Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-07-29
Peace and Rumors Of Peace.

Peace and Rumors Of Peace.
The correspondence between Mr..
Horace Greeley, the President and GER
tain rebels now in Canada, published
in our Geographic columns last Friday,
to some extent confirms previous rumors
of negotiations for peace between our
Government and its enemies.
From this correspondence itwouldap
pear that on the 14th inst, George N.
Saunders, then at the Clifton House at
Niagara Falls, British side, addressed a
letter to Mr.. Greeley, informing him
that Mr.. Clay, of Alabama, Holcomb, of
Virginia, and Saunders were ready and
willing to proceed at once to Washing
ton, upon complete and unqualified pro-
lection being afforded them. (About the
same date several other rebels, number
ing from 5000 to $4,000, also expressed
their readiness and willingness to pro-
coed to Washington, and we have no
doubt would have desired safe escort. J
On the 18th Mr.. Greeley addressed
Messrs. Clay, Thompson and Holcomb,
stating that he was informed they were
duly authorized from Richmond as bear
ers of proposition lookingt to the estab-
lishment of peace, and for this purpose
they desired to visit Washington, that if
his Information was correct he was au-
thorized by the President totender them
safe journey. TO this the rebels made
the following reply:
1--WE have the honor to acknowledge your ia
vor of the 18th inst, which would have been
answered yesterday, but for the absence OF Mr..
Clay. The safe conduct OF the President OF the
United States has been rendered, we regret to
state, under amisapprehension ofiacts. Wehave
not been accredited from Richmond as the bear
ers of propositions looking to the establishment
of peace. We are, however, in the confidential
employ of our Government, and entirely famil'
lar with its works and opinions on that subject,
and feel authorized to declare that II the Cir
cumstances disclosed in this correspondence
were communicated to Richmond we would be
at once invested with the authority to which
your letter REFERS or other gentlemen with full
power, would immediately be sent to Washing
ton with the view OF Fastening the cOnSumma-
ton much desired, and terminating at the
earliest possible moment the calamities ofwar."
The President thereupon addresses the
following letter:
EXECUrIvE MANSION,
| WASHINGTON, July Is, 1854.
| To ,chom it may concern ANY proposition
which embraces the restoration OF peace, the in
tegrity of the whole Union and the abandon
ment of slavery, and which comes by and with
authority that can controle the armies now Mt
war against the United States, will be received
and considered by the Executive Government
of the United States, and Will be met with lib
eral terms on substantial points, and the bearers
thereof shall have safe conduct both ways.
tSlgnedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
All this correspondence then amounts
to nothing, unless the rebels avail them
selves of the terms proposed by the Pres
dent. There they stand, and may be
accepted now or hereafter.
But what are these rebels doing about
Niagara Falls? They say they are not
authorized from Richmond to make
proposals looking to the establishment
of peace, but are in the confidential en-
pIoymeW of the rebel government, and
are exceedingly anxious to return to
Richmond by way of washington. Has
their presence anything to do with the
political cauldron? Are they not palm
ing themselves off as peace agents to aid
the Peace Party of the North? Be that
as it may, they propose nothing by way
of settlement of our difficulties. AS
the President has briefly stated the
terms upon which he will negotiate
peace, let us now turn to those terms,
formally and officially promulgated by
the rebel government.
| In the manifesto ofthe rebel Congress
requiring an acknowledgment of the
southern Confederacy appear the terms
upon which our enemies will pro-
pose or accept peace. 1t is now
left for the people to determine whether
the peace so devoutly desired by
all shall be based upon "the integ-
rity of the whole Union and the aban-
donment of slavery" or the indie
pendence of the South" The only
question now is g shall we preserve the
Union without slavery" or shall we
consent to Union dissolved and broken
into fragments?
The appearance of Saunders & Co. at
Niagara is not to proffer terms upon
which they will return to their allie
glance, but to lay the frame work of the
Chicago platform. Let us not be de-
ceived by these fellows, but aid Grant
and Sherman in the terms they are en-
forcing. They will secure us the most
enduring peace. Let them be our Com
missioners, and our terms "uncon-
ditional surrender"
r. L L