Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-09-25
Letter from Hon. Milton SutIiff---He
Rises to Explain.

EDITOR CHRoNICLE:-You CORES
pendent, mot for Greeley" is not less
wanting in candor than he represent me
to have been in chronology as to my re-
marks at Greene.
1t is not true that in my remarks I
said any thing derogatory or disrespect-
ful of President Lincoln /; but there
accorded to him most heartily the char
acter of a truly good and great patriot.
In my reply to the false charges made
against Mr.. Greeley, of having been
willing to make concessions to the Con-
federate States during the rebellion, and
proposing to pay for their slaves, as
shown by his letter to Mr.. Lincoln in
the summer of 1865, I did say, that Mr..
Greeley was in sentiment, in advance
Of Mr.. Lincoln even, as ( the necessity
of regarding slavery the cause Of the
civil war. In evidence ofthis fact, I re-
ferred to Mr.. Lincoln-s letter to Mr..
Greeley, saying, "If I. could save the
Union by not freeing slaves I would do
it; if by freeing all the slaves, I would
do it; if by freeing some and letting
others alone, I would also do it," My
permanent object IS 70 saUe the Union, and
not either to saUe or destroy slavery"
And this, in answer to M. Greeley'S
letter, to him saying, "AIl attempts to
put down the rebellion, and at the same
time uphold its melting cause, are pre-
posterous and futile, that the rebellion,
if crushed out tomorrow, would be re-
newed within a year ifslavery were left
in full vigor; that every hour of defer
ence to slavery is an hour of added and
deepened peril to the Union" While
entertaining this opinion Mr.. Greeley, to
obtain the total aleGtitioa Of slaUerg, sug-
gested to Mr.. Lincoln, in his Niagara
letter, as to propositions to be submit
ted:
1st. The Union is restored and de-
clared perpetual.
I'd. Slavery is utterly aud forever aboL-
iShed, &c, and to obYiate all objections,
and secure the utter extinction of slave
~, by removing any objection to this
great object, added-''The Union to pay.
four hundred million, in 5 per cent
bonds, in compensation of the losses of
loyal citizens" These propositions,
suggested by Mr.. Greeley, I said were
quito in advance of the sentiment ex-
pressed by Mr.. LinGpln in his letter.
And in this connection I remember
having added Mr.. Lincoln, as shown by
his proclamation, made dfteI yards,
showed that be was even then willing
and for months afterwards, to accept a
restoration of the Union 7vih slavery.
This is certainly true as to the sentiment
of Mr.. Lincoln, expressed by his letter
referred to. But, if I so expressed my
self in reference to the three letters, as to
be understood as referring to Efr. Gree
ley's last letter instead Of Mr.. Lincoln's,
so referred to, It would be incorrect.
am also, by another, represented as
having in my remarks represented
President Grant as still receiving his
salary as General, as well as President.
I said nothing from which any intelli-
gent man could so understand me. I
did say of Nh. Grant, that however
eminent had been the services Of Gen.
Grant and our other distinguished Gen.
erals, and between whom a comparison
would be inYidious, they had all been
better paid than the private soldiers,
whose patriotism was equal, their priva-
ton and peril greater, and their pay far
less. And that especially toward Gen.
Grant, who was at the head of the army
at the close of the war;, the gratitude and
generosity Of the country had been
more cOnspicuously exhibited than
toward any Of our other equally able
and distinguished Generals; that upon
entering the army he received a liberal
salary +; at The termination of the war he
was invested with a military office with
a salary of some SIS, 900, which he might
hsYe held for life; and which he did
hold until at his instance, processing
himselfin favor ofOne term only, he was
made President at a salary of S25, 900.
But I did not say or intimate that the
President had at any time received the
salary of an Office he had ceased to occu.
Ply, or that he had improperly received
any salary. MILTON SUTLIFF.