New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-18
A SHORT ANSWER.

Mr.. Raymond reiterates his more elaborate
attack on mo with regard to the Niagara over
lures; but he offers nothing new, and only
reproduces the letters which make his side of
the controversy, suppreSsing aud disregarding
mine. All that need say in reply.iS this:
!. Going to Niagara with great reluctance.
in obedience to the Presidents request, there
did and wrote exactly what l supposed Mr.
Lincoln wished me to do. Mr.. Raymond may
manipulate the documents till doomsday with
out shaking the faith Of one man who knows
me in this averment.
2. Mr.. Raymond tries to prove that received
Mr.. Lincoln's alleged letter Of instructions by
Hay, because Hay in his dispatch TO Lincoln
speaks twice of "your letter." which he says
G. "does not think will guard them from
arrest"-alluding manifestly to the letter OF
safeguard, to which only Iobjected, and induced
Hay to withdraw it and give me different
one.
3. As to whether my own position in the
premses-that would have no part in exact
ing conditions of the Rebels as prerequisite to
peace-was right or wrong, it sufiices that it
was explicitly reiterated by me Gn my letters
of July 10th and l3th) and distinctly understood
by the President He had those letters before him
when he telegrsphed me ION the l5th) that he
was disappointed" tina, 1 had not ALREADY
brought him q man or men,"
q. OF counsel cannot say that Mr.. Lincoln did
not expect me to go TO Niagara and bring him
thence ENJOYS accredited by the Confederate
authorities who should have consented before
band and pledged themselves to surrender the
Confederacy, return to the Union, and agree to
cooperate in perfecting the Abolition of Slavery
he, on our part, being committed to nothing
in return. only say that never had sus-
pcion of this-thst 1 distinctly and repeatedly
notified him that could attempt nothing of the
kind-and that fully believed, from the hour
received bis dispatch of the 18TH that he cx-
pected nothing like this Of me. And it seems
now unaccountable if he really supposed that
an unofficial person could achieve in three days
results for which all his ministers and Generals
had vainly striven for years, that he would have
given me chance to reap so much glory so
easily. Mr.. Lincoln was q humorist; and
think he must have been joking if he ever
thought Of sending me on such an errand.
At all events, 1 know that when an over
ture locking TO Peace was made directly to
him. he met it exactly as I wished him to meet
that which reached him through me. 81 appeal
to Philip sober" Had he, when invited to the
meeting which was held in Hampton Roads, re-
sponded, ayes, will meet you, PROVIDED you
first agree to restore the Union and abolish
Slavery" i might believe that he really in
tended to exact such conditions at Niagara.
Now do not. And hold it incumbent on my
assalant to show mhy such conditions precedent
should have been exacted in July, 1864, and
none at all in January, 1865.
5. Mr. Raymond says urged the President
to initiate negotiations, and again that few will
no,o believe that Mr.. Lincoln should have ac-
cepted my "advice to solicit unconditional Peace
negotiations" lie had no such advice. Inever
gave any such. The overtures came from the
other side; they were addressed to the President
through me; and urged him only to let the
Rebels make their proposition, and then, if ho
should see fit to decline it, make them one in
his turn. only asked him to do in July, Co.
what he did on some other suggestion than mine
in January, 60. lie was well satisfied with my
outline Of basis Of settlement, and wished me
lit seems) to persuade the Rebels to offer it to
him. / had not proposed to dictate nor to in.
terfere with their offer, but to frame one which
he might (should he see fit) wisely and ad.
vantageously offer to them re.