Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-03

The washington correspondent OF the
Manchester England Examiner ard7Tpses,
writing under date Of February 22d, ssys :;
Ihave just come into possession of very
curious document and one, too, which /
am confident will be peculiarly interesting
to your readers, because il sheds so much
light upon the connection which Mr.. Hor-
see Greeley, editor of the New York Tri-
61tae, had with the famous Niagara Falls
peace negotistions Of last July, in which
he figured so prominently, together with
Cornell JeWett and Messrs. Sanders, Clay
and Holeombe. Apparently this letter,
which need not say has never been pub
lished here, was the initial movement in
the negotiations referred to. Here it is:
NEw YORK, Jnly Z, 1864.
Ny DEAR Sir: venture 10 enclose you
letter and telegraphic dispatch that 1 re-
ceived yesterday from our irrepressible
friend Oolorodo Jewett, st Niagara Falls.
think they deserve attention. Of course,
I do not endorse Jswett's positive sverment
that his friends st the Falls have q full
powers" from J. D., though do not doubt
that he thinks they have. I let that state
ment stand as simply evidencing the snx-
iety of the Confederates everywhere for
pesee. So much is beyond doubt.
And therefore venture to remind You
that our bleeding, bankrupt, almost dying
country also longs for peace-shudders al
the prospect Of fresh conscriptions, of fur
ther wholesale devastation, and Of new
rivers of human blood and q widespread
conviction that the government and its
prominent supporters are, not anxious for
peace, and do not improve preferred oppor-
tunities TO achieve it, is doing great harm
now, and is morally certain, unless remov-
ed, TO do far ,greater in the approaching
elections.
It is not enough that we eanxiously desire
g. true and lasting peace; we ought TO DEM
onstrate and establish the truth beyond
c3vil. The fact that A 81. Stevens was net
permitted yesr ago TO visit and confer
with the authorities at Washington has
done harm, which the tone at the late Ma
tionsl Convention at Baltimore is not cal
culated to counteract.
I entreat you, in your own time snd |
manner, to submit overtures for pscifcstion |
TO the southern insurgents, which the i'm
partial must pronounce frank and gener-
GUS. If only with q view to the moment |
Gus election soon to occur in Ncrth Carolina,
and Of the draft TO be enforced in the free |
states, this should be done at once. Iwould |
give the safe conduct required by the rebel |
ENJOYS at Niagara, upon their parole TO |
avoid observation and to refrain from all |
communication with their sympathizers n |
the loyal states but you may see reasons
for declining it. But whether through them |
or otherwise, do not, entrest you, fail TO |
make the southern people comprehend that |
you, and all of US, are anxious for peace, /
and prepared to grant liberal terms, / |
venture to suggest the following
PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT.
!. The Union is restored and declared
2. Slavery is utterly and forever abolish
ed throughout the same.
8. A complete amnesty for all political |
Ofenses, with the restoration of ali tie in.
Of each State TO all the privileges
of citizens Of the United States.
4. The Union to pay four hundred mil
lion dollars ($4O0, ,OOO, ,OO0) in five per cent.
United States stock to the late slave States,
loyal and secession alike, TO be spportioned
pro rata, according to their slave populs-
ton respectively, by the census of 1860, in
Of the losses of their loysl
citizens by the abolition of slavery. Each /
State TO be entitled to its quota upon the
ratification by its Legislature of this sd-
iustment. The bonds TO be at the sbsc-
lutte disposal of the Legislature aforesaid.
8. The said slave States to be entitled
heneeforth to representation in the House |
on the basis Of their total, instead of their
federal population, the whole now being
free.
6. A national convention, TO be assem-
bled 50 soon as may be, to ratify this ad-
ustment, and make such changes in the
Constitution as may be deemed advisable. |
Mr.. President, I fear you do not realize |
how intently the people desire any peace
consistent with the national integrity and |
honor, and how joyously they would hail |
its achievement and. bless its authors. |
With United States stocks worth but forty |
cents in gold per dollar, and drafting about |
TO commence on the ethird million of Union |
soldiers, can this be wondered att
do not say that just peace is now at |
tain8ble, though believe it to be so. But |
I do say that q frank offer by you to the |
insurgents of terms which the impartial |
saJ OlSAb W Do dCSepbcui Will ~ bAo HOIssi |
prove an immense and sorely needed al
vantage to the national cause. It may
save us from Northern insurrection,
Yours, truly, HORACE GREELEY.
Hon. A. Lincoln, President Washington,
DC.
P.S. Even though it should be deemed
unadvisable to make an offer of terms to !
the rebels, 1 insist that, in any possible
case, it is desirable that any offer they may
be disposed to make should be received,
and either accepted or rejected. beg you
to invite those at Niagara to exhibit their
credentials and submit their ultimatum.
H,G.