The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-06-20
sTRANGE REVELATIONS.
A Secret Agent Of President Lincoln-He In
tervfews Jen Davis, Horatio seymour,
and Horace Greeley.


Col. J. +. Jaquess, of the Seventy third Him
ois In antry, an orthodox clergyman by profession,
waa employed during the war a. q secret pgont by
President Lincoln. He repeatedly went through
the lines and saw Jefferson Davis and other Confed
crate oriclas. and was always sent on confidential
missions In the North He has recently been exam
med under oath before the Committee OF the Senate
on Military Affairs From his testimony we extract
the following
THE vIsrr TO JEFF DAVIS.
o.-To what place did you fret GOT A,ldrst
wen to Richmond In eoinr to iticnm.nd went
nv way Of Baltimore, ard rom there IT, Fortress
Monroe. and thence to Gen, Grants headqmarters.
Gen. Grant put me through the limos ON MI LIN
coins letter, which showed him. "
Odd YOU 20 through the lines to Richmond and
have an interview with jefferson Dsvisf Ayes.
o.-rIow long aid YOU remain in Richmond :. A.
remnined In Richmond three days,
Q.-where then did YOU go A-Aner LEAVING
Ricl mond, ] came 10 Washington, anu reported III
person TO Mr. Lincoln.
A REBEL COUNCIL At SIAGARA FALLS.
Q.-On what other secret serv'e did you then
gof A-Whcn I returned from Richmond Mr.
Lincoln saw, from the rttort That mlae 70 nn,,
that he was about to CONN Il very serious OIunuer
in reference to the Niagara Falls negotiatlou, md
he told me IN 70 there with all possible despatch
and see what there was Of that or, In other Words
he remarked to me. 1 want you To crack that nut
Immediately" ! went there ut once and had an IN
terview witt those parties at Niagara Fans; 49,,
q
o.%Cioment C. Clay and Jacob THOMPSON A.
Yes, sir; Clement G. Clay and Jacob Thompson
were the only parties saw there were other par.
ties there, but had no interviews with any except
those two.
o.-Were YOU at Niagara Falls q, the time there
was held OF that place a sort OF convention OF rebel
leaders ardsymnatbizers and spies, win some per
fer with themf Al was there NJ Mr.. Lincolp's
request. Ind made second visit Ia those parties
before that ! gained access however, to that con
ven tinn. Uaa allaIt
Ok President BucbannnG Ayes, sir. NJ.
Lincoln scrt me there to look into IT for him. OF
course. had to adopt the best means of getting
there, and found that ABOUT tho only way in which
could get there was through Mr.. Buchanan. so
Went 70 ms house ana STAYED WITH MN ~ Gay; ana
ever drank In my life because It was the custom Of
those who were visiting him Mt that time; AMI
through him GOT foil nrtvilege 10 go into that con
vcntlon at Niagara Falls. and l learned all their
secrets. When left MIR. Buchanan at his residence
Of 81 Louis. Mo. = icadnr man in the politics Of
the times, and who was TO be at this convention or
council, rs II was called by them. l represented
p"ruoo of southern Illinois, was ONLY n working
member OF the party. Kgew John n Logan, and
other leading men OF the Democratic party, who had
20 the opposite marty the enemy. As the
Republican party was called by them. Among other
imuor,ant facts which discovered IN this move
nont, waa that ex-PIcsdcnt Buchanan was tho.
ron NY advised OF ana fmi lar vito AZ the move
ucnts Of tire enemy tie border, and in full sym.
ratly v ,l them. and pre'erred that they should
succeed In TIER wicked design against the Govern.
mcnt Than tat the Republican party Should succeed
IN SAVING AVID kecrng control Of the conntry may
further state that met Mr. FolCor at Niagara Falls
and throuRi him had unrest rirtcl privilege In & o
councis Of the meetings whieh'f followed. which were
con hned m their de berations IN the best methods
securing the election OF the Democratic can tidatc
for lie Presidency. the defeat Of MIR Lincoln, and
tie elevation of themselves TO power.
Q-Was Mr.. Greeley there at that times A-No,
Odd you see him there at nllS Al did no,
see him there, though l understood he Lad been
there,
HE INTERVIEWS noHATIo SEYMOUR.
