The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-15


tshairnasssl,tp az tue Greeley md Brown gllD
as Fort 5lad!son. DO sesy . 4 sf.sss 1hey
come, & ! ~ :, ..,,,t
electors in 1888 In Nebraska, has written ! .
4 letter declaring his intention Of voting for
Greeley and Brown. !,
4 f1ap.polp. one hundred feet in height and
hearing n handsome whit, hat was raised on
the Sth instant It West Clarendon, Orleans
county, y. 7.
Confederate DfpIOmacy--The Peaee
| Conference mt Niagara Fasis--s1ase-
ment of 1eorse N. santters.
Mr.. George +. Sanders, in an address !" 70
the North and SOUTH" gives his version OF the
Niagara Falls peace negotiations OF 1864, IN
which Mr., Greeley was q leading participant.
He professes to have been chief plenipoten-
tiary on the part of the Confedcraey in these
negotiations. His authority-he does not
state expressly what it was. nor indeed that
he had anv-was Of no later date than the
summer of 1862. He was passed through
the Confederate lines and found his way 10
Niagara Falls, where he met Governor More
head, of Kentucky, and others, who thought
the peace party had fair prospect OF sue
cess in the coming elections, and therefore
any action on his part was ineXpedent. hlr.
Sanders accordingly went 10 Europe on
other business for the Co,tederlcy," return
in- to Niagara Falls in JIne, 1864. the foi-
lowing extracts tell the rest Of lIis story
Rot one of the many distinguished men OF
the North who visited me on that occasion
favored any disintegration Of the Union.
Many were for its further expansion. All
desired its restoration or favored some plan
| of reconstruction.
NV lirst efforts here were grounded upon
the Cr;ttenden compromise. But no plan OF
reconstruction met with any favor EXCEPT rs
under the Federal Constitution. 1t was
| clearly demonstrated that we would be COM
pellcd to agree to reinion under Federal
authority before we could have any coOpera-
tive strength in the North /; and l thought II
| best to at once accept this fact, and to make
the great effort to preserve the dominion OF
the States of the South, as far as practicable,
| over their domestic institutions. During
our consultations | had learned that the Adj
miuistration at Washington could be APP
preached with fair prospect of success. l
therefore resolved to make every effort TO
! ascertain whether they could he induced to
| make or accept any proposals likely to lend
| to peace.
Professor Holcombc now arrived ut the
| Falls. and upon his informing lie that he
(Scnator Claw and the Hon. Jacob Thomp-
| son had come to Canada accredited agents OF
| the Conicdcracy l explained to him the
general situation and my views, and found
| that he was willing to cooperate with me.
| | then asked him if their credentials eNhlb-
itcd sufficient general powers to enable Ills to
| open negotiations for peace directly with the
Federal Government. He Thought they did.
and raised no question or doubt about the
approval by the Confederate Government of
our proposed ovcrtlires. II
was not cooperating with him or Mr.. CIayin
their mission, but they with lne in mine.
Professor IIocomhc then accompanied me to
st. GATHERINGS Wells, where Senator Clay
was STAYING. He gave his hearty approba
ton. Mr.. Thompson joined lis there from
Toronto. But between him and myself
there existed political mtagonism Of sew
er7ll years standing. He opposed all my
suggestions, and, too glad to be rid of his in
congrnCus counselS, 1 made no effort to
change his views. This Wis my only con-
ference with 1hompsor--the modes Of peace
the only subject discussed. Nor was ] ever
cogniZant Of any proposition to fire New
York. to make war by contagious or intcc-
tiols disease, or commit any such acts.
When the st. Adams raid was over, I did
what | could to protect my young country
men from the consequences Of an act which
they knew well I would have totally dis.
cOuntenanccd.
authorized MIR. Jewett, who had prot:
fered his services, to give Mr.. Greeley as
surance that Messrs. Clay and Holcombe
were confidential agents OF the Con edeiate
Government, and that, while they had no
specific Instructions, their general powers
and knowledge Of the wishes Of the Con.
tedcrate Government would warrant their
opening negotiations for peace, and that they
were ready to make or receive proposals
from the Washington Cabinet, and directed
him to ask Mr.. Greeley to procure safe
conduct To Washington for Mr.. Clay, Mr.. |
lIolconbe, and myself Mr.. Jewett acted |
with entire fidelity to all parties. Mr.. Gree.
ley, upon this assurance only, came to the
American side Of the Falls. Ii. now, Mr. IIol- |
combc had firmly adhered TO his original
opinion of the extent of their powers we
could, upon Mr.. ircelcy's arrival with our
"satc conduct" have accompanied him ut
once to Washington but Mr.. UolcOmbe |
hcsitated, and our opportunity was lost. Mr..
Greeley, being met by such feeble assertion |
Of authority on our side, throwing upon him |
the responsibility OF taking 10 Washington
party OF "privutc citizcns,' instead Of ac-
knowle,lycd agents OF the Confederate Coy
crnment, very properly declined to proceed |
until he could communicate atresh with his |
Government. The delay enabled Secretary
Stanton 10 intervene against lis, and caused
to be issued the famous PAPER TO whom it |
may CONCERN" reck!osSly throwing in aG-
vance Of all negotiation the great stumbling
block, abolition. This paper was delivered
by Major Hay, President LincoIn's private
secretary, accompanied by Mr.. Greeley.
This was our only interview with Mr.. |
Greeley--and the delivery of the paper
and the exchange of ordinary courtescs all
that TRANSFERRED. Mr.. Clay being absent.
Major Hay Was informed that OH his az
rival in answer would be sent in writing.
1t would appear that Mr.. Stanton had,
with ambitious envy, put stop TO Presi-
dent LincoG's negotiations, that lie might
himself send I'M envoy TO his old friend
Thompson. The envoy (Judgc Jere BackL
arriving nj the Falls in Searcll Of Thompson,
saw me for Il moment and hurried on to
Toronto. Of the purposes OF these three
Cabinet couuscols of President Buchanan
Black, Stanton, and Thompson-I am still
ignorant.
Mr.. Seward also sent his ENJOYS to liz.
But his efforts were negatived by Dir. Sc
wards caution in not allowing TO be con-
vcyed. to lis the authoritative character of
their mission.
Thus the impression became popular that
we could exercise great influence Oil the Chi
cago Convention, and brought to lis among
Others. notably, partisans OF two Federal
IL 4