The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-16 00:00:00

CIRCULAR..

' Department of State, Richmond, Aug. 25, 1854.
Sir,—Numerous publications which have recently ap-
peared in the journals of the United States on the subject
of informal overtures for peace between the two Federations
of States now at war on this continent, render it desirable
that you should be fully advised of the views and policy of
this Government on a matter of such paramount import-
ance. It is likewise proper that you should be accurately
informed of whit has occurred on the several occasions
mentioned in the published statements.

You have heretofore been furnished with Copies of the
manifesto issued by the Congress of the Confederate States,
with the approval of the President, on the 14th June last,
and have doubtless acted in conformity with the resolution
which requested that copies of this manifesto should be laid
before foreign Governments. " The principal sentiments
and purposes by which these States have been and are still
actuated" are set forth in that paper with all the authority
due to the solemn declaration of the Legislative Executive
Department of this Government, and with a clearness
which leaves no room for comment or explanation. In a few
sentences it is pointed out that all wo ask is immunity iron,
interference with our internal peace and prosperity, "and
to be left in the undisturbed enjoyment of those inalienable
rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which
our common ancestors declared to be the equal heritage of
all parties to the social compact. Let them forbear aggres-
sions upon us, and the war is at an end. If there be ques-
tions which require adjustment by negotiation, wo have
ever been willing, and are still willing, to enter into corm:nu.
nication with our adversaries, in a spirit of peace, of equity,
and manly frankness." The manifesto closed with the
declaration that " we commit our cause to the enlightened
judgment of the morld, to the sober reflections of our ad-
versaries themselves, and to the solemn and •righteous
arbitrament of health,"

Within a very few weeks after the publication of this
manifesto, it seemed to have met with a response from Pre-
sident Lincoln. In the early part of last month a letter was
received by Gen. Lee from Lieut.-Gen. Grant, in the fol-
lowing words

1. Headquarters Armies ct the United States,
City Point, Va., July 8, 1864.
General It. E. Lee, Commanding Confederate Forces

near Petersburg, Virginia.

"General,-1 would request that Col. James F. Jacquess,
73d Illinois Volunteer Infanfry, and J. R. Gilmore, Esq.,
be allowed to meet Col. Robert Ould, Commissioner for the
Exchange of Prisoners, at such place between the lines of
the two armies Gs you may designate. The object of the
meeting is legitimate with the du' ies of Col. Ould, as Com-
missioner.

" If 'apt consistent for you to grant the request here
asked, I would beg that this be referred to President Davis
for his action.

"Rtquestirg as early an answer to this communication
as you may find it convenient to make, I subscribe myself
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"U. S. GnANT, Lieut.-Gen. U.S.A."
On the reference of this letter to the President ho authe,
rised Col. Outd to meet the persons named in G.!n. Grant's
letter, and Col. Ould, after seeing them, returned to Rich•
mond and reported to the President, in the presence of the
Secretary of War and myself, that Messrs Jacquess and
Gilmcro had not said anything to him about his duties a
Commissioner for exchange of prisoners, but that they asked
wfoirththtehpeukrpnooslevloedf
knowledge
eeeainngd
olinne,dand under his pass ; that
rs, sent with a view of paving
al Commissioners authorised
approvaltttphhheeeer yniwrwi
as President;
were
sofeoi permission
informal
anof
op rc;
President
meetingtmsahi
l dea etint: theyetof
;L formal
messengers,
gccmmeao
to negotiate for peace, and desired to communicate to Presi.
dent Davis the views of Mr Lincoln, and to obtain the Pre-
sident's views in return, so as to arrange for a meeting of
Commissioners. Colonel Ould stated that he had told them
repeatedly that it was useless to come to Richmond to talk
of peace on any other terms than the recognised independ-
ence of the Confederacy, to which they said they were
aware of that, and that they were, neverthelees, confident
their interview would result in peace; The Preeid..t,
on this report of uottsuct veto, determined to permit them
to come to Richmond under his charge.
On the evening of the 16th July Col. Ould conducted
these gentlemen to an h)tel in Richmond,
.where a room
was provided for them, inii which they were to remain
under surveillance during their stay here, and the next
morning I received the following letter :
" Spotssold Hotel, Richmond, Va., July 17, 1861.
" Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of State, Confederate
States of America.
" Dear Sir,—The undersigned James P. Jacquess, of
Illinois, and James R. Gilmore, of Massachusetts, most re-
spectfully solicit an interview' with President Davis. They
visit Richniond as private citizens, and have no official cha-
racter or authority ; but they are fully possessed of the
views of the United States Government relative to an ad-
justment of the differences now existing between the North
and South, and have little doubt that a free interchange of
views bet seen President Davis and themselves would open
the way to such official negotiations as would ultimate in
restoring PEACE to the two sections of our distracted
country.

" They therefore ask an interview with the President,
and, awaiting your reply, are most truly and respectfully,
your obedient servants,
" JAS. E, JACQUESS.
" JAS. It. GILMORE."
The word " official" is underscored, and the word" peace"
doubly underscored in the original.
After perusing the letter, I invited Colonel Ould to con-
duct the writers to my office, and on their arrival stated to
them that they must be conscious they could not be admitted
to an interview with the President without informing me'
more fully of the object of their mission, and satisfy me
that they came by request of Mr Lincoln. Mr Gilmore re-
plied that they came unofficially, but with the knowledge
and at the desire of Mr Lincoln; that they thought the war
had gone far enough; that it could never end except by
some sort of agreement; that the agreement might as well
be made now as after still further bloodshed; that they knew
by the recent address of the Confederate Congress that we
were willing to make peace; that they admitted that pro-
posals ought to come from the North, and that they were
prepared to make these proposals by Mr Lincoln's authority ;
that it was necessary to have a sort of informal understand•
ing in advance of regular negotiations, for if Commissioners
were appointed without some such understanding they would
meet, quarrel, and separate, leaving the parties more bitter
against each other than before ; that they knew Mr Lincoln's
views and would state them, if pressed by the President to
do so, and desired to learn his in return.
I again insisted on some evidence that they came from Mr
Lincoln, and in order to satisfy me, Mr Gilmore referred to
the fact that permission for their coming through our lines
had been asked officially by General Grant in a letter to
General Lee, and that General Grant in a letter had asked
that his request should be referred to President Davis. Mr
Gilmore then showed me a card, written and signed by Mr•
Lincoln, requesting General Grant to aid Mr Gilmore and
friend in passing through his lines into the Confederacy
Colonel JacqueFs then said that his name was not put on i he
card for the reason that it was earnestly desired that their
visit should bo kept secret; that he had conic into the C(.11-
federacy a year ago, and had visited Petersburg on a similar
errand, and that it was feared if his name should b:_come
known that sonic of those who had formerly met hint in
Petersburg would conjecture the purpose for which he now
came. Ile said that the terms of peace which they would eff.r
to the President would be honourable to the Confederacy;
that they did not desire that the Confederacy should accept-
any other terms, but would be glad to have nay promise, as
they gave theirs, that their visit should be kept a profound
secret it it failed to result in peace—that it would not bejuot
that either party should seek any advantage by divulging
the fact of their overture for peace, if unsuccessful I as-
sented to this request, and then, rising, said, " De I under
stand you to state distinctly that you come as messengers
from Mr Lincoln for the purpose of agreeing with the Pet •
sideut as to the proper mode of inaugurating a formal nego-