The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-08-09
Clifton House, July 81, 1864.

Clifton House, July 21, 1864.
To Hon. Horace Greely Sir-The
paper handed to Mr.. Holcombe, on yes
terday in your presence by Maj. Hay,
A. A. G., as an answer to the applica-
ton in our note of the 18th inst, is
couched i'm the following term:
Here follows Mr.. Lincoln's letter
given above.
The application to which we refer
was elected by your letter Of the 18th
inst, in which you inform Mr.. Jacob
Thompson and ourselves that you were
authorized by the President of the Uni
ted States to tender us his safe conduct,
on the hypothesis we were duly accred-
tied from Richmond as bearers of prop
ositions looking to the establishment of
peace, and desired to leave Washington
in the fulfillment of this mission. This
association, to which we then gave, and
still do, entire credence, was accepted
by us in evidence of an unexpected but
most gratifying change in the policy of
the President; change which we felt
authorized to hope might terminate in
the conclusion of a peace mutually just,
honorable and advantageous to the
North and to the South, exacting no
condition, but should be duly accredit-
ed from Richmond as bearers of prop
ositions looking to the establishment of
peace, thus proffering basis for con-
ference as comprehensive as we could
desire. 1t seems to us that the Presi-
dent opened a door which had been
previously closed against the Confede-
rate States, for full interchange of sem
timents, free discussion Of conflicting
opinions, and untrammeled effort to re-
move all causes Of controversy, by lib
eral negotiation. We indeed could
not claim the benefit of safe conduct
which had been extended to us in a
character we had no right to assume,
and had never affected to possess, but
for the uniform declarations of our Ex-
ecutive and Congress, and their thrice
repeated and as often repulsed attempts
to open negotiations, furnished a sufii-
cient pledge that this conciliatory man
Hesitation on the part of the President
of the United States would be met by
them in temper ofequal magnanimity
We had, therefore, no hesitation in de-
claring that if this correspondence was
communicated to the President of the
Confederate States, he would promptly
embrace the opportunity presented for
seeking peaceful solution of this un
happy strife. We feel confident you
must share our profound regret that the
spirit which dictated the first step to-
wards peace had not continued to ami
mate the counsels Of your President
Had the representatives of the two
governments met to consider this ques
ton, the most momentous ever sub
mitted to human craftsmanship, i'm 6
temper becoming moderation and equi
ty,followed, las their deliberations would
have been, by the prayers and bene
dictions of every patriot and Christian
oil the habitable globe, who is there sc
bold as to pronounce that the frightfu
waste of undivided happiness and pub
lie prosperity, which is daily saddeninl
the universal heart, might not have
been terminated. Or if the desolatior
and carnage of war must still be en-
dured through weary years of blood
and suffering, that there might not Al
least have been infused into its conduc
something more of the spirit which
softens, and partially rcdeems its bru
talities. Instead of the safe conduc
which we solicited, and which youl
first letter gave us every reason to sup
pose would be extended for the purpose
of initiating negotiations with which
neither government would compromise
its rights or its dignity documen
has been presented which provokes n,
much Indignation as surprise. Itbeari
no feature of resemblance to that which
was originally offered; and is unlik,
any paper which ever before cmanatet
from the Constitutional Executive o
a free people, addressed, "To whom
it may concern" 1t precludcs nego
tiation, and prescribes in advance tn,
terms and conditions of peace. 1t re
turns to the original policy Of no bar
gaining, no negotiation, no truce will
rebels except to bury their dead, unit
every man should have laid down hi