The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-07-27


municatlon which Mr. Holcumb received
from him on yesterday, TO be delivered 10
the President Of the United States. That
communication was accepted as the re-
Spouse to letteruf Messls. Chy and llol-
eumb to the Hon. Horace Greely, and to
that gentleman an answer has been trans
mitted.
The application to which you refer was
ELECTED by your letter Of the i1th inst, IN
which your inform Mr.. Jacob Thompson and
ourselves that You were authoriz5 d by the
President of the United States TO tender US
his sate conduct, on the hypothesis that We
were duly accredited from RichmUnd as
bearers Of propositions looking to the es-
tablishment of peace, and desired to visit
Washington in the fulillment of the mis-
sion. This assertion, TO which We then
gave and still do give entire credence, was
accepted by US as the event of an unex-
pected but most gratifying change in the
policy of the President. A change which
we felt authorized to hope might terminate
in the conclusion Of peace mutually just.
honorable and advantageous to the North
and to the South Exacting no condition
but that we should be duly accredited from
Richmond as bearers of propositions look
proffering basis for conference rs compre-
hensive as We could desire, it seemed to us
that the President opened door which
had previously been closed against the Con-
federate States, for a full Interchange of
sentiments free discussion of conhicting
opinions and untrammelled effort to remove
all causes of controversy by liberal moeotia-
ton. We, indeed, could not claim the ben
aHt ff cuff ur1I haH Nffa
ed us in character We bad no right to as
sumo, and had never affected to possess;
but the universal declaration of our Execu-
tive and Congress, aud their thrice repeated
and aS often rejected attempt to open negot-
iations, furnished sufficient pledge that
this conciliatory manifestation on the part
of the President of the United States would
be met by them in a temper of equal mag
nanimity, We had, therefore, no hesitation
III declaring that if this correspondence was
communicated to the President of the Con
federate States, he would promptly embrace
peaceful solution of this unhappy strife
We feel confident you must share our pro-
found regret that the spirit which dictated
ed to animate the counsels Of our President.
crnmcnts met to consider this question, the
most momentous ever submitted to human
statemanship, in temper of becoming
moderation and equity, formed as their de-
hbcrations would have been by the prayers
and benedictions of every patriot and
Christian on the habitable globe, who is
there so bold as to pronounce that the
frightfnl waste of individual happiness and
public prosperity which is daily saddenng
the universal heart, might not have been
terminated or if the desolation and car
mage of war must still be endured through
weary years of blood and suffering, that
there might not at least have been infused
intoits conduct, something more of the
spirit which sottens and partially redeems
its brutalities
Instead Of the safe conduct which we So
licited and which your first letter gave us
every reason to suppose would be extended
for the purpose OF initiating negotiations in
which neither Government would compro-
mise its rights or its dignity, a document
has been presented which provokes as much
indignation as surprise. 1t bears no feature
Of resemblance to that which was originally
offered, and is unlike any paper which ever
before emanated from the constitutional ex-
ecutive Of a free people. Addressed 80
whom it may concern, it precludes negotia-
ton and prescribes in advance the terms
and conditions of peace.
1t returns to the original policy of no bar
gaining, no negotiation, no truces with re-
bels, except to bury their dead, until every
man should have laid down his arms, sub
mittcd to the government, and sued for
mercy. What may be the explanation of
Al. Al
Of the President, OF the rude withdraw Of
courteous overture for negotiation at the
moment it was likely to be accepted Of this
emphatic recall Of words ofpeace just utter
cd, and fresh blasts of war to the bitter end
we leave for the speculation of those who
have means or inclination to penetrate the
mysteries his cabinet or fathom the caprice
OF his imperial will.
1t is enough for US to say that we have no
use whatever for the paper which has been
placed in our hands We could not trans
init it to the President Of the Confederate
States without offering him an indignity,
dishouoring ourselves and incurring the
well merited scorn Of our countrymen.
Whilst an ardent desires for peace per-
vades the people of the Confederate States,
we rejoice to believe there are few if any
amongst them who would purchase it at the
expense of liberty, honor and lfrespect -
lift can be secured only by their submission
to terms OF conquest the generation is yet
unborn which will witness its restoration.
If there be any military autocrat in the
North who is entitled to protier the cond-
ton Of this manifesto, there is none in the
South authorized to entertain them.
Those who control our armies are the SER
wants of the people, not their masters, and
they have no more right to subvert the So
cial institutions of sovereign States, to over
throw their established Constitutions and
to barter away the priceless prestige Of self
government.
This correspondence will not, however,
we trust, prove wholly barren of good re-
suits. If there is any citizen of the Confed-
crate States who has clung to hope that
peace would be possible with this admins
tration of the Federal government, it will
strip from his eyes the last film of such de-
lusion; OF if there be any whose heart have
grown faint under the suffering and agony Of
this bloody struggle, it will inspire them
with fresh energy to endure and brave what
ever may be required to preserve to them
selves and their children all that gives ener-
gy and value to life, or hope and consolation
to death and if there be any patriots OF
christians in your land would shrink appal.
ed from theillimitable virtue of private mis-
cry and public calamity which stretches be-
fore them; we pray that in their bosoms a
resolution may be quickened to reclaim the
abused authority and vindicate the outraged
civilization of their country For the so.
licitude you have manifested to inaugurate a
movement which contemplates results the
most noble and humane we return our sin
cere thanks, and are
Most Respectfully and Truly,
Your obedient servants,
(Signed) G. Q. CLAY, Jr.
j. B. HoLcoMB.
CLIFTON HOUSE, July goth, 1864
Col " G IEMEnr Cataract Hnnse Nj