The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-29
Peace Negotiations:

A "peace meeting" was held at Niagara
Falls last week, the actors in which were
Horace Greeley and certain "agents from
the rebel states. Below will be found the
gist of the matter. The reader will not fail
to notice that all the parties we're acting with
out authority although the men from rebel
dom represented that they were in the I" con-
idential employ of the rebel government. ;"
The pointed letter Of President Lincoln
plainly shows that no terms of peace will be
considered by the United States government,
unless such terms are based upon the preser-
walton aof the Union intact-thus keeping
the starry constellation upon our national
banner complete.
The correspondence with the rebel agents
for peace shows that Messes. Clay, Holcomb,
and Sanders asked on the 18th, of Horace
Greeley, the protection of the President or
secretary of war for visit to Washington.
Mr.. Greeley, in reply On the 18th, under
standing that they we're the bearers of prop
ositons from Richmond looking to peace,
rendered them the safe conduct of the Presi-
dent. They then replied that they were not
accredited with such proposition, but were in
the confidential employ Of their government,
and felt authorized to declare that if the cir
cumstances disclosed in this correspondence
should be communicated TO Richmond, they
or other gentlemen would be invested with
full powers. They then asked safe conduct
to Washington and thence to Richmond
Mr.. Greeley answered that the state of facts
being materially different from that under.
stood to exist by the President, it was advis.
sble for him to communicate by telegraph
with him and obtain instructions. After
some further correspondence in relation to
MIR. Greeley's communication with President
Lincoln the following letter was sent by
President Lincoln to Mr.. Greeley.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, Jul,
lS.-To whom it may concern: ANY propo
stion which embraces the restoration O.
peace, the integrity Of the whole Union ant
the abandonment of slavery, and which comes
by and with an authority that can control
the armies now at war against the United
States, will be received and considered by
the executive government of the United
States, and will be met by liberal terms or
other substantial and collateral points anC
the bearer or bearers thereof shall have SAT,
conduct both ways. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Maj. Hay, the Presidents private secreta
~, on the Goth, in note asks Holcomt
and others if they have any communication
to send to Washington by him. Holcoml
replies on the DIST, regretting that his sta,
has been delayed by any expectation of al
answer to his communication to be delivered
to the President of the United States, addins
that the communication was accepted as ;
response to the letter of Messrs. Clay anG
Holcomb to Mr.. Greeley and to that gentle
man an answer had been already transmitted
! The letter to Mr.. Greeley says, after allud
ing to the tender of safe conduct to Wash
. ington on the hypothesis that we were dull,
accredited from Richmond as bearers of
proposition looking to the establishment o.
peace, this assertion was accepted as evidenc,
of ar unexpected but most gratifying change
in the policy of the President change
which We felt authorized to hope might ter
inmate in the conclusion of peace mutual,
just, honorable and advantageous to the
to the North and South.
Exacting no condition but that We should
be duly accredited from Richmond as bearer
of propositions looking to the establishment
of peace, thus profering basis for confer
ance as comprehensive as We could desire, il
} seemed to US that the President opened
door, which had previously been CLOSED
against the Confederate States, for full in
tercharge of sentiments, free discussion o
conflicting opinions and untrammelled eff
forts to remove all causes of controversy b,
liberal negotiations.
We, indeed, could not claim the benefit q
safe conduct, which has been extended to II.
IN the character We had no right to assum,
and had never affected to possess, but tn,
uniform declarations of our executive an,
, congress and their thrice repeated, and a.
often repulsed, attempts to open negotiation
furnish sufficient pledge that this concilitor,
manifestation on the part of the President @
the United States, would be met by them il
a temper of equal magnanimity.
We had therefore no hesitation to declare
if this correspondence was communicated t
: the President Of the Confederate States, tina
# he would promptly embrace the opportunit
presented for seeking peaceful solution O
'nis unhappy strife.
l. we feel confident you must share in pro
. .Iuaa regret that the spirit which dictate,
~ .oe ms. slep toward peace had not continued
" H ua,% ave ene councils of your President.