Year: 1872

could result from 1t. Inc puOllclty OF our
presence in the United States, with the
sanction of its Government, must have
impaired mighty influence to the cause
of peace by the free discussion it would
have authorized and invited. The oppor-
tunities of general and unreStrained inter-
course might have been improved so
as to secure an insight into the temper
and policy of the administration, the
views of leading Tublic men, the spirit of
the people, and the resources of the cOun-
try.


Under this conviction we authorized Mr..
Sanders to signify to Mr.. Greeley our will
ingness to proceed to Washington upon the
tender of an absolute and unconditional
safe conduct from the President of the
United States. When Mr.. Sanders sub
mitted 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 belle wing Mr.. Sanders to
be q sincere and Jealous friend of the con-
federacy, thinking that on this occasion
his peculiar talent might render him USE
full in acquiring the information we desir-
ed, and feeling that if the safe co duct was
rendered, his wishes on this subject would
he entitled to some consideration, we per-
mitted the note to be sent without cOrrec-
ton. 1t 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 | believe into that of Mr..
CLAW. In few days we received letter
from Mr.. Greeley advising us of his ar
rival at the International Hotel, OIL the
American side of the falls, and rendering
us a safe conduct to Washington, and his
own escort, upon the hypothesis that we
were duly accredited from Richmond as
the bearers of propposions, looking to the
establishment of peace, and desired to visit
Washington in the fulfilment of our mis-


sion, Mr.. Clay and myself were SO deeply
impressed with the grave responsibility
which would attach to any action we might
take on this communication, that we tele-
graphed to Colonel Thompson to meet us
at st. Catharines and unite in our deliber-
ations. Whilst can only report the rea-
soning which led my own mind to its con-
cIusions, vet may add that the response
which was made to Greeley received the
appreciation of Mr.. Thompson, las we'll as of
Mr.. CLAW and myself. Our most obvious
course was to have informed Mr.. Greeley
that he lahored under strange deluslon,
both as to our character and our wishes,
and that we could only meet him as private
citizens, and for an informal interchange
of opinion. This course, however, as L
thought, would have given to the party now
i in power in the United States the means
of defending itself against the charge which
was used with most effect by its political
advesaries. Neither the present nor any
other Republican administration can Sc
cure the same degree of public support i'll
the prosecution of the war on policy OF
confscation and emancipation, as on a
policy which looks simply to the restOra-
ton of the Union.


Mr.. Lincoln was reproached with an un-
willingness to make peace on any terms
short of the subjugation of the States OF
this cOnfederacy, and the utter overthrow
of their peculiar social system, and conse-
quent indispositiOn TO ascertain the sentl-
ments of the Southern people, for fear they
might profess a readiness to submit to the
authority of the United States on more
reasonable conditions. Although no prop
osition for peace which did not concede our
absolute independence would have been
entertained by us for moment, it did not
seem to me wise to give our enemies the
moral and material benefit to be derived
from position they were not honestly en-
titled to occupy.


Had we returned the answer which has
been suggested, the friends of President
Lincoln could have appealed to the letter
of Mr.. Greeley as a proof OF his Willingness
to open negotiations on the most liberal
basis. That letter wholly abandoned the
attitude which the Government of the
| United States had maintained since the
secession of North Carolina, and to which,
| according to the declaration of Mr.. Sew
ard in his recent speech at Auburn, it has
returned of "no negotiations with rebels in
arms.n 1t expressed a readiness to open


negotiations, and attempt to settle through
diplomacy the questions which had been
SO long in vain submitted to the arbitra-
ment of war. 1t did not even announce


that that restoration of the Union was an
| indispensable condition of peace, but prof
fered a free and untrammeled conference.


Had the Correspondence closed at thatpoin


it must have added strength to the admin


istration of Mr.. Lincoln, and thus increas-


ed its capacity to carry on the war. Within


our own borders, it would have nourished


the delusive and dangerous hope of COM


promise with our enemy on terms consist


ent with liberty and salf-respect. a re-


newed pressure would have been brought
to bear on the President to sent commits
sioners to Washington with the view of


opening negotiations, at the hazard OF
fresh indignities to the confederacy.


In framing our reply to the letter of Mr.
Greeley, we endeavored to shape 1T so as 70
compel such new developments from Mr.
Lincoln as would disclose the true policy


of his administration, or such an adher'


ence to the position assumed i'll that letter


as would enable our Government to act up


on it with safety. This purpose was fully


accomplished in calling forth the ceisorat


ed document, addressed "To whom it may


concern" No paper probably ever pro pro


duced so great revolution OF puoil,c: senti


ment in this same space of time. Although


a gross delusion as to the extent or thell


recent military successes has induced a re


action and secured the reelection OF Mr


Lincoln, it is destined to exercise an ell


during influence for good. 1t has perma


nently weakened and distracted the wa


party of the North, and there is much Tea


son to hope that before many months inter
vene it will wholly deprive it OF democrat I
ic support However this may be, IL ma
, united and animated our own people more
than any political action of our adverSarie
since the commencement of the war;


1t has been suggested that the effect 0
l this correspondence, by rendering pron,a
nf NTr