The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-03
A LEAF FROM HISTORY.

A LEAF fhUM 1lOlURl.
MORE DISCLOSURES FROM TIL
$4,000 CONFEDERATE ARCHIHES.
The Niagara Peace Negotiations ant
Horace Greeley's Connection with
Them-An Interesting Letter from Q
Confederate Agent.
The Northern papers publish the following
letter found among the "rebel archives
bought from Pickett by the Grant Govern
ment for 900:
Hon. J: P. Benjamin, Secretary of State @
SRI desire to submit to you, as the head
of the department TO which am directly re
sponsIbe, and under whose control they
should, If possible, have been conducted, the
history OF certain transactlons IN Which
was engaged whilst in Canada, but which
did not fall within the scope Of the duties as
signed me by the President. I will not here
repeat the reasons which have been c0mmu
nicated in previous reports for protracting
my stay In the British Provinces. During
the Interval of leisure which this delay
afforded me I was lically associated by
my friends, Messr5. Clay and Thompson, with
themselves In the execution of their more
comprehensive and delicate mission. 10 antiei
patton of the arrival of these gentlemen al
Niagara. but, as believe, without their pre-
vous knowledge or sanction, Mr.. George N,
Sanders, then residing in that part of Canada,
invited number OF citizens OF the United
States, supposed to be hostile to the existing
administration, to visit the Falls and inter.
change opinions upon the condition of the
country and the great question oil peace with
prominent Confederate gentlemen who were
expected to spend portion OF the summer at
that place. Such conferences being entirely
legitimate under The construction which
Messrs. Clay and Thompson (no doubt very
properly placed upon their powers and
duties, had no hesitation In meeting the puo.
lie men who came to the Falls and expressed
adesire for my society.
That point being the most conyeelent and
eligible for the transaction OF my own business,
Iremeined there during the whole period OF
my stay In Canada, and thus had opportunl'
Ties Of more frequent and extensive Inter.
course with these gentlemen than either OF
my friends, one of whom (Mr. Clay made his
headquarters at 81. Calherine's, the other
(Mr. Thompson) at Toronto. Besides crowd
OF less distinguished persons, saw during the
course Of the summer lin some instances re-
pealedly) Governor Hunt, OF New York;
Messrs. Leigh Richmond and Benjamin
Wood, of the same State, Mr.. Buckalew, Judge
Black and Mr.. Van Dyke, OF Pennsy lyania;
McLain, of the Cincinnati Enquirer; Weller,
OF California; Judge Bul.itt, of Kentucky, and
Colonel Walker, of Indiana. We received
messages from other gentlemen, snch as
Voorhees,, o. Indiana, and Pendleton. of Ohio.
Before MIR. Clay and myself had reached
Niagara Mr. Thompson had seen Mr.. Vallan-
digham. The Impression which had been
40 hp I lpQrnah
from these gentlemen, and from many other
sources OF Information, Including interviews
with leading members oil the Order ol the
Sons OF Liberty, as TO the temper OF the DEM
ocratlc party, and especially the people of
the Northwest, and the prospect Of any action
In that section favorable 10 our cause, I shall
sta'e In another part OF this report.
Certain editorials which appeared In the New
York Tribune early In June, connected with
intimalions from our friends in New York, In
duced hope (which with me has ripened into
an abiding convIcton) that the able editor oil
that Influential journal entertained opinions
upon the subject OF peace much more reason
able and moderate than those OF the Repub-
lican party In general. For this reason nei-
lher Mr.. Clay nor myself, Mr.. Thompson be-
Ing In Toronto. and taking no part In these
men who visited him In that city, dlscour-
aged Mr.. anders from sending such an inyl-
tSJlon through third porson In Mr.. -Grealey,
as he had sent to others to come to the Falls
and see us. Mr.. Sanders soon reported that
this suggestion was most kindly received by
Mr.. Greeley, but that he expressed a pre-
ference for Washington as place OF meet
log, aud deeired to know II we were willing
to 20 there. 1t did not occur 10 lib, as
we had no doubt from what had subsequently
transpired was the fact. that Mr.. Greeley sup
posed we held any quasi diplomatic position.
We had never written line or uttered q
word to justify such an Inference. The anony-
nous publications attrlbuLing 10 US conversa.
tions in which various terms OF peace and re-
construction were suggested had no shadow
of foundation In truth. This impression OF
Mr.. Greeley most probably arose from the
ignorance, folly, CT knaTery of Colorado
levitt, who was the medium OF Communics-
tIon between Mr. Sanders and himself. No.h-
Ing could BIZ further from the truth than the
statement OF our Ingenious friend, Dr..
Mackey, in his letter to the London Times,
that we laid a trap to catch Mr.. Lincoln. Had we
suspected any deluSion as to Our true character,
ence, 1t would have been promptly dispelled.
IL considering the propriety of accepting the
suggestion OF Mr.. Greeley to visit Washington
we most deeply regretted that 1t was impossl.
BILE to submit the question 10 our own govern
ment for It's decision.
There seemed 10 US, however, upon reneC-
ton, no doubt as to the line of conduct which
would advance the interests of our country.
The good 10 be accomplished by such visit
would, In our judgment, have greatly over
balanced any mischief that could result from
It. The publicity of our presence In the
United States, with the sanction OF Its gov.
ernment, must have Impaired mighty lndu-
ence to the cause OF peace by the tree discus
sion 1t would have authorized and Invited.
The opportunities of general and unre-
strained intercourse might have been Inn.
proved 30 as 10 secure an insight Into The
temper and policy of the administration, the
spirit of the people and the resources oil the
country. Under this conviction, we author
lied Mr.. Sanders to signify to Mr.. Greeley our
willingness 10 proceed 10 Washington npon
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