New-York tribune., 1867-04-24

tions going heavily against US in Northern
communities that bad just given large rnajorities
fcr Lincoln, and all industrial interests shrink
ing from the prospect of O vast Civil War. If a
poll could then have been had on the question,
the Free States would have given a popular
majority for the Crittenden Compromise. 1t
was our task to stem this headlong torrent,
and save the Nation from committing q gigan-
tic crime. We did this, perhaps not so wisely
as another might, but with such wisdom as we
had. We said in substance-"NOt another inch
of free soil to Slavery-rather let the South
90, if there he no other alternative" Let
those who did better (not L. W. take credit
for their superior sagacity or courage.
T. ". continues:
"And where, ALSO was Mr.. Greeley's love for the
Union and sympathy for the slave, when, in the dark
day OF the war; he demanded from the GoYeinlnent
We al know SF4 that the the best aanabs a.
acknowledgment OF the Southern ConfedeIacy, with
Slavery and the Save-Tradel"
1t is a lie with circumstance that we ever
demanded "peace on the best attainable terms"
The article whence these words are wrenched
was plea for calling out additional forces re-
enforcing our armies at all points, and striking
quick and heavy blows at the forces of the
Rebellion. In this way, we believed signal
successes might and would be achieyed-as they
were. We added that, if, having put forth olr
utmost strength, we found it insufficient to
wage successful war, we would then make peace.
Why not
1t is rs well to let r. w. get all this foul
stuff off his stomach. Here is the last Of it
Sand even at later day. while the eve Of "a glori-
cuddng with traitors for dlsgraccful peace, finally
closing hls craven and cOwardly labOrs by impo1ng
President Lincoln TO offer four hundred millions OF dol
lars slavery for peace, at the moment that Grant
FarTagut. Thomas. and Sheridan wers striking down
both Rebellion and slavery with their ords"
MIR. Greeley only" rushed to Canada when
President Lincoln directed him to do so, and
then sorely against his WILL His "cuddling
with traitors required a second urgent request
from Major Hay. the Presidents secretary and
special envoy. Up to the hour Of Hays arrival
on the ground, l had had no interview and
only the most formal correspondence with any
Rebels whatever. Their overture came to me
unsolicited and unexpected; forwarded it to
the President but made no response to its au-
thorS till directed to do so by Mr.. Lincoln. 1t
is a special lie that implOred u the President
TO Offer S40O, 100000 for Peace, though did sug-
gest TO him the wisdom Of Offering TO pay that
amount, in case the Rebellion were given up
and the Union restored, as n compensation for
the slaves of iOydl slave-owners not of the Rebel
States exclusively, but of all the Slave States
Had that proposition been made and accepted,
the National Debt would have been far less
to-day than it is, to say nothing of the saving
of many thousands of precious lives, along with
the hundreds of millions worth Of property de-
stIoyed in the last months of the War. And
the offer l suggested, had it been made
aud refused, would have weakened the
Rebellion more than any Union victory did.
That Rebellion was long kept alive by asser-
tions that all overtures We're rejected, all efforts
for peace repellcd at Washineton-that general
confscation and military execution were the
inevitable fate of the South in case she laid
down her arms. | believe several lakes
Of precious blood might have been saved by
scasonably and thoroughly dispelliDg these
delusions, and that Abraham Lincoln struck
the Rebellion q more deadly blow in Hampton
Roads than any of his Generals ever did in
the field. II. q.