Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-11
THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.


in the negotiations for peace which were brought
to such an abrupt termination by the letter Of the
President, addressed " To Whom it may Concern"
naturally gives particular interest to all his state
ments with regard to the origination of that diplo
matte episode which, we need not say, is as novel
for the character of the ministers plenpotentiary
and ENJOYS extraordinary employed by the Presi-
sident to receive what he supposed to be serious
proposition, as for the point of time at which he
interposed his ulfmatum, being in the beginning
rather than at the end of the correspondence.
The circumstances under which the negotiations
were initiated are thus stated by Mr. Greeley, who,
until Major Hay came on the stage, was the sole
Mr. Greeley says, Eve quote from his weekly letter
in the New York independently.
II wrote the President urging him to invite the rebel
gentlemen aforesaid to Washington there to open their
budget stated expressly that knew not what they
would propose if invited, but could Imagine no offer
that might be made by them which could not condnce in
way another to restoration oil The integrity and
Just authority of the Union.
The President ultimately acquiesced in this view so
far as to consent the rebel agents should visit Wash
npon but directed that should proceed to Niagara and
accompany them thence to The capital This service
most reluctantly undertook feeling deeply and observing
that almost any else might better have been sent
this errand But time seemed precious, and immediately
started,
arrived on this side of the Falls / wrote to
Messrr Clay g. Co., stating that the understanding
that they had the needu powers from the authorities at
Richmond authorz d and ready to give hem safe
conduct Washington. They responded that though in
the confidential employment of their Government, aud
fully with its views and purposes they had not
the specific powers required but would get them, if per-
mittsd and desred-in order TO tmeto proceed at
once to Washington and be permitted thence to commu
nicate with Richmond for the purpose Not feeling at
liberty to concede this tsegraphed to Washington for
further instructions, and duly informed that Major
Hay the Presidents private secretary would soon be on
his way TO me He reached the Falls the %0tb and
soon crossed over to the Clifton where Major Hay after
mutual introductlons handed Prof Hocombe he follow
ing paper il the handwriting of the President:
@# EXECUTIVE MANsIoR
"WAsHISGToE, July 18th, 1864.
ANY proposition which the restora ion of peace
the ct the whole Union and the abandonment OF
slavery and which BY sDd with an authority That
control the armies against The United States, viii
ceved considered by the Execu"e Government OF
the United States, and will be met by errs on cub.
sanal and collateral points and the bearer ~ col shall
have safe conduct both ways ABRAHAM l. eoLA.
Il left the Falls by the next train leaving Major Hay
to any response to the Presidents profa should
any be made but there was none. Messrs. Clay aud
Hocombe addressed to letter of sharp criticism on
the Presidents prefer above quoted which first read
in the columns of the daily journals of this city And here
the matter closed despite Ill umors of further or other
negotiations"
Still more minute and circumstantia is the fol-
lowing narrative published by Mr.. Greeley in the
Tribune of Friday last, in which he says:
wrote the President (ss understood that others did
to his Premier, If not to hm that certain eminent rebels
ere in Canada, at near Niagara Falls who Professed
to have authority from Richmond to propose terms of
peace that they were holding confidential interviews
with leading Democrats from this side that it
reuty reported that terms Of reconstruction were
pounded and considered between them end that it
further reported that one OF them mr. C. c. Clay hal
agreed to address leter TO the Chicago Convention in
dicating Of peace aSt reunion 80 much heard,
Tin common presume, with many ohers) and It seemed
to me desirable that il such terms psrs profered the
Cove nmept of the United States should have the first
fusa of them And recoect that 10 The first aud much
the longest letter which addressed to the President on
this subject rough Indicated certain bases OF and
reunion which thought it would re expedent TO oher to
the rebels their proer to the doyesament should
be-as feared it would be-one that could not 70 ac
copied The brief reply to this letter was TO this eject
''If any persons duly authorized by the rebe pre-
par offer such terms of peace and instruction AS you
set forth, bring them to Washington
81 at once rjoined, of Mr.. President, do
not know uat terms the prepared offer
How could know 7 have authority and am for.
hidden by law to approach them the subject aud
how could expect 10 open their hearts to such
natter III yon desire to ASCERTAIN what sort of
proposition t6ey prepared to make, will do my best
but with faint hopes of My point is not that
they stand ready to offer terms that you can accept but
that they offer terms that you DH not strengthen
the national cause by receipiRg and considering Che
unreasonable and offensive their terms the better for
, our side provided we not able to accept them
!" There may have been more note on either SIDE
but think not write from recollection merely subj
to correction by the correspondence when published But
am not mistaken The vital point above set foth-ha
the President finally scqueserd in my view of the matter
90 far TO consent to receive whatever proposition
agents duly accredited from Richmond might 6t to
offer and that went to Niagara fully authorized to prof
fer safe conduct and accompany to Washington the per-
sons specified, the understanding that they
powered 10 submit and ;rorid submit terms Of pac6ca
ton and that there conditions hey opd these.
aOf course, the missve, To Whom t May Concern,
brought to Niagara by Msior Hay hanged all this"
Having thus placed in a clear light the part no
had in bringing the mind of the President to ao-
.quiesce in his view of the matter, so far as con-
cerned the propriety Of listening to what Messrs.
Clay and Holcombe had to say, MIR. Greeley natu-
rally regrets the terms of the note in which the
President imprudenhy showed his hand before he
Lad called on the insurgent messengers to show
theirs for if there was any thing to be gained by
these negotiations in the interest either of the Go
vernment or OF the Republican party in tho ap-
preaching election, Mr.. Greeley thinks it could
have been better gained by throwing on Messrs.
; Clay and Holcombe the responsibility Of taking
the initiative in exposing their views and purposes
To this effect he says, while expressing his per-
sonal approval of the terms of the Presidents uti-