GDG- any proposition of Jefferson Davis in writing

[Dennis Lawrence]

President answers Horace Greeley's suggestion for conference with 
Confederate representatives in Canada:

To Horace Greeley [1]
Hon. Horace Greely Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir July 9. 1864

Your letter of the 7th., with inclosures, received. If you can find, any 
person anywhere professing to have any proposition of Jefferson Davis in 
writing, for peace, embracing the restoration of the Union and abandonment 
of slavery, what ever else it embraces, say to him he may come to me with 
you, and that if he really brings such proposition, he shall, at the least, 
have safe conduct, with the paper (and without publicity, if he choose) to 
the point where you shall have met him. The same, if there be two or more 
persons. Yours truly A LINCOLN
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Annotation

[1]   ADfS, DLC-RTL; LS, owned by Mrs. James Wadsworth, Geneseo, New York. 
On July 7, 1864, Greeley wrote Lincoln:

``I venture to inclose you a letter and telegraphic dispatch that I 
received yesterday from our irrepressible friend, Colorado Jewett, at 
Niagara Falls. I think they deserve attention. Of course, I do not indorse 
Jewett's positive averment that his friends . . . have `full powers' from 
J.D., though I do not doubt that he thinks they have. I let that statement 
stand as simply evidencing the anxiety of the Confederates everywhere for 
peace. So much is beyond doubt.

``And thereupon I venture to remind you that our bleeding, bankrupt, almost 
dying country also longs for peace---shudders at the prospect of fresh 
conscriptions, of further wholesale devastations, and of new rivers of 
human blood. And a wide-spread conviction that the Government . . . are not 
anxious for Peace, and do not improve proffered opportunities to achieve 
it, is doing great harm now, and is morally certain, unless removed, to do 
far greater in the approaching Elections. . . .

``I entreat you, in your own time and manner, to submit overtures for 
pacification to the Southern insurgents which the impartial must pronounce 
frank and generous. If only with a view to the momentous Election soon to 
occur in North Carolina, and of the Draft to be enforced in the Free 
States, this should be done at once.

``I would give the safe conduct required by the Rebel envoys at Niagara . . 
. but you may see reasons for declining it. But, whether through them or 
otherwise, do not, I entreat you, fail to make the Southern people 
comprehend that you and all of us are anxious for peace. . . .

``Mr. President, I fear you do not realize how intently the people desire 
any peace consistent with the national integrity and honor. . . . With 
United States stocks worth but forty cents in gold per dollar, and drafting 
about to commence on the third million of Union soldiers, can this be 
wondered at?

``I do not say that a just peace is now attainable, though I believe it to 
be so. But I do say, that a frank offer by you to the insurgents of terms . 
. . will . . . prove an immense and sorely needed advantage to the national 
cause; it may save us from a northern insurrection. . . .

``I beg you to invite those now at Niagara to exhibit their credentials and 
submit their ultimatum.'' (DLC-RTL).

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The enclosed letter of William Cornell Jewett to Greeley is in part as 
follows: ``. . . I have to advise having just left Hon Geo. N. Sanders of 
Ky on the Canada side. I am authorised to state to you---for our use 
only---not the public---that two ambassadors---of Davis & Co are now in 
Canada---with full & complete powers for a peace & Mr Sanders requests that 
you come on immediately to me at Cataract House---to have a private 
interview, or if you will send the Presidents protection for him & two 
friends, they will come on & meet you. He says the whole matter can be 
consummated by me you---them & President Lincoln. Telegraph me in such 
form---that I may know---if you come here---or they to come on---with me.'' 
(Ibid.). See Lincoln to Greeley, July 15, infra.
<< Previou