The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-29


cepted as the response to the letter Of Messrs.
Clay and H0lcombe to the Hon Horace Gree
ley, and to that gentleman an answer has been
transmitted.
. CLIFTON HOUSE Thursday,(
July 81, 1864.
The following is . copy OF the original let
and which duplicate now furnish to the asso-
(Signed) WIN. CORNELL JEwETr.
'CLIFroN HOUSE,. c. w.
July 2lst, 1864.
"Hon Horace Greeley:
SIR: The paper handed to Hr. Holcombe
on Yesterday in your presence by Maj. Hay. A.
A. H., as answer to the application in our note
terms:
ExFCUrrvE MANslcN I
WAsuINeTON, July Is, 1851
To uhom IL mig concern:
ANY pr opo itOn which embraces tn restoration OF
peace tn integrity of the VIII le Union aud the
Abandonment of slavery. nd which Comes BY and
with an au' hOrty at Gan cOutr j the rmi Ow at
war ainst the United State> will be received and
con idered by the xecutive Government of the
United S'a es, and will BE- met by liberal term,
on other -ubstant i and collateral puints; and the
be.rer bearers the cot shall b We safe conduct
both ways.
l>igned.1 ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The application to which we refer was elicit.
ed by your letter of the l tn inst, in which
YOU inform Mr. J,cOb Thompson and our
selves that you were authorized by the Presi-
dent of the United States to tender US his safe
conduct on the hypothesis that we were duly
accredited from Richmond as bearers of propO
sitions looking to the establishment of peace,
and desired to visit Washing ton in the fulfill
ment of this mission. This assurance, to
which we then gave, and still do. entire Gre
dence, was accepted by us Is the evidence of
an unexpected but most gratifying change in
the policy IF the Presidential change which
we felt authorized to hope might terminate in
the conclusion of a peace mutually just, honor
able and advantageous to the N.Irth and to the
South. eXacting no condition but that we
should be duly accredited from Richmond as
bearers of propositions looking to the estab-
lishment of peace thus prOtfhring basis for
conference as comprehensive as We could de.
sire.
1t seemed to us that the correspondence
opened door which had previously been clos
ed against the Confederate States for full inter-
Course of sentiments free discussion of con-
hictng opinions, and untrammelled effort to re-
move all eau ses of controversy by liberal nego.
tiatiOn.
We indeed could not claim the benefit of
safe conduct which had been extended to us in
had never affected to possess. but the uniform
declaration of our Executive and Congress,
and their repeated, and as often refused at.
tempts to open negotiations furnished suffi-
cient pledge that the cOnciliarOry manifesto
ton on thu part of the President OF the United
States would he met by them in temper of
equal magnanimi'y. We had therefore no hest
was communicated to the President of the
Confederate States he would promptly embrace
the opportunity presented for seeking peace
full solution of this unhappy strife.
We feel confident you must share our pro-
found regret that the spirit which dictates the
first steps towards peace had not continued to
animate the councils of your President Had
the representatives of the two governments
met to con-iGer this question, the most mo-
mentOus ever submitted to human statesman
ship, in a temper of becoming moderation and
equity. followed as their deliberations would
have been by the prayers of every patriot and
Christian on the habi able globe.-who is
full waste of individual happiness and public
prosperity which is daily saddening the uni
versal heart mig ht not have been terminated
Or If the desOlatiOn and carnage of war must
still be- endured through many years of blood
and suffering, that there might not at least have
been infused into its conduct something more
of the spirit which sOftens and partially re-
deems lis brutalities.
Instead of tbs safe conduct which we solic-
ited ana which your fir-t letter gave us every
reason to suppose would be extended for the
purpose OF inviting negotiations which neither
government would compromise Its rights or
its dignity, document has been presented
which makes as much Indignation as surprise
1t bears no resemblance to that which was
originally Offered. aud is unlike any paper
ever before emanated from the cOnstitu-
tiOnal executive of a free people, Ad-
dressed Ito whom it may concern" it pre-.
cludes negotiation and prescribes in Advance
the te; ms and conditions of peace 1t returns
to the original policy of no bargaining. no ne
gOtiatiOns. no truces with the rebels excep to
bury the dead until every man should have
laid down his arms. subm tied to the Govern
ment and sued for mercy.
Wha. may be the explanation of this sudden
and entire change in the views Of the Presi
dent. of this rude withdrawal of a courteous
overture and Negotiation at moment it was
likely to be accepted, of this emphatic recall of
words of peace just uttered, and fresh blasts
of war to the bitter end we Leave for the spec
nlatiOn of those who have the means or incli-
nation to penetrate the mysteries of his Cabi-
net or iathOm the caprices of his imperial
will.
IL is enough for us to say, we have no use
for the paper placed in our hands.
We could not transmit it to the President of
the Confederate States without offering him an
indignity, disgracing ourselves and mourning
the well merited scOrn of our countrymen.
Whilst an earnest desire for peace pervades
the people of the Confederate States, we re-
jOice 10 believe that there are few, if any
amongst them who would purchase it at the
expense of liberty, honor or self respect. If
it 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 authority in the
North who is entitled to offer the cOndi-
lions of this manifesto, there is none in the
South authorized to entertain them.
Those who control cur armies are the SER
wants of the people, not their master, and they
haze no more inclination than they have right
to subveit the social institutions of sovereign
States to overthrow their established institu
tions and to barter away their priceless heri-
tage of self government
This correspondence will not however, we
trust prove wholly barren of good results. If
there is any person in the Confederate States
who has chung to a hope that peace was pos
slble with this administration of the Federal
government, it will strip from his heart such
o delusion.
Ii there be any whose hearts have
grown faint under the sufferings and ago.
ny OF this bloody struggle, it will inspire
them with fresh energy and bravery to
meet whatever may yet be required to
preserve to themselvo> ood tho;r children