to whom he made overtures of peace. In the interview Davis declared
that "we are not fighting for slavery. We are fighting for
independence, and that or extermination we will have. We will be free.
We will govern ourselves. We will do it if we have to see every
Southern plantation sacked and every Southern city in flames.... Say
to Mr. Lincoln from me that I shall at any time be pleased to receive
proposals for peace on the basis of our independence. It will be
useless to approach me with any other."[975] It is known now that
Jaquess' report was substantially correct, but at the time the peace
advocate defiantly challenged its truth and the conservative was
incredulous.

[Footnote 975: J.R. Gilmore (Kirke), _Down in Tennessee_, pp.
272-280.]

Meantime Greeley (July 16) proceeded to Niagara Falls. Thompson was
not there and Clay had no authority to act. When the famous editor
asked fresh instructions Lincoln sent John Hay, his private secretary,
with the historic paper of July 18, which stopped further
negotiations.[976] In this well-meant effort the President desired to
convince his own party of the hopelessness of any satisfactory peace
until the surrender of Lee's and Johnston's armies; but to the people,
grieved by the death of loved ones, or oppressed by constant anxiety,
his brief ultimatum seemed maladroit, while the men who favoured peace
simply on condition of the restoration of the Union, without the
abolition of slavery, resented his course as arbitrary and needlessly
cruel.

[Footnote 976: "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 against the United States will be
received and considered by the executive government 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."--Horace Greeley, _The American
Conflict_, Vol. 2, p. 665; Appleton's _Cyclopaedia_, 1864, p. 780;
Nicolay-Hay, _Abraham Lincoln_, Vol. 9, p. 192.]

Lincoln's unpopularity touched bottom at this moment. The
dissatisfaction found expression in a secret call for a second
national convention, to be held at Cincinnati on September 28, to
nominate, if necessary, a new candidate for President.[977] This
movement, vigorously promoted i