Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-08-11
SOME WORDS on PEACE AND WAR.
4 Statement By Mr. Horace Greeley.

SotIatonS. Some of the facts presented are
not new to the public, but that they may
know the construction which Mr.. GREELEY
puts upon them we give his statements entire:
Last week was signalized by two efforts to
initiate negotiations with view to the paci-
heatlon of our country. The more impor-
portant OF these had Richmond for its arena.
Mr.. j. h. Gllmore-more widely known as
Edmund kirke author of - Among the
Pines paid an unofficial visit to Richmond,
accompanied by Rev. Col. James F. Jauues,
OF the Seventy-third Illinois, and had IA
mlIlar interview with jefferson Davis and
| several OF his Lieutenants. They went with
| the full knowledge of the President. intent
! on devising or discovering some ground of
| accommodation and adjustment between the
heligerents now devasting the Republic, and
appear to have been treated with signal
courtesy, and even generous hospitality, but
had no success Mr.. Gilmore gives the net
product of the unofficial mission in this pi-
quaint passage.
Jefferson Davis sid to me last Sunday,
and, with all his faults, 1 believe him a man
of truth: :" This aCdr mast 90 on till the last of
this generation falls IN his trscks, and his chill
dren seize his nosket and right oar battles, uness
goN acknowledge oar right Of self-gouernme'a-
We are not .fghting for siaoeyy. Ne are fight
ingtor independence; and that, or ertermi,ation,
IRE wW houe'"
Mr.. Davis, l believe, has not vet acknowl-
edged the right Of his black countrymen to
selfgovernment" or independence" either
Nor does he acknowledge the right of North
Carolina to secede from his confederacy, and
thus disconnect herself from rebellion into
which she was precipitated by the grossest
frauds. The Unionists of the South were
conceded no right but apostacy, on peril of
discrimination nv Davis and bic
Yet he, doubtless, is fighting for "independ-,
ence"-for freedom to impose chains on half
the people of the Slave States, and to reign
as autocrat over the residue. "InQepend-
ence" is to him power, state, luxury, import
ance; but to the undistinguished many even
of whites, under his sway, it is quite other
than these. We may safely assume that he
will make no peace that restores the Union,
so long as there is possible alternative
Yet the Gimore-Jaques mission is no failure,
though it resulted but in demonstrating this
In the other effort for peace, | was partci-
pant, as follows:
Some time since, ii was announced by tel
egraph from Halifax that Messrs. C. c.. Clay,
of Alabama; Jacob Thompson, of Mississippi,
| (Ex-Unted States Senators J Prof j. P. Hol-
combe, of the University of Virginia, and
Geo. n. Sanders, of Kentucky, had reached
that city from Dixie, via Bermuda, on impor-
tant business and all of these buo Mr.
| Thompson, (who is in Toronto,) were soon
quartered at the Clifton, on the Canada side
of Niagara Falls. | heard soor after of con-
| fdential interviews between some or all of
these gentlemen and leading Democrats from
our own and the neighboring States, and
there were telegraphic whispers of overtures
for reconstruction" and conditions were
set forth as those on which the. Confederates
would consent to reunion. Il cannot say
| that any of the reports were authentic) At
length, after several less direct intimations, |
received private letter from Mr.. Sanders,
stating that Messrs. Clay, Holcombe, himself,
and another, desired to visit Washington,
"upon complete and unqualified protection
being gwen by the President or the Secre-
tary of War" -
As | saw no reason why the Opposition
should be the sole recipients of these gentle
mems overtures, if such there were, land it is
stated that Mr.. Clay aforesaid is preparing or
| is to prepare an important letter to the Chi
cago Convention | wrote the President, urg-
ing him to invite the rebel gentlemen afore-
said to Washington, there to open their bud
get. | stated expressly that | knew not
what they would propose if so invited, but |
could imagine no offer that might be made
by them which would not conduce, in one
way or another to restoration of the integ-
rity and just authority of the Union.
The President ultimately acquiesced in this
view so far as to consent that the rebel
agents should visit Washington, but directed
that should proceed to Niagara and accom-
| pany them thence to the capital. This ser
vice | most reluctantly undertook, feeling
deeply and observing that almost any one
else might better have been sent on this err
rand. But time seemed precious, and i'm
medately started.
Arrived on this side of the Falls, | wrote
across to Messrs Clay & Co., stating that, on
the understanding that they had the needful
| powers from the authorities at Richmond, |
was authorized and ready to give them a safe
conduct to Washington. They responded
that, though in the confidential employment
OF their Government, and fully conversant
! with Its views and purposes, they had not the
| specific powers | required, but would get
| them, II permitted, and desired-in order to
save tlme-to proceed at once to Washing
ton, and be permitted thence to communicate
with Richmond for the purpose Not feeling
at liberty to concede this, | telegraphed to
Washington for further Instructions, and was
duly informed that Maj. Hay, the Presidents
private Secretary, would soon be on his way
to me. He reached the Falls on the 10th,
and we soon crossed over to the Clifton,
where Maj. Hay, after mutual introductions,
handed Prof Holcombe the following paper,
| in the hand writing of the Presidents
EXECUTIVE MANSION WAsHMGToN,l
July IS, 1864.
To whona 1t mag concern !:
Any proposition which embraces the resto-
ration Of peace, the integrity of the whole
| Union, and 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 cor
sidered by the Executive Government of the
United States, and will be met by liberal
terms on substantial and collateral points
and the bearer thereof shall have safe CON
duct both ways. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
left the Falls by the next train, leaving
Major Hay to receive any response to the
Presidents profer, should any be made; but
there was none. Messrs. Clay and HoIcombe
addressed to me letter Of sharp criticism
OH the Presidents profer above quoted,
which | first read in the columns of the daily
journals Of this city. And here the matter
closed, despite all rumors of further or other
negotiations. Messrs. Clay, Holcombe and
Sanders remain at the Falls, or at the ada
cent watering place Of st. GATHERINGS, and
are still in the receipt Ct many visits from
Democratic politicians, who cross the border
purpose. ......
| heartily approve the Presidents bases of
negotiation, and think them calculated to ex
ert a salutary influence at the South. and
yet think it would have been wiser tn have
interposed no conditions, but asked the Con-
federate to perfect and verify their credep-
tials, and then make their proposition. For
thus brought to book, what could they have
81.