Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-07-13
DAILY DEMOCRAT.


| A Lettor 11noM HlM e 1eiI
Davis IN March n1nois
noH5aEAt, CanadA,
March, Z, 1895.
PrfsidsMt Ddcis-
Ny DEAs Sra: Encouraged by your ap
provN Of my suggestion two years since I
visit Canada 20 form IN alliance with tn
northern democracy ] returned here IN IN
LIST u Juss lest, with my con Lewis, Z
place myself again 10 communication viii
you; first seeing what aiilancss could b
formed, and whether satisfactory sdiust
meet could be Effected with the Washing
ton government
Upon my arrival met with Hon. Jacol
Thompson, to whom ! communicated NJ,
plans, alter knowing that he had been ~
pointed BY you to confidential mission /,
the Canadas. Mr.. Thompson would no
enter into my views; hs had no confidenc,
NJ political movements; he believed in moth
ne but stirring up rebellion and fsveistiol
N TIE n0sth.wess.
Upon the srrival Of Messrs. Clay and
HOicombe, endeayored to show them tn,
impossibI,ty Of the success of any move
ment not open and general in its character
that the northern people could not be in
duced to rise either b. States or sections,
but that we could control the Chicago con
ventlon and organize powerful party from
Portland to San Francisco; that would have
power ~ stop the war, even should they
Tail TO yet possession Of the federal govern.
ment; and that after such organization wa
perfected and promised success, we would
ave good prospect Of making terms with
President Lincoln previous 20 the election;
certainly should he be defeated.
The Mcclellan or var democracy having
possession Of the press and machinery ot
the democratic party, and evMclng no very
friendly disposition 10 the south, deter
mined tn make = direct move upon Psesi.
dent Lincoln; aud Tor that purpose opened
negotiations with Horace Greeley. lie, with
sagacioas patriotism promptly rcspondc
aud for some days We had high hopes Of
good results. Messrs. Clay and Hocombe
agreed to this move on my part, and with
great ability and elequence conducted The
negotiation, the particulars Of which ihey
have communicated to you.
During the progress Of the negotiation
the Mcclellan or war democracy ccame
very hostile. Fearing that we would make
peace with the Lincoln government, they
organized to oppose us at all hazards.
President Lincoln. by his negotiation and
his letter ITO all whom it NAV concern"
was thocght to have destroyed all chance Of
an election.
The war democrats, not approaching the
position, thought McUlellan's nomination as
good ~ an election. Isy their unwarrant-
c'l confidence and false promises they Sc
duced our friends at Chicago; and with re-
s'lotio"s meaninE nothing. pleasing to one,
tney nominated Gen. Mcclellan, who gave
The finishing blow to any possible success
by his arrogant, war-spitting letter Of &C.
ceptance.
The fact is, any plan Of reconstruction
that the Chicago convention might have
brought forward, the south proclaiming it's
would have insured the success
Of the ticket.
The Mcclellan organs, however, seemed
t. vie with those of Lincoln in exhibiting 10
the public any hostility that the confeder
ates might express against either Of their
respective tavorites; and they were equally
afraid to perfect any settlement with the
confeIcracy. In letter to Gov. Eoratio
seymour and the Hon. Bcnamen Wood,
i immediately after the appearance of Nc
Cielan's letter Of acceptance, | endeavored
in vain to move Gen. Mcclellan and his ad-
viscrs from their disastrous position. de.
monstrated that if they would come to an
under standing with US, similar to that now
entered into with Gov. Walkcr, they could
larry the whole country. told them p ain
ly that If they continued to cry out for a
more vigorous pro e;ution Of the wal, when
the whole affair could be settled in day,
they would not, and ought not, to carry a
single State.
At my earnest request the Hon. Il. j.
W alker, came to Montreal in January last,
and is still here. but leaves tomorrow for
Washington. You will see by the enclosed
letter OF mine, to the leading men Of the
north, what he proposes to do.
am convinced that his gratitude and
love for the people Of Mississippi, his old
constituents, of all personal consequences
to himself to risk upon such guarantees for
the rights Of the south, aud Of all the
States, rs would, in his opinion, be perma-
nent and cffectual. He scouts the idea of
Illuminating or subjugating the south; he
coasts Of their unequslled courage and en-
durancc, and insists that there is no sacri-
lice, except honor, to which the north ought
not to agree. that would re establish cor
dial and fraternal union.
THU his plan the only one promising
any success. I believe that the Lincoln
government will accedc to his views. But
II they shonld not, and the South 81 ould
indicate their approval, the party in its ia
vor would sweep the north in the elections
this year.
These are Mr.. Walkers opinions, and
after full and free conference | am certain
that he is on the true and only line of Amer
,can adjustment, except by long and sue
cessful fighting on our part
Gen. Breckenridge, Of your cabinet, knows
the thoroughly; and asI have been most Of
the time in active opposition to him, he will
be able to give fair estimate Of what value
may attach to my opinion. Of your consti
utional advisers, Senator Hunter has
known me for twenty years, up to 1852, in
{ nately After that and until the end Of
the old government, was an active, deter
mined opponent, more personal than politi
cal.
Senators johnson, Brown, Burnett,
Wigfall. and Semmes Representatives Bo-
cock, Niles. Boyce. Mcqueen, Marshall,
Hodge, Msrhvn, h"adley, Brace, Push,
harris. GENTRY, McCiasky, Wilcox; Gen.
Lee, JohstDn, Beauregord, Bragg, Hoot,
\. p. Hill, Cobb, and G. W. Smith were
more or less familiar with my political op
erations under the old order ofthings. Pr.
don my referring to those gentlemen but
feel that you have not the intimate knowl.
edge Of my actions and associations under
tho old government 10 lead you to : correc.
estimate Of my opinions row.
IL Messrs. Clay or Holcombe should b<
with you, 1 am sure they will concur en-
tirely with my view Of last summer 1
proceedings, and will advise 70 go Mr.
VI. .tl.e7- 'HaN rts +u..rsp
In answer to Secretary Stewards speech
at Auburn last autumn, attacking me foI
nv interfe' ence IN fsdsrallpolitics, / sah t.