The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-08-24
RTCHMOND,
GREELEY AS A PEACEMAKER.

GREELEY AS A PEACEMAKER.
The latest instalmeut Of rebel archives is
the report Of G. c. Clay, Jr., rebel agent
who operated in Cana IL in 1864, in connec-
sion with George A. Sanders and others
Their object in going to Canada was to keep
up close communication with the Dc moracy
of the North and to open negotiations with
any party or parties that might tend to con.
fuse the people and embsrrass the govern
ment. From his known timidity and vacilla-
tion Of character as we'll as from his egotism
and anxiety to dabble in public affairs, Mr..
Greeley was selected as . proper party TO
draw into their schemes. The report says:
"In the meantime Mr.. George N. Sanders
| who had preceded Us TO the Falls--was ad.
dressing, ether directly or indirectly, his an
cient and intimate party friends, and others
in the United States supposed 10 be favorably
inclined, assuring them that peace mutually
advantageous to the North and the South
might be made, and inviting them to visit US,
| that We might consider and discuss the SUBJ
iect. He informed US that Mr.. Greeley would
visit us if we would be pleased to see him.
i
sincere friend Of peace, even with separation
II necessary, We authorized Mr.. Sanders to
say that we would be glad to see him.
Ar. Greelsy re.psiy srsspsudsd throuxh !.
messenger that he would meet them, and adj
dressed his note to them as duly accredited
from Richmond as the bearers of propositions
looking to the establishment Of peace They
were nothing Of the sort ard had not laid
claim TO any such character, for Mr.. Clay
Gays how or by whom that character had
been impaired to us we do not know They
were simply cunning rebels operating over
the border aud fishing for gudgeons like Gree
cy. The philosopher went t. Niagara and held
conference with the rebels. Of course it
resulted in nothing. They pretended that
tkey were not authorized 10 accept any terms
but absolute independence while really they
were only aiming to distract the counsels Of
Union men and give encouragement to the
Democratic party in the approaching political
campaign. But after his return from Niagara
Greeley continued to harp on the subject of
peace, and it cam OF be doubted that his ut
terances had some influence. At least the
rebel, emissaljes thought so, for the repor.
before us says:
If we can credit the assertion of both Peace
and War Democrats, uttered to us in person
or through the presses of the United States,
our correspondence with Mr.. Greeley has
been promotive of our wishes. It has i'm
pressed all but fanatical Abolitionists with
; the opinion that there can be no peace while
Mr.. Lincoln prcsides over the Government Of
the United States. All concede that we will
not accept his terms, and scarcely any DEM
ocrat, and not all the Republicans, viii insist
on them
The evil effects Of the negotiation and of the
> New York Tribune's course continued TO de-
velop themselves, and contributed in gen.
of the public mind finally became SO alarm
ing that President Lincoln issued his famous
proclamation sto whom it may concern,
which satisfied the people that the under
handed negotiations Of Mr.. Greeley were NOT
countenaced by the government, and they
were in no danger Of having patched uI
peace concluded with the rebels except on ths
VASiS VI sue tutckttV Vi VIC |" "uOtS y utuu aue
tie abandonment of slavery
This proclamation of Mr.. Lincoln was seize,
upon to fire anew the Southern heart, ant
bolster up the totteriug cause of rebellion o
its effect in tho North, as judged from rebe
7. standpoint. Mr.. Clay says:
can the Democratic Presses derounce Mr.
Linc0ln's amnifest0 in strong terms, and man,
Republican Presses (and among them the
Tribunel admit It was a b.uader. Mr
Greeley has been chagined and incensed by il
Is his articles clearly show. ! am told b.
those who profess to have heard his priyar
expressions OF opinion and feeling, that b.
curses all fools in high places, and regard
himself as deceived and maltreated by the ad
ministrstion. From all that can see or hea
lam satisfied that the correspondence ha
tended strongly toward consolidating th
Democracy and dividing the Republicans, ant
encouraging the desire for peace"
The continued appeals of the New Yorl
Tribune for an early peace gave great en-
oouragement TO the anti.war Democrac,
whose sympathy with the rebellion was n
longer concealed. Of their attitude and ope
ratinns during the summer OF 1864, the re-
port says:
"If am not dc:eive the elements Of con
Aulsion and revolution existing in the Nort
e, have been greatly agitated by the pronuncia
mento Of the autocrat of White liuuse. Nc
only Democrats but Republicans are protest
.ng against draft to swell the army to fgt
to fres negroes, and are declaring more boldl
q, for States rights and the Union as it was.-
The Demecracy arc beginning to learn tbs
they must endure persecution, outrage an
tyranny al the hands of the Republicans ju,
'e. as soon as they can bring back their arme
leeions from the South. They read their ow
late in that Of the people Of Kentucky. an
Missouri and Maryland. They are beginnin
to lean more on the side of our people As the
natural allies aud as the champions of Stats
rights and of popular liberty Many of thel
" crushing their common enemy--the Abolition
lists. Many of them would fall into our linz
if our armies occupied any States north
the Ohio tor a month or even a week. Mar
in. of them are looking TO tie time wien the
to must fee their country or fight for their il
=, =, alienable rights They are preparing for Il
mr. latter alternative"
'er These extracts from tine report OF rch
he agent yividly recall those gloomy days whit
of the loyal people of the North, in close al
his deadly grapple with the rebellion. saw as y
'ns no gleam of honorable peace. The egotistc
nd interference OF Greeley, followed by ridic'
he lous failure, served only to increase the pu
zen lie despondency but the firm assurances
nm President Lincoln and the ponderous bio,
on; OF General Grant soon caused them to forp
Ids the blunderines of the national Marplot in {
zen zen dawn of > solid and honorable peace.-In
18th Journal.
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