The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-01
Another Leaf from History.
asryTEREsTING DOCUMENT.
Hon. j. p. Benjamin, Secretary Of State,

history of certain transactions in which
was engaged whilst in Canada, but when
! did not fall within the scope of the duties as
signed me by the President. l will not here
repeat the reasons which have been coInmu
nicated in previous reports for protracting
nv stay in the British provinces: During
the interval Of leisure which this delay
| afforded me ! was practically associated bv
| nv friends Messrs. Clay and Thompson with
| themselves in the execution OF their more
| comprehensive and delicate mission. In an
| ticimtion OF the arrival of these gentlemen
| at Niagara, but, as | believe, without their
| previous knowledge or sanction, Mr.. george
y. Sanders, then residing in that part O!
| Canada, invited Il number OF citizens OF tue
| United States supposed TO he host,le 10 the
existing Administration to visit the ans anu
| interchange opinions upon the condition OF
| the country and the great question of peace
| with the prominent Confederate gentlemen
! who were expected to spend Il portion OF
| the summer at that place. Such conferences
| bcinr entirely legitimate under the con-
| strtction which NIesSrs. Clay and Thomp-
! son (no doubt very properly placed upon
| their powers and duties, | had no hcsita-
| lion in meeting the public men who came
to the Falls and expressed Il desire for my
society. =.
/ That point being the most convenient and
| eligible for the transaction of NY S DuSls
ness, | remained there during the whole
| period of my stay in Canada, and thus had
| OPPORTUNITIES of more frequent and extensive
intercourse with these gentlemen than either
| of my friends, one of whom (AIr. Clay made
| his headquarters ut st. Catherine'S, the other
| (Mr. Thompson) at Toronto. Besides IA crowd
| of less distinguished persons, | saw during
the course of the uinmer lin some instances
repeatedly Governor Hunt, of New York ;
! McssrS. Leigh Richlnondand Benjamin Wood,
| of the same State; Mr. Buckalew, Judge
| Black. and Mr.. Van Dyke, Of Pennsylvania
| Mclean, of the Cincinnati Enguirtrj Weller,
| of California Judge Bullitt, of Kentucky.
and Colonel Walker, Of Indiana. We re-
ceiycd messages from other gentlemen, such
as VOORHEES,, Of Indiana, and Pendlcton, Of
Ohio. Before Mr.. Clay and myself had
reached Niagara MI. Thompson had seen
Mr.. EalIandigham. The impressions which
bad been made upon my mind by What l
learned from these gentlemen, and from
many other sources of information, inclr-
ding interviews with leading members of the
Order of the Sons Of Liberty, as to the tell
per Of the Democratic party, and especially
| the people of the Northwest, and the pros
l kltCl u lIN uCllol III tlNI YIN iof'ie
bile to. our cause, l shall state in another part
of this report.
Certain editorials which appeared in the
New York Tribune enrly in June, connected
with intimatiohs from our friends in New
York, induced a hope (Which with me has
ripencd into an abiding cOnyiction) that the
able editor of that influential journal enter
tained opinions upon the subject of pence
much more reasonable and moderate than
those of the Republican party i'll general.
For this reason neither Mr.. Clay nor myself
(Mr. Thompson being III Toronto, and taking
no part In these conferences, except with one
or two gentlemen who visited him i'll that
city, discouraged Mr.. Sanders from sending
such an invitation through Il third person to
Mr.. Greeley, as lie had sent to others to come
TO the Falls and sec Us. Mr.. Sanders soon
reported that this suggestion Was Most kindly
received by Mf. Greeley, but that he expressed
il Preference for Washington rs Il place of
meeting, and desired to know if we were will
ing to 60 there. 1t did not occur to us, as
we had no doubt from what had subsequently
transpired was the fact. that Mr.. Greeley sup
posed we held any q,dsi diplomatic position.
We had never written Il line or uttered Il
word to justify such in inference. The
ANONYMOUS publications attributing to us
L pl1N Z L Ill NhiNh a. h'i| - IL VI
peace and reconstruction were suggested had
no shadow of foundation in truth. This ill.,
preston of Mr.. Greeley most probably arose
from the ignorance, folly, or knayery of
Colorado Jewctt, who was the medium OF
communication between Mr.. Sanders and
himself. Nothing could be further from the
truth than the statement Of our ingenious
friend DR.. Mackay, in his letter to the Lon
don Times, that we laid q trap to catch Mr..
Lincoln. Had we suspected any delusion is
to our TRUE character, or the informal nature
of the proposed conference, it would have
been promptly dispellcd. In considering the
propriety of accepting the suggestion of Mr..
Greeley to visit Washington we most deeply
regretted that it was impossible to submit
the question to ouI W Government for its
decision.
There seemed i'd lis, however, upon rclec-
ton, no ddtbt rs to the line Of conduct which
would advance the interests Of our country.
The good to be accomplished by such Il 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
eminent, must have impaired Il mighty intlu-
ence to the cause Of peace by the free discus
sion it would have authorized and invited.
The opportunities Of general and unrc-
strained intercourse might have been I'M
proved SO as to sccur I'm insight into the
temper and policy of the Administration, the
spirit of the people, and the resources of the
country. Under this conviction we author
lied Mr.. Sanders to signify to Mr.. Greeley
our willingness to proceed TO Washington
upon the tender Of an absolute and uncon-
ditional Sate.conduct from the President of
the United States. When Mr.. Sanders sub
United the note to us, which appears first in
the printed correspondence, we found that
he had, most Unexpectedly, associated his
name with our own in the proposed visit.
There were serious objections to this associ-
alton, but believing Mr.. Sanders to be a sim
cere and Jealous friend of the ~Contedeacy,
thinking that on this occasion his peculiar
talents might render him useful in acquiring
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 be
sent without correction.
1t is, however, incumbent upon NE to add
that, with all proper respect for Mr.. Sanders,
he was at no time taken into my confidence,
nor l believe into that of Mr.. Clay. In a few
days we received a letter from Mr.. Greeley
advising us of his arrival at the international
Hotel, on the American side Of the Falls, and
rendering us a safe conduct to Washington,
and his W escort, upon the hypothesis that
we were duly accredited from Richmond as
the bearers Of propositions looking to the
establishment of pence. and desired to visit
Washington in the fulflment of our mission.
Mr.. Clay and myself were so deeply impress
ed with the grave responsibility which would
attach to any action we might take on this