Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-08-04
presented for seeking peaceful solution of this unhappy

Of your President Had the representatives of the two
Governments met to consider this questionable most
momentous ever submitted to human craftsmanship
ID temper OF becoming moderation and eqnity, fol-
lowed as their deliberations would have been by the
prayers and benedctiol of every patriot and christian
90 the habitabe gobe who is there 30 bod as to say
that the rlghtfu waste OF Individual happirss and
public prosperity which is daily saddenng the universal
heart might not have been ermina CO. if the desol-
ton and carnage of must still be endured through
weary years of bleed and suffering, that there might
not at least have been infused into s conduct
Thing more of the spirit which softens and partially
deems its brutalies
Instead OF the safe conduct which we solicited and
which your first letter gave every reason suppose
would be extended for the purpose initiating negotia
ton in which neither Government woud COMPRISE it's
rights or lis dignity, document has been presented
which provokes as much indignation surprise. 1t
bears no feature OF resemblance to that which org
nally off red, and is unlike any paper which be-
fore emanated from the constitutional Executive Of a
free pee pie. Addressed TO W HON it May Concern,
precudes negotiation ard prescrhes 10 advance the
terms sni conditions of peace 1t returns to the orig
ina policy f'no bargaining, negotiatiCs no truces
with rebels except 10 bury their dead until every man
shall have laid down his arms, submitted 10 the Gov
erDment, and sued for mercy"
What may be the explanation Of this sudden and e.
tire change in the views OF the President this rude
withdrawal of a courteous overture for negotiation
the moment it was likely to be accepted of this
phatc recall OF words of peace just uttered, and fresh
Oldsts Vi War tibtF HS NHVc
lation Of those who have tie inclination to
penetrate the mysteries Of bis Cabinet or fathom the
caprice Of his mpela WILL 1t is enou Oh for to say
that we have no whatever for the paper which has
been placed in hands We could not transmit it to
the President of the Confederate States witroUt OTTER
ing him indgnity, dshonoring ourselves aDd incur
ring tie well merited sc0rn of cur countrymen.
Whilst ardent dsire for peace pervades the pee
pie OF the Confederate States rejoice to believe that
there few if any, among them who would purchase
tat fhn Of hnDn anHc oll.r
it can be ecuted only by their submission to terms OF
conquet, the generation ia yet unborn which will Wit
its restitution. Il there be any military autocrat
in the North who is entitled to profer the conditions Of
this manifesto, there is il the South authorized to
entertain them Tnose who control our armies are the
servants Of the people, not their masters and they
have no more inclination than they have right to sub
vert the social Institutions OF the sovereign States, to
overthrow their established constitutions and to barter
away their priceless heritage of self government.
This correspondence will not, however, we trust,
prove wholly barren of good results.
IF there is any citizen of the Confederate States who
has clung to hope that peace possible with this
administration OF the Federal Government it will strip
from his eyes the last film OF such deuson or if there
be any whose hearts have grown fat under the ings
and agony of this bloody struggle it will inspire them
with fresh energy to endure and brave whatever may yet
De requisite 10 preserve 10 themselves and their children
all that gives dignity and value 20 life hope and
ISOLATION TO DEATH And if there be aGy patriots chris.
tians in your land Wi shrink appalled, from the illimt
able virtue private misery and public calamity which
stretches before them We pray that in their bosous
resolution nay be qlckened to recall the abused autho-
iry and vlndicate the outraged civilization of their
country.
For the soicule you have manifested to INACCURATE
a movement which contemplate results the most noble
and humane, we return sincere thanks, and are,
most respectfully and truly, your obadieut servants,
G. G. CLAY, Jr,
JAS. P. HoLCoMBE.
Messrs. Clay and Ho'combe to William G. Jewett.
CLIFTON HOUSE,
Niagara Falls, July 20, 1864
Col. w. O. Jewett, Cataract House. Niagara Falls
Strive are In IT ceipt OF your note admonlshlng us
Of the departure Of Hon. Horace Greeley from the
Falls; that ne regrets the sad termination of the nia
tory steps aken for peace in consequence of the change
made by the President in his instructions to convey
commissioners to Washington for negotiations uncOndi-
tonaly, aud that MIR. Greeley will be pleased to re-
ceive any answer we may have to make through you
We avail ourselves Of this oer to enclose letter to
Mr.. Greeley which you will oblge US by delivering
We cannot take leave of you without expressing our
thapks for your courtesy and kind offices the inter
mediary through whom our correspondence with Mr..
Greeley has been conducted and assuring you that
are
Very respectfully,
Your ohedient servants,
c. @. CLAY, ~
JAMES 2. RcLCOMBR
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
Geographic Dispatches
CLIFTON HOUSE, !
Naera Falls, July q, 2:lO ? III.
MIR. Hay brought Mr. Lncoln's reply yes.
terday. 1t was of such nature that Mr.. Greeley
would not deliver it Sandets but and ia.
troduced Hay, who handed it in person to Sanders.
When Greeley was LAYING Sanders the latter said
This is not the end OF this affair, and you must
think that we black guurds-as much as to sly
that Lincoln and Seward we're.
Itappears that, after Greeley bad made ali arrange
meats tor the Del Commissioners to go to Washing
ton, MIR. S, ward bad hand in manipulating the re-
Spouse of Mr. Lincoln the propositions submitted bJ
Sanders through Greeley.
Greeley lett, out OF humor, and will probably fight
out 10 the columns of the Tribune.
The response Of Dir. Lincoln, brought by Dir. Hay
GAS been rtjec'ed by The rebel COMMITS soners, anc
their reply couched in terms that will make sensa-
ton.
NJ Hay is still here, and the reply of Sanders and
associates will be deliv-r to bm tSis afternoon.
The Commissioners contemplated visit to Washing
ton is indefLi'eiy postponed andPerhaps may tal
through altogether.
State documents that has been given TO the public fol
Yeats.
Sanders, Holconba, and Clay are AUTHORIZED Com
missioners of the Southern Oonfedeacy not specially
treat with Mr.. LipcoIn for they did suppose h
| would receive any proposition from them.
Beverly Tucker and several Others here-Cay ar
rived last evening.
CLIFTON HOUSE. |
Niagara Falls July 2l-4 so z NJ. {
| Rev. Or Breckenridge, of Kentucky, who vas tenn
Dol ary President of the Baltimore convention, is here
He pre- csded Greeley about ten days. and had five
hours interview with Prot. Hoicombe, who is his
sin and is lumored entered into the spirit or the
cason Is there weakening OF the knees OF the faith
| full brethren, or what Is upI
There are some very queer events transpiring here
and you need not be surprised at anything that you
hear from this qoar'er
Greeley has got the lead in tie negotiations now II