Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-01
ANOTHER LEAF FROM UISTOR T.

Would HAVE ADMITTED THE REBEL
AGENTS AND SPIES INTO WASHINGTON
WITHOUT REsTRICT1oN-HE WOULD HAVE !
OPENED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TIE
FREE ADVOCACY OF PEACE AT THE MosT
CRITICAL MOMENT OF TIE WAR-How
GREELEY IN HIS LETTER WHOLLY ABAN
poNED THE PosIrIoss MAINTAINED BIZ THE
GovERNMENT.
HoN. J. p. BENJAMIN, SEc'Y OF STATE,
c. s. A. II desire to submit to you, as the
head of the department to which l am d.
rectly responsible, and under whose control
they should, If possible, have been conducted,
the history of certain transactions in which
was engaged whilst in Canada, but which did
not fall within the scope Of the duties assigned
me by the President. will not here repeat
the reasons which have been communicated
in previous reports for protracting my stay in
the British provinces. During the interval Of
leisure which this delay afforded me, was
practically associated by my friends, Messrs.
Clay and Thompson, with themselves, in the
execution of their more comprehensive and
delicate mission. In anticipation of the ar
arrival Of these gentlemen at Niagara, but,
as / believe, without their previous knowledge
OF sanction, Mr.. George N. Sanders, then re-
siding in that part OF Canada. invited num-
Der of citizens Of the United States, supposed
visit the falls and interchange opinions upon
the condition OF the country and the great
question of peace, with the prominent Con
federate gentlemen who we're expected to
spend portion Of the summer at that place.
Such conferences bsing entirely legitimate
under the construction which Messrs. Clay
and Thompson (no doubt very properly
| placed upon their powers and duties. 1 had
no hesitation in meeting the public men who
came to the falls, and expressed desire for
my society. hat point being the most con-
venient and eligible for the transaction of my
own business, remained there during the
whole period Of my stay in Canada, and thus
had opportunities Of more frequent and ex-
tensive intercourse with these gentlemen than
| either Of my friends, one of whom, Mr.. Clay,
| made his headquarters at St. Catharine's the
| other, Mr.. Thompson, at Toronto. Besides q
crowd OF less distinguished persons, saw
| during the course Of the summer Gin some in
stances repeatedly Gov. Hunt of New York,
| Messrs. Leigh Richmond and Benjamin Wood
of the same State; Mr.. Buckalew, Judge
Black and Mr.. Van Dyke Of Pennsylvania ;
Mclean Of the Cincinnati Enquirer; Weller
of California; Judge Bullitt of Kentucky,
and Col. Walker Of Indiana. We received
messages from other gentlemen, such as
Voorhees, of Indiana, and Pendleton of Ohio.
Before Mr.. Clay and myself had reached
Niagara, Mr.. Thompson had seen Mr.. VAL
landingham. The impressions which had
been made upon my mind by what l learned
| from many other sources Of information, in
| GLIDING interviews with leading members of
the order of the Sons of Liberty, as to the
temper of the democratic party, and especial
| ly OF the people c. the Northwest, and the
prospect of any action in that section favor
able to our cause, shall state in another
| part Of this report.
Certain editorials which appearet in the
| New York Tribune early in June, connected
| with intimations from our friends in New
York, induced hope (Which with me has
ripened into an abiding conviction) that the
able editor of that influential journal enter
tanned opinions upon the subject Of peace
| much more reasonable and moderate than
those Of the republican party in general. For
this reason neither Mr.. Clay nor myself (Mr.
Thompson being in Toronto, and taking nc
| part in these conferences, except with one or
two gentlemen who visited him in that city,
discouraged Mr.. Saunders from sending such
| an invitation through third person to Mr..
| Greeley, as he had to others, to come to the
falls and see us. Mr.. Saunders soon reported
| that this suggestion was most kindly received
| by Mr.. Greeley, but that he expressed pref
erence for Washington as a place Of meeting,
and desired to know If we were willing to go
there. 1t did not occur to US, as we had no
doubt from what had subsequently transpired
was the fact, that Mr. Greeley supposed we
held any quasi diplomatic position. We had
never written line or uttered word to jus.
tify such an inference. The anonymous pub
| locations attributing to us conversations, in
| which various terms of peace and RECONSTRUCT
| ton were suggested, had no shadow Of foun.
| dation in truth This impression of Mr..
Greeley most probably arose from the igno-
rance, folly, or knavery of Colorado Jewett
who was the medium of communication be-
tween Mr.. Sanders and himself Nothing
could be further from the truth than the state
ment Of our ingenious friend, DR.. Mackay,
In his letter to the London Times, that we
laid trap to catch Mr.. Lincoln. Had we
suspected any delusion as to our true
character, or the informal nature of the pro-
posed conference, 1t would have been prompt
| ly dispeled. In considering the proprety of
| accepting the suggestion of Mr.. Greeley to
visit Washington. we most deeply regretted
that it was impossible to submit the question
| to our own government for its decision.
There seemed to us, however, upon refec.
ton, no doubt rs to the line of conduct which
| would advance the interests Of our country.
The good to be accomplished by such visit
would, in our judgment, have greatly over
balanced any mischief that could result from
United States, with the sanction Of its Gov
eminent, must have impaired a mighty infiu
ence to the cause of peace by the free discuss
ion it would have authorized and invited
The opportunities Of general and unrestrained
intercourse might have been improved so as
to secure an insight into the temper and poll.
cy Of the administration, the views of leading
public men, the spirit of the people, and the
resources of the country. Under this con-
viction we authorized Mr.. Sanders to signify
to Mr. Greeley our Willingness to proceed to
Washington upon the tender of an absolute
and unconditional safe conduct from the
President of the United States. When Mr.
Sanders submitted the note TO us, which ap
pears first in the printed correspondence, we
found that he had, most unexpectedly, asso.
ciated his name with our own in the proposed
visit. There were serious objections to this
association, but believing Mr.. Sanders to be
sincere and jealous friend of the confeder-
acy, thinking that on this occasion his pecul-
lar talents might render him useful in acqnir.
ing the information we desired, and feeling
that if the safe conduct was rendered, his
wishes on this subject would be entitled to
some consideration, we permitted the note to