The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-04

Union, in which case she will abandon
! the rebel cause
| The Niagara Falls Peace Negotiations
| CURIOUS LETTER FROM HORACE GREELEY
Correspondence of the Manchester Examiner
and Times . .-r q.
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Feb. %. 1860.
Ihave Just come into possession of q
very curious document, and one too,
which | am confident will be peculiarly
interesting 10 ypur readers because it
sheds SO much light upon the connection
which Mr. Horace Greeley, editor of the
New York Tribune. had with the famous
Niagara Falls peace negotiations OF last
July, in which he figured so prominent;
| ly, together with Cornell Jewett, and
Messrs. Sanders, Clay aud Holcombe.-
Apparently this letter which | need not
saw has never been published here, was
the initial movement in the negotiations
referred to. Here it is: L1. ..r- ie
New YORK, July :. 1864. r,
Nm Dear Sir:-l venture to incloSe to
you letter and telegraphic dispatch that
| received yesterday from our irrepressi'
bic friend Colorado Jewetts at Niagara
Falls. think they deserve attention.
OF course do not indorse Jewett's posi-
tive ayerment, that his friends at the
Falls have full powers. from J. D.,
though do not doubt that he thinks
they have. l let that statement stand
as simply evidencing the anxiety of the
Confederates everywhere for peace. So
much is beyond doubt. u. ~ :. o..
And therefore venture to remind you
that our bleeding, bankrupt, almost dy-
ing country also longs for peace-shnd-
ders at the prospect of fresh conscrip'
tions. of further wholesale devastations,
and of new rivers Of human blood; and
a wide spread conviction that the Gov
ernment and its prominent supporters
are not anxious for peace, and do not I'M
i prove proffered opportunities to achieve
| il, is doing great harm now, and is NOR
aliy certain, unless removed, to do Tar
greater in the approaching elections. +
| 1t il not enough that We anxiousiy tie
sire a true and lasting peace; we ought to
demonstrate and establish the truth be-
yond cavil The fact that A. II. Ste
phens was not permitted ayear ago to
visit and confer with the authorities at
| WASHINGTON has done harm, which the
tone at the late National Convention at
| Baltimore is not calculated to counter
| act
eutreat you, in your own time anu
manner, to submit overtures for pacihca-
ton to the southern insurgents, which
| the impartial must pronounce frank and
generous. Ifonly with view to the mo-
| mentOus election soon to occnr IN Nortn
/ Carolina. and of the draft to be enforced
| in the Free States, this should be done at
once. would give the safe conduct re-
auired by the rebel ENJOYS ut 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 LOT ue-
cliniug it. But whether through them
or otherwise, do not, entreat you, fail
TO make the Southern people cOmpre'
hend that you, and all of us, ale anxious
for peace, and prepared to grant liberal
| terms. venture To suggest tlie follow
| ing:
PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT.
/. The Union Is restored and declared
perpetual.
2. Slavery is utterly and forever aboi'
ished throughout the same.
| 3. A complete amnesty Tor all pOllti'
cal offences, with restoration OF all the
inhabitants of each State to all the priv
ileges of citizens ct the United States.
/. The Union to pay. four hundred
millions dollars (SiOO, ,Uo0,OOO) III flye per
cent. United States stocks To the late
slave States, loyal and secession alike, 10
be appropriated pro rata, according
to their slave population respectively oy
the census of 1860, III compensation for
the losses ftheir loyal citizens by the
abolition of slavery. Each State to bt
entitled to it's quota upon the ratification
by it's legislature of this adjustment
The bonds to be- at the absolute disposal
of the legislature aforesaid.
| s The said slave States to be entitled
henceforth to representation III the hous'
ON the basis of their total, instead OF theil
free population the whole now being
free.
| 6. A National Convention, to he ASSEM-
| bled so soon as may he, to -ratjty this al
iustment, and make such changes III 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 joyously they wonid
hail its achievement aud bless its a'l
thors. With United States stocks wortl
but forty cents in gold per dollar, an'
drafting about to commence on the thirt
million of Union soldiers can this b'
wondered at --......., y..... "
I do not say that jnst peace 10 nov
attainable, though believe it to he so
But | do say that frank offer by yo.'
to the insurgents Of terms which tn
impartial say ought to be accepted will
at the worst. prove an immense ana sore
" needed advantage to the natlona
cause. It may save US from Norther1
insurrection. Yours truly,
| (Sipned1 HORACE GREELEY.
| Hon. A. LINCOLN, President, Washing
ton, ID. G..
| p. S-Even though it sbonld be deem
ed unadvisable TO make an offer Of term
to the rebels. I insist that, in any possibl
case, it is desirable that any offer the.
4 may be disposed to make should be re
ceived, and either accepted or rejected
i beg you to invite those DOW at Magyar
to exhibit their credentials and, submi
their vltimatum. ~ =" II. u.
=.