National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-12
IN THE REAR.
EXTRACTS FROM REBEL RECORDS.
Confederate Agents In Csnada-The Plans and OPP
eratiOns Reliance Upon Northern Demo-
Gratis to Upset the Designs Of Lin
coln-Unpublished History.

erati0ns Reliance Upon Northern Demo-
Gratis to Upset the Designs Of Lin
coIa-Unpublished History.
In the summer of 1854, while the issue
of the war was still in doubt, number of agents
OF the rebel government appeared In Canada
Among them were C. C. Clay, IT,, J. P. Holcombe.
and Jacob Thompson. They were ali men of note
in the South and had played some part in national
politics before the war. II was thought for time
that they were authorized to open negotiations for
peace. They gave out this impression, and invited
Horace Greeley to q conference with them. By
direction of President Lincoln, Mr. Greeley mot
them at Niagara Falls but nothing came Of the in
teryiew The real purpose of the presence OF these
men in Canada. is now fully shown by their
own correspondence, was twofold-to aid the
Democratic party in the North by making It appear
that Mr.. Lincoln was determined not 70 offer any
terms to the South except complete submission and
acquiescence in emancipation, and to stir up
insurrectionary movements in the North, Or
ganlze reasonable societies, bride politicians,
substitute newspapers, and hire misereants to
burn cities and destroy railroads For this
purpose they were supplied with a large
sum of money. The Tribune i5 IN possession
of large number of letters written by these
agents TO the confederate secretary of state, which
1t will publish as important material for the future
historian. The first of thess letters in the order
their dates is given below. 1t is Of much less In
terest than those which will follow. but IL shows
cOnclusiEely that even as late August, 1854 the
Southern leaders had no desire for peace save on
the basis of separation and that their attitude In
face of the then plainly desperate condition of the
confederate cause, was owing to the hope they had
that the Democrats OF the North would either tri-
umph at the polls In the approaching presidential
election or, failing there, would take up arms In
aid Of the rebellion Mr.. Clay speaks of the Demo-
Gratis in this letter the natural allies Of the South
and says: Many of them would gladly fall into
our lines our armies occupied the States north OF
the Ohio for month, or even a week" His sup
position that Mr.. Greeley favored peace on the
basis of separation was, it is needless to say,
wholly erroneous one.
C. c. CLAY, JR., To JUDAH =. BENJAMIN.
ST. GATHERINGS, c. W., Aug. Ii, 1861
Hon. J. P. Benjamin. Secretary Of State, Richmond
Va C. S. 4:
SIR: deem 1t due to Mr. Hoicombe and myself
to address you in explanation of the circumstances
leading TO aud attending our correspondence with
the Hon. Horace Greeley, which has been the sub
ject of so much Misrepresentation in the United
States, and they correctly copied of at least
two newspapers in the confederate States. We
addressed joint and informal note to the Prest
dent on this subject, but, it was sent by mes
senger under peculiar embarrsssmentS, 1t was
cOuched in very guarded terms, and was not SO
full or explicit as we originally intended or de-
sired to make it. hope he has already delivered
it, and has explained its purpose and supplied
what was wanting to do US full justice.
Soon after the arrival of Mr.. Hoconlbe, Mr..
Thompson, and myself In Canada West Il was
known in the United States, and was the subject of
much speculation there as to the object of our
visit. Some politicians, of more or less fame, and
representing all parties in the United States, came
to see Mr.. H. and myself Mr. T. being at Toronto,
and less accessible than we were at the Falls
either through curiosity or some better or worse
motive. They found that our conversation was
mainly directed to the mutual injury We were in
iicting on each other by war, the necessity for
peace In order TO preserve whatever was valuable
to both sections and the probability of foreign in
terventiOn when We were thoroughly exhausted
and unable to inure others, and the dietatiou Of
peace less advantageous TO both belllgerents than
they might now make If there was an armistiee of
sufficient duration to allow passion to subside and
reason to resume its sway.
In the meantime Mr.. George n. Saunders, who
had preceded US to the Falls. was addressing.
either directly or indirectly, his ancient intimate
party friends and others In the United States sup
posed to be favorably inclined, assuring them that
peace mutually advantageous to the North and
South might be made, and inviting them to visit
US, that we might consider and discuss the sub
jeck he informed US that Mr.. Greeley would visit
Us II we would be pleased 10 see him. Believing
from his antecedents that he was sincere friend
ofpeace, even with separation If necessary we au-
thorized Mr. s. to say thst we would be glad to re-
ceiye him. Mr.. G. replied as we were told, through
Mr.. Jewett-who had been an active and use
full agent for communicating with eitl-
nf tha nit al Stota ar ha rNatI1
prefer to accompany US to Washington city to talk
of peace, and would do so if we would go. We did
not then believe that Mr.. G. had authorized this
proposal In his name, for neither we nor Mr.. s had
seen 1t in any telegram letter from Mr.. e., but
had 1t only from the lips of Mr. Jewett. who Is re-
ported to be man of feryid and fruitful imSgina-
ton, and very credulous of what he wishes to be
true. Notwithstanding. after calm delberation
and consultation, we thought that we could not In
duty to the confederate States decline the invita-
ton and directed Mr. s. TO say that would go to
Washington If complete and unqualified protec-
ton was given us. We did not feel authorized to
speak for Mr.. Thompson, who was absent and we
moreover deemed it necessary that he or should
remain here to promote the objects that the secre-
tary of war had given us and another in charge.
Mr. 6: responded In his own peculiar style, as
you have SEEN will see, By the inclosed copy Of
the correspondence, which was published under
my supervision. We did not expect to hear from
Mr. Greeley again upon the subject, and we were
greatly surprised by his note from the United States
side of the Falls addressed to us as duly aecred
tied from Richmond as the bearers OF propositions
looking to the establishment OF peace" How or
by whom that character was imputed to us we do
not know We suspect. however, that We are In
debted for the atributIou OF the high and reSpon-
sibe Office to Mr.. Jewet or 10 that yet more credu
lous and inventive parsonage, Dame Rumor. Ger
tainly we are not Justly chargeabe with having
assumed OR affected that character. or with having
given any one sufficient grounds 10 infer that we
came clothed with such powers. We never sought
or desired safe conduct to Washington or
an interview with Mr.. Lincoln. We never
proposed suggested, or intlmated any terms of
peace TO any person that did not embrace the in
dependence of the confederate States Wehaye been
as Jealous of the rights, interest AMI honor of
government as any Of its citizens can be- and have
never Willingly compromised them by any word or
sign We have not felt il our duty 10 declare 10
all who have approached us upon the subject that
reunion was impossible under any change of the
Constitution or infringement of the forms of the
Federal Government. We have not dispeiled the
fond delusion of most oft those with whomw VIC have
conversed that some kind of common government
might at some time hereafter be re-eStabliShed.
But we have not induced or encouraged this idea
on the contrary, when obliged 20 answer the
question: VIII the Southern States consent to re-
unIon?" have answered: Not now; you have
shed so much of their best blood have desolated so
many homes, inflicted so much injury, caused so
much physical and mental agony, aud have
threatened and attempted such irreparable wrongs
without justification or excuse, as they believe
that they would now prefer determination TO your
embraces as friends and fellow citizens of the
same government. You must wait till the blood
of our slaughtered people has exhaled from the
soil, till the homes which you have destroyed have
been rebuilt, til our badges of mourning have
been laid aside, and the memories of our wrongs
are no longer visible on every hand, before you
propose to rebuild a Joint and common govern