The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-02
Tuesday, August g, 1864.

PEACE PEOPOSITIONS.-We publish correspon-
dence between southern gentlemen in Canada,
Messrs G. c. Clay of Ala, and J. P. Holcombe OF
Virginia, and Horace Greedy, editor of the New
York Tribune, in regard to peace propositions. 1t
appears from this correspondence that Mess'S clay
and Holcombe engaged the services OF Greedy to
procure from President Lincoln permission for them
to visit Washington city to discuss terms of peace.
Lincoln at first granted permission, but afterwards
coupled it sTith terms that could not be entertained
nv anv southern man. He tells Messrs Clay and
uocombe that they may visit Washington if they
are ready to agree to terms of peace which will
store the Union and abolish slavery. Of course
this was equal to refusing the visit. as the terms
proposed amounts to nothing but subjugation If
the Confederates will throw down their arms give
up their negroes, and agree to live IN union with
people who have destroyed their property, and muir
dered their and Children they may have
peace from Lncoln-not without Even Greedy,
abolitionst as he is seems to consider these terms
degrading, and is dspleased with Lincoln's course.
AS was to have been expected. some of the north
ern papers construe the application of Messrs Clay
and IIocombe to visit Washington, as an acknow-
ledgmcnt of the failure of the Confederate cause.
They will find out their mistake and learn that
no honorable respectable southern man will ever
consent to peace on the degrading terms proposed
by Lincoln The correspondence alluded to
pies considerable space but think the reader will
be interested in its perusal.
think
at the North and build up a stronger opposition to
the Lincoln party everywhere Already it is an
nouncci from the North that Lncon's conduct in
tho affair has damaged his prospects for reelection.
AoTHER PEACE MoVEMENT.-It appears that
there has recently been two Yankee Commissioners
at Richmond to talk about peace. The Richmond
Enquirer alludes to the matter as follows:
1--WE much gratifed at the opportunity which
is presented of commenting on the recent efforts
made by both governments towards negotiations for
peace 1t appears that on the 18th inst, Mr.
George n. Saunders wrote to Horace Greeley, of
the New York "Tribune," asking safe conduct
for Prof. Holcombe Hon. c. C.. Clay, of Alabama,
and himself to Washington. Almost Simultaneous
ly, q commission from Mr. Lincoln. consisting of
Col. Jacques of Illinois, and Mr. Gilmore ap-
pcared in the flag of truce boat at Narina, and
brought to Richmond. Whatever may have been
the purport of the mission of Col. jacques and Mr..
Gilmore to Richmond it has not transpired as yet.
and. though the presence of these gentlemen was
known to did not feel authorized to ude to it.
AS for the Clifton House effort at negotiations,
chaper0ned by Mr. Saunders, do not believe that
gentleman holds any authority from President Davis
to initiate peace negotiations but that his connec
ton with the matter has been entirely voluntary.
Intimate with all classes of Iankee politicians and
well versed in their character, MIR. Saunders doubt
less undertook to start the negotiations, and, with
great deal of tact pressed Horace Greeley into
the service of peace
But Mr. Lincoln will have nothing TO do with any
such proceedings. He will not recognize Mr. Hol- |
connie, Mr. Clay, OR even Mr. Saunders. SO much
to reply to their application, but addresses q
ITO Whom it may Concern proclamation, that if
they by and with authority that control |
the armies now at war with the United States and
prepared to submit to the restoration of 1.-THE in
tcgrity of the whole Union and the abandonment of
slavery" then ''any' such ''propositions which
braces the restoration of peace will be .received
and consdered;" and he goes automatically to !
say that he will meet such propositions with ''ibe |
ral terms on other Substantial and collateral points,
tho II
can hardly be possible that Mr. Lincoln sent Col. |
jacques and MIR. Gilmore to Richmond to submit |
any such propositions to the ''authority that can
control the armies now at against the United |
States or that these gentlemen, with credentials
directed, would have been permitted to leave the
flag of truce boat. The Baltimore Gazette reports
that these gentlemen had two interviews with ''Mr
Davls'-n quotation marks, to preclude the
recognition of him President Davis-and that
MIR Davis would consent to nothing short of the
cognitiOn of the Confederacy." From our own au
thorItles nothing has been permitted to be known
to the object of this "secret MISSION but it will
come out in the Yankee papers, and turn out,
expect, clectioneering trick for Lincoln, to
break the forge of that unfortunate rejection of Mr.
HolCOmbe and Mr. CLAY.
But we rejoice to steps being taken for peace,
no matter with how much insincerity the part of
Mr. Lincoln. The fact that he has yielded to the |
peace sentiment so far to send two gentlemen to
Richmond, shows that the Influence of peace il as
serting its sway. and that the Dictator has been |
compelled to yield somewhat to it.
Let us have armistice-let the armies be with
drawn from the States of the Confederacy, and nego
tatons opened and discussion of the terms of peace
undertaken
Without an armitice, without the armies of the !
united States being withdrawn from territory. !
without the recognition of the Confederate States
there can be conference, discussions and it re-
mans nothing but runous and destructive war;
There is not citizen of the Confederacy that does
not desire most earnestly peace, but there is
that docs not prefer to any cessation of hostii
recognize nationality,
For that we have fought, and that we will have
proposition for reunion, or restoration, or recon
sructon, for alliances for trade, for commerce. but
that not granted the must continue.''
That's the right position-independen ce first and
discussions afterwards. But respectable man
IN the South will ever agree to reconstruction
Northern letter-writers refer to the visit of JAG
ques and Gilmore to Richmond as follows:
The report that they acted in an official canaci-
ty for the Federal Government or that thew ware
in Richmond as agents, messengers ENJOYS &c of
the United States, is untrue. The object of their
mission not present in its nature but altogeth-
er Interior and dependent upon contingencies which
may arise hereafter. Although it is not officially
known what was the precise object of their mission,
still it is understood that it looked to restoration
OF peace They reached Richmond by passing, |
with PERMISSION, through Grants lines. They |
1ouha no dlhcuty in entering the Confederate
nnes and IN tact every courtesy was kindly extern
ued to them as they journeyed towards the capital
As soon as Colonel Jacques arrived in Ricbmond
lie requested that he might be placed under Guard.