reeley, in this communication, ignored all the conditions in
Mr. Lincoln's letters to him. Notwithstanding this, two of the
persons named responded (Thompson not having been with Clay and
Holcombe), saying they had no credentials to treat on the subject
of peace, and hence could not accept his offer. Clay and Holcombe
did say something about being acquainted with the views of their
government, and if permitted to go to Richmond could get, for
themselves or others, proper credentials. Mr. Greeley reported
the situation, asking of the President further instructions. It
now became apparent to everybody connected with the farce that if
it was kept up further, Mr. Lincoln would be put in the attitude
of suing the Confederacy for a peace. Lincoln determined to end
the situation and at the same time define his position before the
world, clearly. He dispatched John Hay to Niagara with this famous
letter:

"To Whom it May Concern: Any proposition which embraces the
restoration 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 of the United States,
and will be met by liberal terms on other substantial and collateral
points, and the bearer or bearers thereof shall have safe conduct
both ways.

"Abraham Lincoln."

This explicit letter was communicated to Holcombe at the Clifton
House by Greeley and Hay. Mr. Greeley seems to have expressed to
Jewett his regret over the "sad termination of the initiatory steps
taken for peace, from the charge made by the President in his
instructions given him." Nothing could have been more unjust.
The Confederate emissaries wrote a long letter to Mr. Greeley,
which they gave to the public, arraigning Mr. Lincoln for bad faith.
They assumed Mr. Greeley had been sent by the President, on Mr.
Lincoln's own motion, to invite them to Washington to confer as to
a peace. It does not appear that Mr. Greeley tried to disabuse
the public mind of this error or to make known the truth. He
claimed to regard the safe conduct of July 16th as a wavier of all
the President's precedent terms; also of his own previously expressed
terms. The President did not think best to publish the whole
correspondence, preferring to suffer the injustice in silence.
Mr. Greeley continued in a bad state of mind. He refused to visit
Mr. L