North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-04-19
VOL. 4 NO. 36
horace Greeley and the Niagara Falls
Peace Conference.


The Washington correspondent of tho
Manchester (England) Examiner and Times.
writing under date ofFebruary 22d, says:
have just come in to possession of /. ve,v
curious document, and one, too, which / am
confident will be peculiarly interesting to
your readers, because it sheds so much light
upon the connection which Horace Greelev
editor of the New York Tribune, had with
The famous Niagara Falls peace negotiations
OF last July, in which he figured so promi.
nentIy, together with Cornell Jewett and
Messrs Sanders, Clay and Holcombe. An
parently this letter, which need not sav was
never published here, was the initial move
ment in the negotiations referred TO. Hers
it's:
New YoRk, July 2, 1864,
MY DEAR SIR IL venture to enclose you
letter and telegraphic dispatch that re-
ce'ved yesterday from our irrepressible friend
bolorsda Jewett, at Niagara Falls. 7 think
they deserve attention. OF course, do not
endorse Jewett's positive averment that his
friends at the Falls have "ful powers" from
). d., though l de not doubt that he thinks
they have. let that statement stand aa
simply evncing the anxiety of the Confeder.
ates everywhere for peace. So much ia be.
yond dcabt.
And therefore | venture TO remind Won
that our bleeding, BANKRUPT, almost dying
country also longs for peace-shudders nc
the prospect of fresh conscrip,ions, of further
wholesale deVastations, and of new rivers of
human blood ard widespread conviction
'hat the government and its prominent sup
porters are not anxious for peace, and do not
improve proffered opportunities to achieve it.
is doing great harm now, and is morally GER.
tain, unless removed, to do far greater in the
! approaching elections
lt Is not enough that we anxiousiy desire
true and lasting peace we ought to dem~
onstrate and establish the truth beyond. cav.
| il.
The fac: that A. II. Stephens was not per
United year ago to visit and confer with the
authorities st Washington has done harm,
winch the tone Of the late National Conyen-
tioa .. Baltimore is not calculated to counter.
act
lentreat you IN your own time and manner
to submit overtures for pacifcation to the
Southern insurgents which the impartial must
| pronounce frank and generous.
1t only with view to the mornentous elec-
ton soon to occur in North Carolina, and of
the draft to be enforced in the free States.
this should be done at once. I would give
the safe conduct required by the rebel en-.
Toys at Niagara, upon their parole to avoid
observation and to refrain from all communi-
cation with their sympathizers in the loyal
States but you may see reasons. for declin-
ing it, But whether through them CT. 9TH
erwise, do not, entreat you, fail to make
the Southern people comprehend that you,
and all of us, are anxious for peace, and pre-
parel to grant liberal terms.
venture to suggest the following
Plan Of adjustment.
1, The Union is restored and declared
perpetual
Z, Slavery is utterly and forever abolished
throughout the same.
3. complete amnesty fer all politicsl Of.
terces, with restoration of all the inhabit-
ants of each State to all the privileges of cit.
izens the United States.
4. The Union to pay four hundred million
dollars OO;O00,O00) in five per cent. Uni
ted States stock to the late slave States, 10y
al and secession alike, to be appointed gro
rata, according to their slave population re-
spectively. by the census OF 1860, in COM
pensation for the losses of their loyal citizens
by the abolition Of slavery, after rati itieation
by its legislature of this adjustment. The
bonds TO be at the absolute disposal of the
Legislature aforesaid
| 5. The said slave States to be entitled
henceforth to representation i'm the House
on the basis oe their total, instead Of their
Federal population, the whole now being
free.
6. A national convention, to be assembled
as soon as may be, to ratfy this adjustment
and make such changes in the Constitution
as may be deemed advisable
Mr.. President, fear you do not realize
how intently the people desire any peace
consistent with the national integrity and
honor, and how joyousfy they would habits
achievement, ard bless Its authors. With
United States stocks worth but forty cents
in gold per dollar, and drafting about to
commence on the third million of Union SOL
ders, can this be wondered at
do not say that just peace is now at
tanable, though believe IL to be SO. But
do say that frank offer by you to the in
surgents of terms which the impartial say
ought to be expected, will, at the worst,
prove an immense and sorely needed advar-
tage TO the national clause. 1t may save ug
from Northern insurrection.
Yours Truly,
Horace GREELEY.
Hon. A. lincoln, Tr"si lent, Washington,