Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-15

fugitive slave Law, IN the recovery of those fugi'
tive slaves Sho may have passed beyond the
immediate control OF the Government
Thirdly. That each Of the contendlng parties
shall bo held responsible only for the debt In
CURED by u. In the same manner No " they had
been recognized "a independent powers
These, M Mr. Davis expressed u, were the
bases on whicll restoration OF the separated
States could be effected with the Federal Union.
There were many other points, he said, TO bc set
tied; but there would be comparatively little din
Guilty In reference 10 them, " the major propou'
lions we're agreed upon.
Az that interview, Mr. Davis spoke of the I'm.
minenco OF foreign intervention, and said that no
deprecated either intervention or mediation from
because he believed u
would end IN force OF arms, aud, whatever might
bc the result, would be alike disastrous 10 the
North aud tho South; mediation. because ho be
leyed that, u the Nurth was disposed 10 treat on
the matter Of settlement. y could DO much moro
satisfactorily aud bcnehcially determined upon by
mutual commission.
Mr.. Davis also spoke Of Mr., Llncoln's enamel
patton proclamation, That proclamation seemed
10 annoy him lie rather casually remarked that
ID would "plny hell with u.s." This he explained
by saying that. " tho proclamation was not sua
pended. or the period before II should become
operative extended, or entirely reyokei-whieh
he presumed would not be the case. ~ there WAS
the South 10 comprehend IL in oil IL length aud
breadth aud bearings, and arrive ~ proper con
illusions M 10 the course 20 be- pursued m refer
enee 10 tilt would only ba the stimuloua ~ al
intermlnable and ruinons war. He said IL WIS re-
garded throughout the Coniederacy and IN foreign
countries. ~ we'll ~ by many IN the North M
bid for general scryile iuaurecton. He looked
upon u, he said, ~ melting 10 acts Of birbarsm
having no parallel Ia the history of the civilized
world, II persisted IN, Mr.. Davis warmly as
serted, IL would be the determination OF the col
ored population In the Confederate States, unless
the European powers interposed % prevent u,
Intervention In either case-between the North
and the South. or between the white and the
black races la the South-wOud involves so many
| interests, he believed, rs 10 produce general
warfare throughout tho world. He appeared 10
shudder At the contemplation, and seemed dc
slrous Of shrinking back from the overwhelming
thoughts OF the tremendous responsibilities rest.
| ing upon " at the present juncture. Mr.. Davis
could have had no object In seeming % appear 10
me what he really was not. | looked upon him
ms man accustomed 10 dealing with men, and
regarded him ~ one not only bowed down under
a weight Of tremendous responsibilities. but OF
/ constantly accnmulating and almost Overpowerng
sorrows IL may be aggressive, but unhesita
tinely assert that ! regard Mr. Davis ~ man
who this day needs and may say deserves, the
sympathy Of humanity In pre- eminent degree.
| In heart, do not believe him n rebel against the
| Constitution. Whatever the minimizing and
superficial mind may think OF him, believe that
/ he has ever desired the old order of things, and
will ca. operate. 80 far ~ h, daIe, in bringing il
about think he has taken. aud maintains ut
much personal discontinue, the position he now
occupies, with the sincere hope OF navigating the
hostile vessel and directing the course Of the ship
of State into harbor where h0stilities must
cease, and from whence, better understanding
sprngng up, they may sally forth with the old
flag unfured, 20 wave In every breeze and glad
den every sea
But TO return left Mr.. Davis with the un-
Outstanding that he would see me again before
the close of the day. Outside Of the door | met
my travelling companion, Wilson, who again took
me in charge. dined with him at restaurant,
there being no inquiries on my part nor apologies
Oh his as TO why was not taken % regular
hotel. determined 10 lee them carry out their
own programme in their own way. Soon after
dinner a gentleman came to Wilson at the res.
taurant, and conversed with him in an undertone
for not more than couple OF minutes. On
his departure Wilson informed me that Mr. Davis
wished another interview for a few minutes.
Immediately accompanied Wilson, and was ush
cred in. unattended. TO Mr. Davis. as before Mr.
Davis commenced by saying that, MS there was
nothing 10 be gained by needless waste OF time
he deemed il best, and hoped | would concur in
his decision, that should leave Richmond at the
earliest practicable moment; and. as he had AZ
ranged for me to go that evening, he wished e.
| know if i remembered and fully comprehendel
the propositions he had made TO me. 20 be deliv
cred TO Mr.. Lincoln. l repeated them TO him
He said was correct, and, rising from his chair
| extended his hand To me, wished me as pleasant 4
trip hOmeward as could be expected, and success:
in the business in hand. Mr. Davis took pains "a
instruct me that my connection with the matter
was informal, aud not official He seemed to Ie
gard il as u connection that would probably ter
inmate when | had seen Mr.. Lincoln. Whether
| Mr.. Davis had doubts as to the reception or relec
ton, or entire neglect. of his proposals by Mr.
Lincoln. cannot say; but he casually remarked
Should the Administra ion be disposed to droT
these propositions, and do nothing in reference "a
them, should the facts become known to the peO
! pie of the North, there would be such a bowling
around their ears as would compel them to dc
something" Mr.. Davis seemed 10 have c0nsd
cradle hope in the popular heart and voice of the
North After some expressions of good will on
both sides, we babe each other goodbye. was
conducted by Mr. Wilson, the most eligible
route then open, to point within four miles oil
Harper's Ferry About forty FIVE or fifty mile:
of the distance were travelled on horseback. When
about to part, Mr. Wilson directed me TO turn my
horse loose IN the road, or make such other dis
position Cf him as | might think proper, at oil
near the NllihSe OF harpefs ferry. out so As not
| To excite suspicion or notice. On the road we
passed some small squads of rebel soldiers, and
after we parted company. | saw similar squads oil
| Union soldiers; out in no solitary instance was
hailed or challenged by either. On parting with
Mr. Wilson, he handed me an amount of Amer.
can gold sufficient to my expenses home.
ward. AT Harper's Ferry | took the cars Tor Bal
timore; but. though | fancied myself sharply
looked at. no man ever asked me who was
uVb / ran froua rvvla rlerI Iva hntt md
the morning Of the 29Ih OF October left Har-
per's Ferry, and in the afternoon reached Balti
more. The next morning | went to my father
in laws residence, in Carroll county, Marylan
about twenty six miles from Baltimore; aud, af.
ter spending a couple of DAYS there, returned to
my home in Pittsburg.
Ii was not until the morning of the 10th OF
November that decided what course to pursue
then wrote to Mr.. Lincoln, stating that about a
week had elapsed since my return home from an
interview with Mr. Davis at Richmond during
which certain matters had transpred which be
lieved, properly followed up, would lead to a
cessation Of hostilities aud the restoration Of the
Union. i also expressed INV willingness to visit
Washington, should he desire it. On the night OF
the 10th, about IL Is o'clock, received tele-
gram. signed Z. NJ. Stanton. Secretary Of War
requesting me to come to Washington. / re-
turned for answer that would start the next
morning, and accordingly did ] reached
Washington on Tuesday morning, having re-
NAMED IN Baltimore during part of the night
At 10 O'Clock on the morning of the 18th. pre-
scented myself at MIR. Stanton Office, and, send
ing in my card. was Immediately received.
On being received by Mr. Stanton, it was but
reasonable that he should desire to know some
thing as to who was He. therefore, asked me
a few questions as to my birthplace; my age; in
what places / had spent most of the last fifteen
years of my life; who and where were my family