Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-22

/ cscu IVY sCs"s 4N~t
To Whom il MAY Concern:
Any proposition which embraces the restora-
ton of peace. the integrity Of the whole Union,
and the abandon ment of slavery, and which came
by and with an authority that can control the ar
mics now st war against the United States. will
be received and considered by the Executive Gov
eminent of the U. s, will be met BY liberal
terms on other aud substantial and collateral
points. and the bearers thereof shall have safe
conduct both ways. e
Signed ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The application TO which We refer was elected
by your letter of the 18th instant, in which YOU
inform Mr Jacob Thompson and ourselves that
YOU were authorized by the President OF the U
States TO tende. us safe conduct on the hypothe-
SIS that we were duly accredited from Richmond
a bearers Of propositions looking 10 the re-es
tablishment. and desired to visit Washington in
the fufllment of this mission. This assertion,
to which We then gave, aud still do. entire ere
dence was accepted by as evidence of an I'M
expected but most gratifying change in the poll
cy Of the President, change which We felt au-
thorzed to hope might terminate in the conclu-
sion of peace mutually just, honorable and adj
vantageous TO the North and to the South, ex-
acting no condition but that We should be duly
accredited from Richmond as bearers Of propo
sitiOns looking To the establishment of peace.
thus proffering a basis for conference compre.
hensive as We could desire.
IL seemed to US that the President opened n
door which had previously been closed against
the Confederate States for full interchange of
sentiments of free discussion of conflicting
opinions and untrammeled effort 10 remove all
causes of controversy by liberal negotiation.
We indeed could not claim the benefit of
safe conduct which had been extended to us
in a character we had no RICH. to assume and
had never affected to possess, but the uniform
declaration of our Executive snd thus thrice
repeated and after repulsed attempts TO open
negotiations furnished a 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 magnanim-
ity We had. therefore, no hesitation in de-
claring that If this correspondence was com
municated to the President of the Confederate
States he would promptly embrace the oppor
tunity presented for seeking n peaceful solution
OF this unhappy strife. We feel confident YOU
will Join in the profound regret that the spirit
which dictated the first step towards peace
should not have continued to animate the
councils of your President.
Had the representatives of two governments
met to consider this questionable most momen-
tous ever submitted to human craftsmanship, in
the attempt of moderation and equity followed
rs tn cir deliberations have been, by prayers and
benedictions of every patriot and Christian in
the habitable globe, who is there so bold to
pronounce that the frightful waste of individual
happiness and public prosperity, which is daily
sadienng the universal heart, might not have
been terminated or if the desolation or carnage
Of war must still be endured through many years
of blood and suffering. that there might not at
least have been infused into its conduct some.
thing more of the spirit which softeDs and par
tally redeems its brutalites iDstea1 of the safe
conduct which We solicited, and which YOUR first
letter gave us every reason TO suppose would be
extended for the purpose of initiating negota-
tons in which neither government would com
promise its rights or its dignity, document has
been presented which provokes as much indiF
nation as surprise.
IL bears no feature of resemblance to that
which was originally offered and is unlike any pa
per which ever emanated from the Constitution
al Executive Of free people, addressed to whom
il NAV concern Ii precludes negotiations and
ptescribes in ADVANCE terms and conditions OF
peace 1t returns to the original policy of no
bargaining 10 negotiations. no truce with reb.
els until every man should have laid down his
arms submitted to the Government and sued
for mercy. What NAV be the explanation Of
this sudden and entire change in the views of the
President: of this rude withdrawal of an overture
for negotiation at the moment it was likely to be
accented: OF the emphatic words of peace just
uttered and fresh blasts of to the bitter end,
We leave for the speculation of those who have
the means to solve the mysteries OF his Cabinet
or. fathom the caprice of his imperious will
II is enough for us To saw that we have no use
whatever for the paper which has been placed
in our hands. We could not transmit to the
President of the Confederate States without of
fering him an indignity dshonoring ourselves
ii tbo oil tod Of
c0untiymen. whilst an ardent desire for peace
ryades the PEOPLE Of the Confederate States
we rejoice To believe that there are few, If any
among them who would purchase it at the ex-
pense of liberty honor and self-respect If il
can be secured only 10y their submission to terms
of conquest, the generation is vet unborn which
will witness its restoration II there be any mil
itarv autocrat in the North who is entitled to
profer the conditions of this manifesto.
there ia none in the South authorized to
entertain them. those who control armies
are servants OF the people, not their masters, and
they have no more inclination than they have the
right to subvert the social institutions of the
sovereign States TO overthrow their established
constitutions and to barter away their heritage
of self-government This correspondence will
not however, we trust. prove wholly barren of
good results If there is any citizen of the Con-
federate States who has clung TO the hope thtt
I
Federal Government. il will strip the ewes of the
film of such delusion-or if there be any whose
hearts have grown faint under suffering and ag
onv of this bloody struggle, il will inspire them
with energy to brave whatever may be requisite
to preserve to themselves and their children all
that gives dignity and value to life or hope. and
consolation to death: and il there be any patriots
or Christians in your land. who shrink appalled,
from the illimitable virtue of private misery and
public calamity, which stretches before them,
we pray that in their bosoms a resolution NAV be
quickened TO reclaim the abused authority and
vindicate the outraged civilization Of their coun-
try.
For the socitude you have manifested to in
augurate a movement which contemplates re-
suits the most noble and huma n, we return our
sincere thanks. and are most respectfully and
truly your obedient servants.
(Sicred,) @. Q. CLAY. JR..
JAS. =. HoLCoNB.
From W ashingtO
WASHINGTON, July 2l.-The administration