New-York tribune., 1872-08-14
AN OLD STORY REVIEWED
THE NIAGARA PEACE CONFERENCE
CARD FROM MR.. GEORGE N. SANDERS
N N'" NryYoRK. Aug -, 1877


retreat from before Richmond and the nonSuccess Vi
Federal seneTs wFSte TO apa sae campaigns
SoTth would be favorable time 20 inauguIae peace
movement Offering TO go TO SanaS @ o nosa is given
b|sNT in saving that IL was based upon the principles
of fraternity and guaranteed recSocaI reiao1s 3 S
6aosoS Sems wSs Of Se highest Importance and myself
the Judge of the ways and means 70 oe
the outposts to pass through our lines ana & III
ing myself at once ieiI 1 iSentty and passed
directly through the Federal lines TO NasaI1a I'D
Here met Gov MOrehead of Kentucky ana other @eS
ING men who thought that the issues OF the appIoac
ing elections were already made up. Win Iar ~
Sotic Thus advised, proceeded to England without
delay. on other business for the Conie9eTaey rv oil
Watching events from London and Paris, l saw az
hope European intervention dsslpated ana ,
sn,edeTae opportnnity returned to Falls in
June, execute my original peace progfa,ns; nm, G1 on
of the North meet and confer on the s1tueton an An
effort is now being made 10 tnt eSHsy yb d'sovaItV
t the non therefore not Oftclous 10 say lnat ut
one ol ' @ a mat occasion favored any dsinegation
of the Union Many were for its further expansion. All
desired its restoration or favored some plan oil recon-
NV Gpst efforts here we're grounded upon the Crtten,
den compromise. which had been university approves over
nv the Northern Democracy ana beiIEvereu m h
cans" who together were larGeS IN m & yyonitia m &
go II bad been embodied IN the Confederate COnsutu
ton which expressly T a ae 1Sr B9 R2t NO plan of re-
construction with any favor except as ntoG .t s
EpdQ
we woud be compelled to agree TO reunion under fed,
authority before we 9oqa bonsS @sIf ns hest to az once
accept this fact aud 10 make the great eort 70 preserve
the dominion Of the States OF the sostn as ] M S P% @
Consultations had learned that the Administration az
Washington could oe Pd 70 MAKE every effort TO
ascertain whether they could he induced TO make or ac-
cent any proposals likely to lead to peace 49, -.
Informing me Senator Clay, and the Hon J1c0D
Thompon had come to Canada accredited agents of the
1
and ms views and found that he was Wiling 10 cooper
ate with me then asked him If their credentials ex-
hi6ed sufficient general powers to enable us to open
negotiations for peace dlrecty WIN ene @ or
ment He thought they dld, ana raised no l'Stloh VI
DOUBT about the approval by the confederate govern
ton rennred ASSOCIATION with accredited agents owing
TO my initial correspondence with president DAVIS not
leaving the affair entirely in other hands wonld have
been total surrender OF my dntes. me
presented to him, and a novice In diplomacy
is excusabe for falling into some ,95 confusion i96
or MIR Clay their mission, but they with me IN mine
Prof Holcombe then accompanied me to St catherine
Wells where Senator Clay was staying. He gave his
hearty appreciation. MIR. Thompson joined US theIe
from Toronto But between him and myself there ex-
He opposed all my suggestions and too glad 10 be r OF
his ineongruous counsels made no effort to change his
views. Tins my only conference with Thom pso1l-
the modes Of peace the only subject discussed NOT was
ever cogmzant OF any proposition 10 nre Ne"fo 10
make by contagious OF lhIee ulseasS, ot CON com
did what could to protect my young country men me
from the consequences of act winch they knew well
4 VOlllQ
TRSnks to Prof noicombe for the declaration that
was never taken into their plans or confidence But II
would been more courteous and sti more exact 10
have said that sought from them the character
of their confidential mlsson interested only 10 know
Mon ther Assumption and approval authorized Mr.
