The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-07-18
Geo. N. Sanders Letter to JeG.

Inc 1oilowing exlract rom Oko. ~.
SANDERS to JEFF. DAVIS, dated Mont.
real, March 7th, 1866, has some inter-
esting points: ~ l-'2'. e'e u .nm
My DEAR Sm-Encouraged by your
approval of my suggestion two years
since to visit Canada to form an allis
ance with the Northern democracy, /
returned here ON the lst of June last,
with my son Lewis, to place myself
again in communication with you;
first seeing what alliances could be
formed, and whether satisfactory ad..
iustment could not be effected with the
Washington govesnmept. :,
Upon my arrival met Hon. Jacob
Thompson, to whom / communicated
my plans, after knowing that he had
been appointed by you to confident-.
ial mission to the Canadas. Dlr.
Thompson would not enter into my
views; he had no confidence in political
movements; no believed in nothing but
stirring up rebellion and revolution in
the Northwest. z ~ se'
Upon the arrival of Messrs. Clay
and Holcombe, ] endeavo9ed, to show
them the impoisibility Of the success Of
any movement not open and general in
its character-that the northern peo-
pie could not be induced to rise either
by States or sections, but that we could
control the Chicago Convention and
organize a powerful party from Port
land to San FRANCISCO, thatyopld have
power to stop the war, even s;should
they fail to get possession of the fed,
eral government; and that after such
orgaoization was perfected and prom
ised success, we would have q good
prospect of making terms with Presl-.
dent Lincoln previous to the election;
certainly should he be defeated. =.
The Mcclellan or War Democracy
having possession Of the press and mat
chinery of the Democratic party, and
evincing no very friendly disposition
to the South determined to make
direct move upon President Lincoln;
and for that purpose I opened negotia,
tions with Horace Greeley. !, He, with
sagacious patriotism promptly respond-
ed, and for some days we had high
hopes of good results. Messrs. Clay
and Holcomb agreed to this move OH
my part, and with great ability and eio-
quencc conducted the negotiation, the
particulars of which they have commu:
nicated to you. During the progress
of the negotiation the Mcclellan or
War Democracy became very hostile
Fearing that we would make peace
with the Lincoln Government, they or
ganizeI to oppose us at all hazards
President Lincoln, by his negotiation
and his letter "To all whom it may
concern" was thought to have des'
troyed all chance of an election. "a, 8,
The War Democrats, not appreciat;
ing the position, thought McClellan's
nomination as good as an election. BY
their unwarranted confidence and false
promises they seduced our friends at
Chicago; and with resolutions meaning
nothing, pleasing no one, they nomi-
mated General Mcclellan, who gave
the finishing blow to any possible suc-
cess by his arrogant, war splitting letter
Of acceptance. r.. .',,pf' n''.
The fact is, any plan OF reconstruct
ion that the Chicago Convention
might have brought forward, the South
proclaiming its satisfaction, would
have insured the supcess of tho ticket.
The Lc Clellan organs, however, seemed
to vie with those Of Lincoln In exhibit
ing to the public any hostility that the
Confederatcs might express against
either of their respective fayorites; and
they were equally afraid to perfect any
settlement with the Confederacy. In
letter to Governor Horatio Seymour
and Hon. Benjamin Wood, immediate
ly after the appearance of McClellan'a
letter of acceptance, l endeavored, in
vain, to move General Mcclellan and
his advisers from their disastrous posi-
ton 1 demonstrated that if they
would come to an understanding with
us, similar to that. now entered intq
with Governor Walker, they would
carry the whole country. told them
plainly that if they continued to cry
out for d more vigorous prosecution OF
the war, when the whole affair could
be settled in day, they would not,
and ought not, to carry single State.