Geo \. Sanders, of Kentucky had reached
that city from Dixie, via Bermuda, on impor-
taut business; and all OF these, but Mr..
Thompson, (whu Is in Toronto) were soon
quartered at the Clifton, on the Canada side
of Niagara Falls. | heard sooE after of con-
fidential interviews between some or all of
these gentlemen and leading Democrats from
own and the neighboring States, and
there were Geographic whispers of overtures
for reconstruction and conditions were
set forth as those on which the. Confederates
would consent to reunion. Il cannot say
that any of the reports were Guthentic.) At
length, after several less direct intmations
received a private letter from Mr. Sanders
stating that Messrs. Clay, Holcombe, himself
and another, desired to visit Washington
'upon complete and unqualified protection
being gwen by the President or the Secre-
tary of " ar"
As | saw no reason why the Opposition
should be the sole recipients of these gentle
mems overtures, if such there were, land ii is
stated that Mr.. Clay aforesaid is preparing
is to prepare an important letter TO the Chi
cago Convention wrote the President, urg.
ing him to invite the rebel gentlemen afore-
said to Washington, there to open their bud
get | stated expressly that | knew not
what they would propose if SO invited, but
could imagine offer that might be made
by them which would not conduce, in one
way or another to a restoration of the integ-
lily ana Just authority OF the L MOI.
The President ultimately acquesced in this
view SO far to consent that the rebel
agents should visit Washington, but directed
that | should proceed TO Niagara and accom-
pany them thence TO the capital. This ser
vice | most reluctantly undertook, feeling
deeply and observing that almost any one
else might better have been sent on this err
rand. But time seemed precious, and i'm
mediately started
Arrived on this side of the Falls | wrote
across TO Messrs Clay & Co, stating that, on
the understanding that they had the needful
powers from the authorities at Richmond, |
was authorized and ready to give them safe
conduct to " Washington. They responded
that, though in the confidential employment
OF their Government, and fully conyersant
with its views and purposes, they had not the
specific powers | required, but would get
them, If permitted, and desired-in order 20
save time-to proceed at once to Washing
ton and be permitted thence to communicate
with Richmond for the purpose Not feeling
at liberty to conceae this, | telegraphed to
Washington for further instructions, and was
duly informed that Maj. Hay, the Presidents
private Secretary, would soon be on his way
TO me. He reached the Falls on the 10Th,
and we soon crossed over to the Clifton,
where Maj. Hay, after mutual introdGctions
handed Prof Holcombe the following paper,
Executive MANSION, WAsHISGrox,l
July IS, 1864.
TO 5gbobt Il may concern
ANY proposition which embraces the resto-
ration 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 cor
sidered by the Executive Government Of the
United States. and will be met by liberal
terms on substantial and collateral points
and the bearer thereof shall have safe con
duct both WAYS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
left the Falls by the next trim leaving
Major HAY 10 receive any response TO the
Presidents profrr, should any be made but
there was none. Nessrs- Clay and H0lcombe
addressed to me a letter of sharp criticism
on the Presidents proffer abb quoted,
which / first read in the columns of the Galy
journals Of this city. And here the matter
closed despite all rumors Of further or other
negotiations. Messrs. Clay, Holcombe and
Sanders remain at the Falls, or at the ada