The New York herald., 1872-07-31

Hon. J. p. BENJAMIN Secretary Of State, G. 8. At
SIR desire to submit to you, as the head OF the
Department to which am directly responsible, and
under whose control they should, II possible, have
been conducted the history of certain transactions
In which was engaged while In Canada, but which
did not fall within the scope Of the
duties assigned me by the President
will not here repeat the reasons which have
been communicated in previous reports for
protracting my stay in the British Provinces
During the interval OF leisure which this delay
Afforded me, was practically associated by my
friends Messrs. Clay and Thompson, with them
selves, in the execution OF their more comprehen-
sive and delicate mission. In anticipation Of the
arrival Of these gentlemen at Niagara. but, as
believe, without their previous knowledge or
sanction, Mr. George N. Sanders, then re-
siding in that part Of Canada, invited a
supposed to be hostile to the existing administra
ton to visit the Falls and interchange opinions the
Of peace with tha PROMINENT Confederate gentle
summer at that place. Such conferences being
entirely legitimate under the construction which
properiy-pIaced upon their powers and duties.
had no hesitation In meeting the public men who
came to the Falls and expressed desire for my
eligible for the transaction OF my own business
remained there during the whole period of my stay
IN s Gad % s
whom, Mr.. Clay, made his headquarters at
at Toronto. Besides crowd OF less distin.
guished persons saw during the course OF the
Hunt, OF New York Messrs. Dean Richmond and
BENJAMIN Wood, of the same state; Mr.. Buckalew,
yudge BLACK an and Mr. Van Dyke Of Pennsylvania
California; Judge Bulltt Of Kentucky, and Colonel
Walker, Of Indiana. We received me messages from
Sas sas sna e oSS sore Of Mr. w.
son mad seen Mr.. vallandigham The Impressions
which had been made upon my mind by what
learned from these gentlemen and from many other
sources Of Information, including interviews with
as to the temper or the democratic party, and es.
pecialy of the people Of the Northwest and the
prospect OF any action In that section favorable to
our cause, shall state In another part Of this
report. fsr'Hl Hlr
Certain editorials which appeared in the New
nations E rom @ our friends % in New % York. Induced
hope (which with me has rpened into an abiding
conyiction that the able editor Of that influential
journal entertained opinions upon the subject OF
peace much more reasonable and moderate than
those Of the republican party In general. For this
Thompson being in Toronto and taking no
part In these conferences, except with
that City yS Mr. e@ sen a%
Mr. Greeley, as ne had sent to others, to come to
that this suggestion was most kindly received by
Mr., Greeley, but that ne expressed preference for
e know a %s we're Ss wSs a9S to ds
had no doubt nom what had subsequently
was the fact, that Mr.. Greeley sup
posed we held any quasi diplomatic position. We
had never written line or uttered word to JUS
tiOns attributing to conversations in which va
rious terms OF peace and reconstruction were sug-
gested had no shadow OF foundation In truth. This
impression O Mr. Greeley most probably arose from
the ignorance, folly or Knavery Of Colorado Jewett.
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 London
T Tines that we ia,d trap to catch MT; Lincoln.
or the informal nature OF the proposed
conference, 1t would have been promptly dspeled.
gestion OF Mr.. Greeley to visit Washington, We
most deeply regretted that IL was impossible to
submit the question to our own government for its
There seemed to u.s. however upon reflection, no
doubt as to the line oil conduct which would advance
the interests of our country. The good to be ac-
complished by such visit would, In our Judgment,
have greatly overbalanced any mischief that could
result from It, The publicity OF our presence In the
United States, with the sanction of It's government
must have impaired mighty influence to the
cause OF peace by the nee discussion it would
have authorized and invited. The opportunities
or general and unrestrained Intercourse might have
been Improved 10 as to secure an insight into the
OF leading public men, the spirit Of the people,
and the resources OF the country. Under this
CONVICTION % we authorized Mr. Sanders to signify
to Washington upon the tender of an abso-
lutte and unconditional safe conduct from
Mr. Sanders submitted 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 association,
but believing Mr.: Sanders to be a sincere and
this occasion his peculiar talents might render
him useful In acquiring the Information we
desre@ es4 Was and ssng that the SAFE
would be entitled to some consideration,
we permitted the note to be sent without correc
tlon. IL is, however, incumbent upon me to add
that with all proper respect for Mr.. sanders, he
was at no time taken into my confidence, nor be-
lleye into that Of Mr.: Clay: In few days we re-
ceiyed letter from Mr. Greeley advising US OF his
arrival at the International Hotel, the American
side OF the Falls, and rendering US safe conduct to
that we were duly accredited from Richmond as
the bearers OF propositions looking to the estab-
isllment OF peace, and desired to visit Washington
In the fulhlment OF our mission. Mr.. Clay and my
self were so deeply impressed with the grave re-
sponsibity which would attach TO any action we
might take ON this communication that we tee-
Rraphed to Colonel Thompson TO meet us at ST.
GATHERINGS and unite in our deliberations. While
can only report the reasoning which led my own
mind to It's conclusion, yet | may add that the re-
sponse which was made to Mr.. Greeley received the
approbatIon OF Mr.. Thompson as well as Of MI.
Gay and myself Our most obvious course was to
have informed Mr.. Greeley that he labOred under u
strange dellsi0n, both as to our character and
wishes, and that we could only meet him as private
cltizens ana Tor an informal interchange OF 0pin-
ION. This course, however, us thought would have
given to the party now in power In the United
states the means of defending itself against the
charge which was used with most effect by its
political adversaries. Neither the present nor any
other republican administration can secure the
same degree OF public support In the prosecution OF
ne war on policy of coniscaton and euancipa-
Jon as ON policy which looks simply to the
)rOacled with an nnwlllingness to make peace on
my Terms short OF the sub ugafion OF the states
u this confederacy, and the utter overthrow
" their peculiar Roclal system, and con-
equent indisposition 10 ascertain The sentiments
II the Southern people for fear they might profess
readiness to submit to the authority OF the United
states on more reasonable conditions. Although
10 proposition for peace which did not conccdc
nr absolute independence would have been enter |
aimed by US for moment, u did not seem to me