Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-28

day. TO be delivered to tho President Of the United States
That communication accepted as the response to
letter OF Messrs Clay and Hoo0mbe to the Hon. H. Gree
ley and to that gentleman an answer has been trans
united.
i CLIFTON HOUSE, NIAGARA FALLS, July 81.
[Copy of original letter held by to deliver to tn
Hon Horace Greeley, and which duplicate furnis
| the Associated Press. VIM CORNELL JEwETT
| NIAGARA FALLS, CLIFTON HOUSE, July 81, 1864.
To the Hon. HORACE GREELEY.
SIR: The paper handed to Mr.. Hocombe on yesterday
in your presence, by Major Hay, A. A. g., as an answo
to the application in note of the 18th instant Is couch
cd in the following terms:
/ EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Warrington, July IL, 1864.
| g To whom IL may
ANY proposition which embraces the restoration Oh peace
the integrity of the whole Union, and the abandonment o.
slavery and which by and with an autnoIy tnat
the armies now at war against the
United States and will be met by liberal TERMS on olheI
substantial and collateral points, and the bearer or bearers
'A'N "ABRAHAm LIScoLs"
The application to which we refer elected by your
letter Of the 18th instant in which you inform Mr jacob
Thompson and ourselves that you authorized b the
of the United States to tender US his sale con-
duct, the hypothesis that were duly accredited
FROM Richmond bearers Of propositions looking to the
establishment Of peace" and desired visit to Washing
ton in the ulfmsnt Of this mission This assertion to
which we then gave and still do, entire credence was
ceped by us the evidence Of unexpected but most
gratifying change the policy Of the Presidents change
oh felt authorized to hope might terminate 10 the
conclusion of peace mutually just honorable and advan-
tageous to tho North and the South eIacng no condi
ton but that should be duly accredited from Rich
mond bearers of propositions looking to the establish
ment Of peace"
Thus proerDg basis for conference comprehensive
could DESIRE it seemed to that the President
opened door which had previously been closed against
the Confederate States for full interchange OF sentiment
free discussion of conflicting opinions and untrammelled
effort to all Of controversy by liberal nego
tatOns We indeed could not claim the beneht OF safe
conduct which had been extended to us IN character
had right to and had affected TO pos
but the uniform declarations of our Executive and
Congress- and their thrice repeated and IS often repused
attempts open negotiations furnish sufficient
US that this c0ncatOry manifestation on the part OF the
President of the United States would be met by them 10
temper of equal magnanimty. We had, therefore, no
hesitation in declaring that this correspondence was COM
would promptly embrace the opportunity presented for
seeking peaceful solutix nnof this unhappy strife
We feel confident that you must share profound re-
greet that the spirit which dictated the first step toward
peace had not continued animate the councils OF your
President. Had the representatives Of the two Govern
ments met to consider this question the most momentous
ever submitted to human statesmanshp IN temper OF
becoming moderation and equity, followed, as their de-
beratOns would have been by the prayers and benedc
ons Of every patriot and Christian on the habtabe globe
who is there bod as to pronounce that the frghul
waste of individual happiness and public prosperity which
daily saddenng the universal heart might not have been
terminated if the desoation and carnage of must
still be endured through weary years of blood and suffer
ing that there might not at least have been infused into
its conduct something Of the spirit which soens and
partially redeems its brutaltes
Instead Of the sale conduct which solicited and
which your first letter gave every to suppose
would be extended for the purpose of initiating negotia
toh in which neither Government would compromise its
rights its dignity document has been presented which
provokes as much indignation as surprise 1t bears no
feature of resemblance to that which originally of
ered and is unlike any paper which before emanated
from the constitutional executive of free people Ad-
dressed to whom it may concern precudes negota-
ton and prescrbes in advance the terms and conditions
of peace 1t returns to the original policy of bargain
ing negotiations, no truce with rebels except to bury
their dead until every shall have laid down his arms,
submitted to the Government, and sued for mercy"
Whatever may be the explanation of this sudden and
tire change the views of the President of this rude with
drawal of overture for negotiation at the
nen it likely to be accepted, of this emphatic recall
words of peace just uttered and fresh blasts of war to
the bitter end leave for the speculation of those who
have the inclination to penetrate the mysteries
of his Cabinet fathom the caprice of his imperial will
1t enough for us to say that we have no use whatever
for the paper which has been placed in our hands
We could not transmit 1T to the President OF the Con-
federate States without offering him udignity dshon
orng ourselves and mourning the we-merted scorn of
countrymen. While ardent desire for peace per-
vsdes the people of the Confederate States rejoice
believe that there few, if any, among them who would
purchase it at the expense of liberty honor and sere
spect II it be occurred only by their submission to
terms Of conquest the generation Is yet unborn which will
witness its restitution.
DO any mlnCdry duOCIdt IN tne NOrtn VINO IL
entitled proer the conditions Of this manifesto there il
none In the South authorized to entertain them Those
who control armies the servants Of the peopenot
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 consttu
toDs and to barter away their priceless heritage of self
government.
This correspondence will not however. we trust prove
wholly barren of good result If there lie any citizen of
the Confederate States who has chung to hope that peace
was possible with this administration Of the Federal Gov
enment 1t will strip from his eyes the last film of such de-
usOn if there be any whose hearts have grown faint
under the suffering and agony Of this bloody struggle it
will inspire them with frefh energy to endure and brave
whatever may yet be requisite to preserve to themselves
and their children all that gives dignity AMI value to life
hope and consolation to death And If there be any
trOs or christians in your land who shrink appalled, from
the mitable virtue of private misery and public calamity
which stretches before Them pray that their bosoms
resolution may be quickened to recall the abused autho
rity and vndcate the outraged civilization of their
try For the soctude you have manifested to naugurate
movement which contemplates results the most noble
and humane return sincere thanks and are most
respectfully and truly, your6bsdient servants
G.. G. CLAY, jr.
JAMES p. HoLCoMBE.
CLIFTON HOUSE, NIAGARA FALLS,
Wednesday, July 90, 1854
Col w. @. JEwETT, Cataract House, Niagara Falls
SIR: We are in receipt of your note admonshing Of
the departure Of the Hon Horace Greeley from the Falls
that he regrets the sad termination OF the Daoy steps