The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-22
BY TELEGRAPH
ToTHE
Portland Daily Press.
Correspondence scih the so-caiied
Rebel AGENTS.
BUFFALO, July 81,

BUFFALO, July 81.
The correspondence with the rebel agents
show that Messrs. Clay, Holcomb and Sanders
| asked on the 18th of Horace Greeley the pro-
lection of the President or Secretary Of War
10 visit Washington.
Mr.. Greeley, in reply, on the 18Th, under.
standing they were mere bearers of PROPOSE.
I lions from Richmond looking TO peace, ten.
dered the safe conduct OF the President
They replied that they were not accredited
! with sucn pr position, but were In the con-
hdental employ of their Government, and
felt authorized 10 declare, il the circumstances
disclosed ia this correspondence was commu-
nicated to Richmond, they or some other gen
tlemen will be invested with full pawers.
they ask safe conduct to Washington and
thence TO Richmond
Dir. Greeley answers that the state Of facts
being materially different from that under
stood 20 exist by the President, it was advisa-
Die for him TO communicate by telegraph with
him and obtain Instructions.
Alter some further correspondence in rela-
ton to Mr.. Greeley's communication with
President Lincoln, the following was received
from the latter:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington July Is. I
To Hon. Horace Greeley:
To Irhonl IL may c0RcerR-Any proposition
which embraces the restoration OF peace, the
integrity OF the whole Union and the aban-
donment 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 by the Executive Government of the
United States. aud viii be met by liberal terms
on other substantial and collateral points, and
the bearer or bearers thereof shall have safe
conduct both ways.
lSignedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President OF United States.
Major Hay, on the goth, Ia a note, asks
Holcomb and others il they have any commn-
nication to send to Washington by him.
Holeomb replies on the u st, regrelting that
he has been delayed by any expectations OF
an answer to his communication to be deliv-
cred to the President OF the United States
adding that the communication was accepted
as response 30 the letter of Messrs. Clay and
Holcomb TO Mr.. Greeley, and TO that gentle
man has the answer been transmitted.
The letter TO Mr.. Greeley says, after alud-
ing TO the teDder of safe conduct to Washing
ton on the hypothesis, that I'VE were duiy ac-
credited from Richmond as bearers Of prop
osition looking to ihe establishment Of peace.
The assertion was accepted as evidence of I'M
expected but most gratifying change In the
policy OF the President. A change which we
feel authorized to hope might terminate in the
bic and advantageous 10 the North aud the
South, exaeling no condition but that we
should be duly accredited from Richmond as
bearers Of proposition looking to the estab-
lishment of peace, thus proiiering basis for
conference as comprehensive as we could de-
sire. Ii seemed 10 US that the President
opened a door which had previously been
closed against the Confederate States for full
interchange of sentiments, free discussion OF
conflicting opinions and untrammelled efforts
to remove all eauses-of controversy by liberal
negotiations. We indeed could not claim the
benefit of safe conduct which has been ex-
tended to us In the character we had no right
TO assume, aud never expected TO possess, bat
the uniform decaI atoms of our Executive
aud Congress. and their thrice repeated and
rs often repulsed attempts 10 open negotia-
ticns, furnish sufficient pledge that this con-
ciliatory manifestation on the part OF the
President of the United States would be sent
by them in temper of equal magnamiiy. We
had, therefore, no hesitation to declare that il
this correspondence was communicated to the
President of the Confederate States, he would
promptly embrace the opportunity presented
for seeking q peaceful solution OF this I'M
happy strife.
We feel confident you must share our pro-
found regret that the spirit which dictated the
tirst step towards peace had not continued 10
animate the councils of your President Had
the representatives OF the tgo governments
met 10 consider this question, the most mo-
mentoHs ever submitted 10 human statesman
ship, in s temper OF becoming moderation and
equity, followed as their deliberations would
have been by tue prayers aud benedctions of
every patIiot and Christian on the habitable
2 ODE, who is there so bold as TO pronounce
that the irighIiui waste Of individual happi-
ness aud public prosperity which Ia daily sad
dening the universal heart, might not have
been terminated? Or if the desolation and
carnage OF var must still be endured through
weary yelis OF blood and suffering, that there
might not be At least infused .nto is conduct
something thereof OF the spirit which so often
and partially redeems It's bruislities2
Instead Of safe conduct, which we solicited,
and which your ifstt .--.iar gave us every rea.
sou 10 suppose would be extenuea, Tor .he
purpose of Initiating negotiation, Ia which
neither government would compromise its
rights or lis dignity, document has been
p-esOnted which provokes az much indigns-
ton as surprise. It bears no features oil resem-
blance 10 that which was originally offered,
and Is unlike any paper which ever before en-
anated from the constitutional executive OF
free people. addressed " TO whom it may con.
cern." 1t precludes negotiation, and pre-
seriaes in advance the terms aud conditions of
peace. Ii returns 20 the original policy Of
no bargaining, mo negotiatlons,' no trnces
with rebels except TO bury their dead, until
every man shall have laid down his arms, sub
mltted to The government, aud sued for mer-
cy.' What may be the explanation of this
sudden aud entire change la tie siegs of the
President, OF this rude withdrawal OF eour-
teous overture for negotiation, AZ moment
when 1t was likely to be accepted, of their
emphatieal reaa, Of words OF peace lust ut
tered, and fresh blasts OF war TO the bitter
end,' we leave for the Speculation of these
who have the means or inclination 10 peue-
trate the mysteries OF his cabiaet, or fathom
tn caprice of his imre ial will. IL is enough
tor us TO say we have no use whatever for the
paper which has been placed In ous hands,
We could not transmit it to the President OF
the Confederate States without offering him
an indi9nity, dishonering ourselves, and re-
ceiving the well ne.ited'scorn of our coun.
trymen.
Whilst gu ardent desire for peace psrvades
the people Of the Confederate States, we re-
joice to believe there are few, II any. among
hem who would purchase 1t at the expense
Of liberty, honor aud self-respect. II il can
be secured only BY their submission to terms
OF conquest, generation unborn will witness
its restitution. Ii there be any military auto
crat In the North who Is entitled 10 proiler
conditions Of this manifest, there is none ia
the South authorized to entertain them
Those who control our armies ara servants Of
the people, not their masters, aud they have
no more inclination than they have right to
subyert social institutions Of sovereign States,
and TO barter away their priceless heritage of
self government"
The Late Rebel Raid into Maryland.