Jewet who had profered his services, to give MT Mr.;
were confidential agents OF the Confederate Govern
be u bowers and knowledge Of the wishes Of the
Confederate Government would warrant their opening
negotiations for peace and that they were ready TO
make or receive proposals from the Washington Cabinet
and directed him to ask Mr. Greeley to procure safe
conduct 70 Washington for Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Hocombe, and
myself. Mr.. Jewett acted with entire hdehty TO all
PGTes MI Greeley upon this assurance only came to the
American side of the Fails. He did not come TO visit
Southern men as private citLens ne wa nOo lnveu
Informally or generally, as the Otner gem WERE
but as Republican and representative Of the United
must be assured H. nOw MI. HocOmbe had firmly adj
bered to his original opinion OF the extent Of their
powers could. upon Mr.. Greeleys arrival with our
asafe conduct" have accompanied him 10 Wash
ingtOn but Mr.. HOcOmbe hesitated, and our oppor-
tunty was lost, Mr. Greeley would not follow a re-
treating shadow Being met by such feeble assertion OF
authority side, throwing upon him the response
Een" instead OF acknowledged agents of the Confed
crate Government; he very properly declined to pro
ernment. The delay enabled Secretary Stanton 10 in
paper, 10 whom 1t may concern Teckessy throwing
In advance OF all negotiation the great stumbling block
abolition. This paper delivered by Major Hay
President Lincon's Private Secretary accompanied by
MIR. Greeley. This was our only interview with Mr.
Ordinary eoHrtesies an that tfahspTed Mr. Ciay Being
absent, Major Hay was informed that, his arrival
would be sent IN writing.
1t would appear that Mr. stanton had with ambitious
envy. put stop TO President Lincolns negotiations,
that he might himsei send an envoy TO his old friend
Thompson The envoy Judge Jere. Baek).
irving the Falls in search OF Thompson,
moment and hurried on 70 Toronto or the purposes OF
these three Cabinet eounselOTs OF President Buchanan
Black, Stanton and Ihompso10I u am stu ignorant
Perhaps the pgeOn-holes or he war Department hide
hight tue subject. The Judges patriotism Will
doubt prove TO have been equal TO the perlOus pO
1ltion Of beng between stanton and Thompson.
mr Seward also sent his ENJOYS to us But his efforts
negatyed by Mr. Stewards caution in not allowing
TO be conveyed to Us the authoritative Character Of ter
mission
ercise great influence on the Chicago Convention, and
brought among Others notably, partisans OF two
Fe0eTal generals then IN hlgh and active command.
They we were by leading delegates bad strong
6outhern annities Their pretensions however were
with the TIE only person that the Southern
seriously sought TO have nominated at Chicago
Dean Richmond, without any other platform than his
wellknOwn, pronounced Union principles. We were
willing TO trust to s love Of the entire country for an
honorable and equitable adjustment, and believed that
under all the circumstances he the strongest Demo-
rTat in The land MIR Richmond's friends In Western
New-YOr warmly responded 20 our wishes. Mr. Rich
mOnd himsc however, while receiving our frank over
ures with the utmost courtesy, firmly refused 10 allow
bis to be used as against Gen. Mcclellan. We
yielded to his decision.
President Lincoln reelected, his confidential embassa
dor the Courts OF Europe, the Hon. Robert j. Walker
with the appreciation OF President Lincoln visited me al
Montreal ~ see could not devise "a pacific settle
ment We viewed the question in many lights. aud Mr..
walker returned to Washington carry ih March 1865,
with the understanding that as soon AS ms instructions
could be prepared he would send safe conduct for
10 accompany 10 RICHMOND IN ANTICIPATION OF
visit 10 Richmond published In the Montreal papers my
report TO President Davis IL the hope that copy might
get through Following extracts from that letter.
dated Montreal, March 7, 1865
That arrival Of Mesrs Clay aud HoleOmbs endsavor
them the mposabh q the success Of
That the Northern
either by sections HOleOmhe
Clay With eloquent ability, responded
whom I concern"
Conscious OF the fast-waning vitality of the Confed
bTaoy and well acquainted With the strength OF the Fed
eral arms willing 10 20 10 Richmond upon the
terms was assured by Mr. Walker that President Lin
coin was ready 10 offer.
From the nrst thought saw a solution. though less