Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-31
ANOTHER CHAPTER From THE
'CONFBDERATE ARCHfvE9.


Hsw Rebel Emissarses And Northern
Demoe rats Plotted I'm GaWada-Buck.
sieM, Oh nay snn Ssn.e ,c M s.ni
eomb-B~w Tribune EslstOrials give
Aid and Comfort 90 the Rebel &aey.
eFnReat-CoieraslO Je~etf, George
Sanders, end Horace Greeley AS
Peaee.0akers.
Hon. J. P. Senjamin, Secretary If State. c. s. A.
SIR: desire TO su bmit to yeu, as the head of
the department to which am directly respon-
sible, and Kinder whose control they should, If
possible, have been conducted, the history Of
certain transactions in which L was engaged
whilst in Canada, but which cid not fall within
the scope of the duties assigned me by the pres
ident. will not here repeat the reasons which
have been communicated ia previous reports for
protracting my stay in the British provinces
During the interval of leisure which this delay
afforded nae, was practically associated by my
friends, Messrs. Clay and Thorn Pson, with them
selves, in the execution of their more compre-
hensive and delicate mission. In anticipation
of the arrival OF these gentlemen at Niagara,
but, as 1 believe, without their previous knowl-
edge sanction, Mr.. George n. Sanders, then
residing in that part of Canada, invited q num-
Der Of citizens of the United States, supposed 10
be hostile to the existing administration TO visit
the falls and interch ange opinions upon the con-
dition OF the country and the great question of
peace, with the prominent Confederate gentle
men who were expected to spen a 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 hest stion in meeting he publ, men who
came 10 the falls, and expressed desire Tor my
eiety. That point being the most eonveuen, ant
eligible for the t. &C; ion of my own business.
remained there during the whole period o. my stay
in Canada, aud thus had oppor, uni les Of m fire.
Quent and extensive intercourse with these gentle
men than either Of my frierds one of whom Mr.
ots mace ns Tn1sn,S 81 the
Of less dist nsuished persons: L saw during the
q lew Ieio Rfch
mond and Benjamin Wood, of the same State; Mr.
oSfs t and Mr. sn byss
Wsller, OF California; Jndg. BulliIt # Kentucky
ssses from other gehtlem. n, such as Worries. Of
Indiana, and Pendleton, OF Ohio. Before Mr.. Clay
had seen E Mr.. Vailandsh s@ Tne impr @eiSn
which had been made upon my mind by what
sources Of Information, including interviews with
leading members Of the order OF the Sons of Liberty,
psesy If TIE p pc Of the AND and the
Of ess n thas s oar S
port.
Tribune early in June, connected with intimations
from cur friends in New York induced hope which
IN able sdi,or Of that influential entertained
opinions upon the subject Of peace much more rea
party in general. For this neither Mr.. Cay
nor myself Mr.. Thompson being in Toronto, and
CT two gentlemen who visited lsm in that city) dis
outraged Mr.. Sanders from sending such an invita-
had sent to Others to Come to the fsi and see US.
Mr.. Sanders soon reported that this suggestion
pressed a preference for Washington as place Of
meeting, and desired to know il We were willing to
fr.m what bad subsequently SIansp,red was the
fact, that MT: Greeley supposed We had held any
line or uttered word justify such an inference
The anonymous public atioDs attributing to us
rec Instruction were sugsested, had no shadow Of
fouhdatien in truth This impression Of Mr. Gree
or knsSery of Colorado Jewstt Who was the medium
of eommunicst on between Mr.. Sa, ders and himself
ststementof our ingenious friend. Dr. Macy .h IN
his letter to the London Times, that we laid trap
sion as to our true character the informal nature
Of the proposed conferences, it would have been
accepting the suggestion of Mr.. Greeley to visit
Wellington, we most deeply regretted that il was
There seemed to US, However, upon reflection, no
the interests Of our country The good 70 be accom-.
seag overSalsnced any mischief that could
iH IT, The Ss sf our in the
must have impaired q mighty innuence TO the cause
Of peace by the free die IN Il would have author
unrestrsined intercourse might have been Improved
to secure an insight into the temper and policy
the p the C
ts .rn Mr we
proceed to upon the tender e.
an absolute and uneonditit nal safe conduct from
ders snbmitted the note 10 US. which appears
first in the printed correspondence, we found
lis name With our own in the PROPOSED Sss
There were serious objections to this 'ation,
GUS friend OF the confederacy, thnkne that on this
occasion his pe uliar talents might render him use
feeling that il the safe con6 uct was rendered his
wishes on this subject would be entitled to some
without correction 1t is. however. Incumbent upon
me to add that, with all proper respect far Mr..
nor believe into that OF Mr. Clay. In few DAYS
we received q letter from Mr. Greeley advising us Of
rican side Of the falls, and rendering safe coz
duct to Washineton, and his own escort. upon the
mond as the bearers of propositions, looking to the
s.tablisbment Of peace: and desired to. visit
Mr. Clay and myself were 80 deeply mpressei with
the grave responsibility which would attach any
we t.iesra 1hed to Colonel Thompson to meet rs At
f. GATHERINGS and unite in our deliberations Whilst
mind to rs add that hs re-
Probation Of Mr. Thompson, as we'll as of Mr.. Clay
snd my self: Our most obvious course was TO have
sropee deIuson both as to our Character and our
wishes and that we could only meet him as private
This course, however. as 1 thought, would have
given to the party now in power in the United States
which was used with most effect by its politi-
cal adyersaries. Neither the present nor any
same degree of public support in the prosecution Of
.he war on policy OF conhseation and emsncips-
toratiou of the Union Mr.. Lincoln was re proachsd
with an pnwillingness to make peace on any terms
short Of the subuga,ion Of the States Of this con-
federscy, and the utter overthrow Of their peculiar
social ~ stem, and Consequent indisposif. on to
sscers in the sentiments of the Southern people for
fear they might profess readiness to submit to the
authority Of The United efates on more reasonable
conditions. Although no proposition for peace
which did not concede our absolute independence
would have been entertained by us for moment, it
did not seem 70 me wise to give our enemies the
position ihey were not honestly entitled TO occupy
Had we returned the snswer which has been sus.
gestsd he friends of President Lincoln could have
appealed to the letter Of Mr. Greeley as q proof Of
his willingness TO oren negotiations the lib
eral basis That letter wholly abandoned the atti-
tuce which the Government Of the United States
had maintained since the secession Of South Caro-
lima, snd to which, according to the declaration of
Mr.. Seward IN his recent speech at Auburn, IL has
returned of mo neGotis' ions with rebels In arms
IT pressed a readiness to open negotiations, and
attempt TO settle through diplomacy the questions
which had been 50 long in vain submitted to the ar
biiI am.It OF WAT Il did not even announce that the
tion Of peace, but proffered FIRE and untrammeed
conference. Had the spondt nee closed at that
point. addfd ar IN h. adu,;ni..