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THE COUNTRYMAN.
432
TURXWOLD, GA., AUGUST 16, 1864,
Tlie “Peace Negotiations.”
FULL HISTORY OF THE AFFAIR—COP 1ES OF THE
WHOLE CORRESPONDENCE.
“A friend has kindly obliged us with a copy
of the New York Herald, of the 22nd. It con
tains the full correspondence on the ‘ peace ne
gotiations,’ of which the public were briefly ad
vised, yesterday morning, as going on between
a parcel of volunteer peace-makers, that had
met at Niagara Falls, and the Baboon, at Wash
ington. The distinguished diplomats, of the
late abortive European Peace Conference, may
now hide their diminished heads. The diverse
parties thus strangely brought together face to
face, the magnitude of the question discussed,
and the upshot of their negotiations, taken all
together, may be called the eighth wonder of
the world. We give the whole correspondence
in the matter, all the dispatches, rumors, spec
ulations, &c., touching this great wonder ;—
Richmond Examiner.
SANDERS TO GREELEY.
(Private and Confidential.)
Clifton House, Niagara Falls, July 12, ’64.
Sir ; I am authorized to say that Hon. Clem
ent C. Clay, of Alabama, Prof. James P. Hol
combe, of Virginia, and George N. Sanders, of
Dixie, are ready and willing to go at once to
Washington, upon complete and unqualified
protection being given, either by the Presi
dent or Secretary of War. Let ihe permission
include the three names, and one other.
Very respectfully,
George N. Sanders.
To Hon. Horace Greeloy.
greeley’s reply.
Niagara Falls, N. Y., July 17, 1864.
Gentlemen : I am informed that you are duly
accredited, from Richmond, as the bearers of
propositions, looking to the establishment of
peace; that you desire to visit Washington in
the fulfilment of your mission, and that you
further desire that Mr. George N. Sanders
shall accompany you. If my information be
thus far substantially correct, I am authorized,
by the President of the United States, to tender
you his safe conduct, on the journey proposed,
and to accompany you at the earliest time that
will be agreeable to you. I have the honor to
be, gentlemen> yours,
Horace Greeley.
To Messrs. Clement C. Glay, Jacob Thompson,
James P. Holcombe, Clifton House, C. W.
HOLCOMBE AND CLAY TO GREELEY.
Clifton House, Niagara Falls, July 18, ’64.
Sir: We have the honor to acknowledge
your favor, ol the 17th.inst, which would have
beemanswered on yesterday, but lor the ab
sence of of Mr. Clay. The safe conduct of the
President of the United States has been ten
dered us, we regret to state, under some mis
apprehension of .facts. We have not been ac
credited to him, from Richmond, as the bearers
of propositions, looking to the establishment of
peace. We are, however, in the confidential
employment of our Government, and are en
tirely familiar with its wishes and opinions on
that subject: and we feel authorized to declare
that, if the circumstances, disclosed in the cor
respondence, were communicated to Richmond,
| we would be at once invested with the authori
ty, to which your letter refers ; or other gen
tlemen, clothed with full powers, would be im
mediately sent to Washington, with the view
ol hastening a consummation so much to be
desired, and terminating, at the earliest possi
ble moment, the calamities of the war. We
respectfully solicit, through your intervention,
a safe conduct to Washington, and thence, by
any route which may be designated, through
your lines to Richmond. We would be grati
fied if Mr. George N. Sanders were embraced
in this privilege.
Permit me, in conclusion, to acknowledge
our obligations to you, for the interest you
have manifested in the furtherance of our
wishes, and to express the hope, that in any
event, you will alford us the opportunity of ten
dering them, in person, before you leave the
Falls. We remain, very respectfully, Ac.,
C. C. Clay, jr.
J. P. Holcombe.
P. S.—It is proper to add that Mr. Thomp
son is not here, and has not been staying with
us, since our sojourn in Canada.
GREELEY’S REPLY.
International Hotel, Niagara, N. Y., July 18.
Gentlemen : I have the honor to acknowl
edge the receipt of yours, of this date, by the
hand of Mr. W. C. Jewett. The state of facts,
therein presented, being materially different
lrom that which was understood to exist by
the President, when he entrusted me with the
safe conduct required, it seems to me, on every
account, that I should communicate with him
by telegraph, and solicit fresh instructions,
which I shall at once proceed to do. I hope to
be able to transmit the result, this afternoon ;
and at all events, I shall do so at the earliest
moment. Yours, truly,
H. Greeley.
To Messrs. Clement C. Clay, and James P.
