American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-04-05
The Niagara Falls Peace NegO-
tiatiOns.
NEW YORK, JuIY I, lSGl.

My DEAR SIR: | venture to inclose
to you letter and telegraphic dispatch
that | received yesterday from our ire.
pressible friend Colorado Jewett, at Nj.
agara Falls. | think they deserve atten-
ton. OF course | do not indorse Jewett'a
positive averment, that his friends at the
Falls have "full powers " from J. D..
though | do not doubt that he thinks
they haze. let that statement stand as
simply evidencing the anxiety Of the Con:
federates everywhere for peace. So much
is beyond doubt
And therefore | venture to remind you
that our bleeding, bankrupt, almost dying
country also longs for peace-shudders
at the prospects of fresh conscriptions. of
further wholesale devastations, and of new
rivers ofhuman blood and wide spread
conviction that the Government and its
prominent supporters are not anxious for
peace, and do not improve profereG OPP
portunities to achieve it, is doing great
harm now, and is morally certain, unless
removed, to do far better in the approach
ing elections.
1t is not enough that we anxiously de-
sire true and lasting peace; we ought to
demonstrate and establish the truth be-
yond cavil. The fact that A. H. Steph-
ems was not permitted year ago to visit
and confer with the authorities at Wash
ington has done harm, which the tone at
the late National Convention at Baltimore
is not calculated to counteract
enreet you, in your own time and
manner, to submit oyertures for pacifca-
ton to the Southern insurgents, which
the impartial must pronounce frank and
generous If only with a view to the
momentous election soon to occur in n.
Carolina, and of the draft to 10 enforced
in the Free States, this should be done
at once. | would give the safe conduct
required 10y the rebel ENJOYS at Niagara,
upon their parole to avoid observation and
to refrain from all communication with
their sympathizers in the loyal States but
you may see reasons for declining it
But whether through them otherwise, do
not, entreat you, fail to make the South
ern people comprehend that you, and all
ofus, are anxious for peace, and prepared
to grant liberal terms. venture to sug-
gest the sollowing
PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT,
l. The Union is restored and declared
perpetual.
2. Slavery is utterly and forever abol-
ished throughout the same.
81 A complete amnesty for all political
offences, with a restoration of all the in
habitants of each State to all the priyel-
eges of citizens of the United States.
4. The Union to pay four hundred mil
lions dollars (S400, ,000,000) in five per
cent. United States stocks to tho late slave
States, loyal and secession alike, to be
apportioned pro rata, according to their
slave population respectively, by the cen
sus of 1860 in compensation for the losses
of their loyal citizens by the abolition of
slavery. Each State to be entitled to its
quota upon the ratification by its legisla-
ture of this adjustment The bonds to
be at the absolute disposal of the legisla-
ture aforesaid.
5. The said slave States to be entitled
henceforth 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 as
sembled so sooh as may be, to ratify this
adjustment, and make such changes in
the constitution as may be deemed ad-
yisable. -- ~
Mr.. President, | fear you do not real
ize how intently the people desire any
peace consistent with the national integ-
rity 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
third million of Union soldiers, can thi
be wondered at?
| do not say that just peace is attain
able, though | believe it to be SO. But
| do say that frank offer by YOU to the
insurgents of terms which the impartial
say ought to be accepted will, at the worst,
prove an immense and sorely needed ad-
vantage to the national cause. 1t may
save us from Northern insurrectin.-
Yours truly,
(Signed) HORACE GREELEY.