New-York tribune., 1866-12-25
LETTER FROM MR. GREELEY


GENTIEMEN A newspaper dispatch from your ivy
dated the 5h inst, asserts that have been invited oy
Lousianians Of diverse parties extend my present
Journey so that it shall include visit TO your section
Though unable to comply with this invitation, venture
TO base on it an entreaty which sure you will receive
in the spirit which prompts it.
Our country has of late been tho arena OF terrible CVn
War whereof the devastaons and the passions, though
sooned by the Intervention Of time stl remain laV'
ing been plunged into that War by natural antagohsS
which seem to Inc fully to explain, If not to excuse to
collision they occasoned we are to-day in danger oi pro-
tracing struggle which has no longer rational motive,
aud for which the only is TO be sought III anpa
thes and preudces which have longer even oecen
pretext IL has been decided beyond appea that we ue
not TO be henccforth aliens but countymen. handful
nav migrate TO Brazil on the one hand or to Liberia
on tho other but at least nnoynno in every hundred OF
us will live and die free citizens of the United states
Shall we not therefore, resolve to live 10 peace and faer
nal concord What conceivable interest of any Of us can
be promoted bya porpetuaon of the hate and bitterness
naturally incident to q state Of Civil War
You Louisanians are prominently cosmopolitan peo-
nle Native and foregn-bOrni French English and Span
sh; Caucasian and African; Souhron and Yankee you
are pe ecy able las you have proved to make your State
hell upon earth if you choose. And greatly fear that
there are those among you who do choose.
But on the other hand feel entire confidence that you
who lave invited TO your State, with very many OF
your neghbors and folow-ctzons fully realize that tho
true interest Of all demands peace ORDER mutual kindi-
moss and the most absolute security the most hearty ac
cord 10 every human being now living IN or who may
hereafter come TO your State of every right person or
property which is enjoyed by the most favored among you
feel confident that you comprehend that the immense
vet undeveloped resources of your most fertile so Of
nj cf
positiop. cannot be even partially utilized until
substantial concord shall have been effected among your
own people binding your diverse racosn the sken bonds
of common sympathy, BASED feeling OF general
security and cont9ntment.
Some of YOU arc doubtless estate Rights men !" in
sense that am no think these must see that no
State can ever be truly strong while its people aayed
against each other in hostile factions each intensely
Jealous of some other The tendency to "1y from petty
tyrants to the throne is under such circumstances, ire
sistible.
And on the other hand the people OF State thoroughly
at peace and aterual relations with zach Other may
regard the doings Of tho Federal Government with IN
terost certainly but without anxiety apprehension
venture to entrea, you who have seen fit to invite
me TO your State to resolve yourselves into provisional
committee intent on the establishment forthwith of mutual
confidence and good will amorg all tho diverse races,
natonaties and clans nhabingyour State and that you
invite every segment and class Of your people to select its
ablegt and best TO cooperate with you IN this
benign enterprise If you do but resolve in fhth
TINT tho blessed Christmas at baEd shall not
pass without witnessing the establishment OF pcrectand
cordial good understanding between all classes Of your
people cannot doubt your success and shall hope that
your example will be generally initiated so that the year
1867 will long be remembered the dawn OF new era Of
peace, and happiness for utooong distracted
and desolated country.
With gratefulrgard remain yours,
HORACE GREELEY.
To Messrs Coy Wells J. II. Mckee. r. W. TalIaicrro,
Judges Durel Lyman Hewen and Taliaeuo j. r sullivan
T. c. Billings c. A. Weed & Co, Yhingham and Dubois,
Julian Neville & Co. md T. Heath g. Co. Col Corcoran and
others.