The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-06-20
Tbc fyonfere.Inct,er at Niagara.


The celebrated conference at Mag /
ara Falls hetwecn Horace Greeley and |
certain emissaries ofthe Confederates,
has naturall enough become the sub |
ieet of cohnnient at lhe present, time. n
That onr readers may fully under
stand mater, the particulars Of
which have probably escaped the
memory of most of them, we repro
duce Mr. GrecIcy's letter to President
Lincoln ,1~-~
6 81 u Nrw YeRk, july /, 1864. .
DEAR SIR-I venture TO enclose you
a letter and telegraphic.dispa that
/ received Yesterday frofil our ire
pressibIe friend, Colorado Jewett, at
Niagara Falls. think they deserve
attention. OF course do not indOrsc
Jewett's positive ayerment that his
friends at the Falls have 'Efull powers"
from j. D., though do not doubt
that he thinks they hate. / let that
statement stand as simply eyidencing
the anxiety of the Confederates every
where for peace. So much is-beyond
doubt. ~ g3
E And therefore Iyentnre TO remind
YOU that our bleeding, bankrupt, al
most diving country also longs for
peace-shudders at the prospect of
fresh coHscriptions, of further whole
sale deyastations, and of new rivers of
human blood and a widespread con-
yietion that the Government and its
prominent supporters are not anxious
for peace, and do not improve prof
fered opportunities to achieve it, is
doing great harm now. and Is morally
certain, unless removed. to do far
greater in the approaching elections.
tt is not enough that we anxiously
desire trne and lasting peace. We
ought to demonstrate and establish
the truth beyond cavik The fact that
A. III. Stephens was not permitted a
year ago to visit and confer with the
authorities at Washington has done
harm. which the lone of. the laie Ma
| tienal Convention at Baltimore is not
calculated to eoHnteract. III
| / entreat you in yonr own time and
manner, to submit oYertures for pacifi-
cation to- the Southern insurgents,
which the impartial mnst pronounce
frank and generous Il syeH
| If only with view to the mdmen-
4 tons election soon to oSoccur in North
| Carolina, and of the draft to be en-
forced IN the free States, this should
! be done at once. L would give the
/ safe conduct required by the rebel en-
VOWS at Niagara, upon their parole, to
Il avoid observation, and to refrain from
Aall communication with their sympa-
j thizers in the loyal States but. you
may see reasons for declining it. But
whether through them or,otherw ise
lido not, 1 entreat itToit. faib to- make the
Southern IpenIiieI comprehend that
Won, and all of lis are anxious fol
peace, and prepared TO grant liberal
j terms. a L venture to suggest the fol-
lowing; ,lilssia
jE nBiiPIA MO Il ADJUSTMENT. 5iIt
The Z mion is restored. and de-
4 edIperpeiit4l.is s;Ii ns3J so, 5siit
II 81 Slavery is utterly and forever
abolished throughout the same. 8
l. I 3. A complete amnesty for all polit
i, ical offenses, with a.restoration of al
the inhabitantSlof.e each State to all tht
privileges sofl citizens of the United
4 States.nsig gkfHGo9 tRgBfEu eds as stfo :
4. The Union to pay four hundred
million dollars I(400,0 0,0009 in five
4 per cent. GHnited States stock, to tht
llate slave States. loyal and isecessio,
alike, tosbe apportioned. l,1D rata, ac
cording to their slayei population re
: spectively, by the census. of 1850. IL
: compensation for the losses of thcil
, loyal citizens by the abolition of sla
: very. Each State to be entitled to it,
, quota upon the ratification byit leg
islature aforesaid. oas, ,st}l3tl lieisf-
: B. The slave States 3tej be entitled
hencef0rth TO Representative in the
House OH thegbasis of their total, in
stead of theirefederal population, tht
whole now being. free. SO it
: g. "A national $onvention,to be as
scmbled.as sooli as .pIay be, to Izltif.
this adjustment, and bIake sucl
changes in tile OoiistitutiOiffs may b.
deemed advisable haa Wsglsa
Mr.. President, L fear you dc no
f realize how Intensely the people de
r sire any peace consistent with the ma
tiOnal integrity and honor, and hoy
ioyously ffiey would hail its achieve
2 ment, and bless it's authors. Wit
' UDited States stock worth but fort
, Ecents in gold per dollar, and draftin
;, llabout to commence on the third mil
lion of Union soldiers, can this
I wondered at ?1sd gaia2'ntfau ,3aaff
j i do not say that a just peace is no,
{ attainabie, though believe it to be Sc
. But do say that frank offerby yo
to the insurgents of terms which tn
impartial say ought to be accepted
j will, at the worst, prove an immens
0 and sorely needed advantage TO til
~ national cause. 1T may save us frOi
a Northern insuirection.5 ilitfif
: ours truly, eIto.8seH rs
e l. o4t98g Fn5fzIioRACEs GREEl .EY.
Hon. Al Lincoln, President, WasI