Holcombe, Clifton House, C. W.
CLAY AND HOLCOMBE TO GREELEY.
Clifton House, Niagara Falls, July 12.
To Hou. H. Greeley, Niagara Falls, N. Y.:
Sir : We have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your note, of this date, by the
hands of Cpl. Jewett, and will await the fur
ther answer which you propose to send us.
We are, very respectfully, &c.
C. C. Clay, Jr.,
J. P. Holcombe.
GREELEY TO CLAY AND HOLCOMBE.
International Hotel, Niagara Fails, July 19.
Gentlemen : At a late hour last evening (too
late for communication with you) I received a
despatch, informing me that further instruc
tions left Washington, last evening, which
' must reach me, if there be no interruption, at
noon, to-morrow. Should you decide to await
their arrival, I leel confident that they will en
able me to answer, definitely, your note of yes
terday morning. Regretting a delay, which I
am sure you will yegard as unavoidable on vn'y
part, I remain yours, truly, H. Greeley.
To Hon. Messrs. C. C. Clay, Jr., and J. P.
Holcombe, Clifton House, Niagara, C. W.
HOLCOMBE AND CLAY TO GREKLET.
Clifton House, Niagara Falls, July 19.
Sir : Col. Jewett has just handed us your
note of this date, in which you state that fur
ther instructions will reach you from Wash
ington, by neon, to morrow, if there be no in
terruption. One, or pcssibly both of us, may
be obliged to leave the Falls, to-day, but will
return in time to receive the communication
which you premise to-morrow.
We remain, truly yours, &c.,
J. P. Holcombe,
C. C. Clay, Jr.
To Hon. Horace Greeley, now at International
Hotel.
The PRESIDENT WILLING TO RECEIVE BEARERS OF
TERMS OF PEACE.
To whom it may concern :
Any proposition which embraces the resto
ration of peace, the integrity of the whole
Union, and the abandonment of slavery, and
which comes by and with an authority that
can control the armies now at war with the
United States, will be received and considered
by the Executive Government of the United
States, and will be met by liberal terms on oth
er substantial and collateral points, and the
bearer or bearers thereof shall have safe conduct
both ways. Abraham Lincoln.
NOTE FROM MAJ. HAY 10 MR. HOLCOMBE.
Major Hay would respectfully enquire
whether Professor Holcombe, and the gentle
men associated with him, desire to send to
Washington, by Maj. Hay, any message in
reference to the communication delivered to
him on yesterday, and in that case when he
may expect to be favored with such message.
International Hotel, Wednesday.
NOTE FROM MR. HOLCOMBE TO MAJ. HAY.
Mr. Holcombe presents his compliments to
Major Hay, and greatly regrets, if his return
to Washington ha3 been delayed by an expec
tation of an answer to the communication,
which Mr. Holcombe received from him, on
yesterday, to be delivered to the President of
the United States. That communication was
accepted as the response to a letter of Messrs.
Clay and Holcombe, to the Hon. H. Greeley,
and to that gentleman a.n answer has been
transmitted.
Clifton House, Niagara Falls, Thursday, Ju
ly 21.
REJECTION OF THE PRESIDENT’S TERMS — REPLY
OF THE REBEL AGENTS.
Copy of the original letter held by me, to de
liver to Hon. H. Greeley, and which duplicate
1 now furnish the Associated Press.
Wm. C. Jewett.
Clifton House, Niagara Falls, July 21, ’64.
To Hon. H. Greeley—
Sir The paper handed to Mr. Holcombe*
yesterday, in your presence, by Major Hay,
Assistant Adjutant General, as an answer
to the application in our note, of the I8th iust ,
is touched in the following terms :
* Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C.,
July 18, 1S64.
‘ To Whom it May Concern—
* Any proposition, which embraces the resto
ration of peace, the integrity of the whole
Union, and the abandonment of slavery, and,
which comts by and with an authority that
can control the armies now at war against the
United Slates, will be received and considered
by the executive governmeal of the United
States, g,nd will be ijiet by liberal terms on