Q.-wbat next' Al next went to the Governor
OF the state ofNew York
O. Under the orders Of Mr.. Lincoln? AIT the
request Of Mr.. Lincoln.
Q.-who was Governor OF New Yorl, at that time ?
Q -Din Won have an Interview with him and II
so, what was ~ Al had an interview with him
ye Sr and ~ n S to Rs|ona 1 10 an
| points connected with IL. Mr.. Lincoln wished ne
e'rcciy 70 state to him the fact thar h,h elected
from Mr.. DAVIS that they wcrc.not fghin for slHv
cry that they werc fighting Tor their indcDcudcD CO.
and he had repeated u TO me under the head OF
three different propositions. "cur indcpcndrure We
| will have, will have annihilltinnn Mr.. Lin,
coin requested me 70 state these facts to Cover nor
| Seymour, which did spout Three d'Ys with him
in private aud he seemed rather 10th then 70 let me
| 20. I first laid the plan Of bringing Governor
Seymour here - have an interview With Mr.
| different state OF mind really from what had ex-
pccted 10 hnd him, anil left bin IN very different
suie OF mind hut finally adopted the plan Of get
| ting Gov. Seymour aud Gov Andrew, Of Mass chu.
sets, together. went e. Boston and brought Gov.
| Andrew to New York. and then went to Gov sey
| mour. az Albany, 1Cnin, and brought him to New
York, and paid the expenses OF 10th OF them tic
way. and paid their expenses while they In New
Y rk, for the purpose OF getting Gov. Seymour &c
two points: FIRST that he should cease his opposi /.
| ton to the Aomtnistratiou-New York was co1sil-
cred biz institution at that time and II was thought
| we could no, very well do without his influence
first, to cease his opposition to the Administration
In It's vigorous prosecution Of the war; and second
| pledged himself To- Gov Andrew aud myself that fo
the iuture he would comply most strictly with oGi
| Q-wnat was the date Of that pledge rs near Ms
YOU can rcmcrnherS Aust after the Presidential
election. think 1t was about the middle OF No
Odd YOU reuort this to Mr.. Linceln' Ayes
| sir; IN writing. You will find on examining the 70
cords at aret that nothing more was heard
Gov. Seymour in opposition TO Mr. Lircolns Admin
| istrltiou, and lie responded promptly TO every cal
after that watched him very closely.
| Q.--The narrative You gave o. Mr.. Seymour re
srecting your conversation with Jefferson DAVIS In
| your judgment, bad a favor bic effect upun Gov
| bcymours mindf Alt had not only iavOrsbl,
effect, but It made him different man: and so 1t di,
| every man Of that class that talked to.
HORACE GREELEY SWEARING At ABRAHAM LINCOLN
| Q.--Wbere did YOU 20 ncxtS A-Previous to NJ,
| visit 70 Gov Seymour made some public speeches
and some private speeches 10 parties who said hat
| inform alton they were entitled to know somethnl
| about From the LIST of December 1864 to the lat O
January lsoo Was no, very actively enElSed al
| feelings toward MIR. Lincoln, to whom lie wshc,
| private explanations To be made. Among these wal
|
| Falls. l went to Mr.. Greeley, hut lie was not whu'
| To be rcconcilcd. lie seemed willing to receive M
| and Lear me: hut very much inccnsed at Mr
Lincoln. Greeley says he never swcars. but to M
he cursed Mr.. Lincoln up and down; and have
| witness who can prove IT, He called Mr. Lincoln
| liar and would not hear my explanation really abuu
| the cnsnge IN Mr.. Liucon's plans In reference 70
| tie Niagara Falls uriir. Nr. Lincoln was very dc
sirous tna' tac tacts in the should BE- explaue,
| "a Mr. Greeley
! Odd Won finally succeed in obtaining hearing
with Mr. Greeley Al had two hcariugs with Mr.
Greeley, ut never succeeded In chan ing bis mine
IN reference 20 tlnt mattcr He insists to this dal
| that Mr. Lincoln lied to him.
| GA statement which nobody who know Mr.
Lincoln would believe at ALL Tor he was ~ inclrbl,
OF lying as any man ! ever knew. A.-Cortpirly b,
| Was; but Mr.. Greeley insists on II 10 thi- hoy.