Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-12

cred 10 Mr.. lincoln | repeated them % him.
be said vas correct. and. rising from his chair,
extended hishnnd 20 me. wished me pieassnta
trip h0meward could be expected. aud success
IN the business in hand. Mr.. Davis took pains 10
instruct me that nv connection with the matter
WAS informal. and not official He seemed TO re
gard Il az n connection that would pfobabls ter
inmate when had Mr. Lincoln Whether
Mr.. Davis had doubts as 20 the reception or relec
ton. or entire neglect. Of his proposals bs Mr..
Lincoln, cannot say; bat lie casually remarked.
"Shouid the Administration be disposed to drop
these propositions. and do nothing IN reference to
them. should the facts become known to the peo
pie OF the North, there would be such bowling
around their ears as would compel them TO do
something" Mr.. Davis seemed u have consid
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
couducted BY Mr.. Wilson over the most eligible
route then open to a point within four miles of
Harper's Ferry. About forty five or fifty miles
OF the distance were travelled on hot setback. When
about TO part, Mr.. Wilson directed me to turn my
horse loose in the road. or make such other dis.
position of him / might think proper. or
near the village of Harper's Ferry. but 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 Of
Union soldiers: out in no solitary instance
hailed or challenged by either On parting with
Mr. Wilson, he handed me an amount OF Ameri-
can gold sufficient TO cover nv expenses home
ward. At Harpers Ferry took the cars tor Bal
timore; but. though | fancied myself sharply
looked at. no man ever asked me who | was
where / came from. or whittier was bound. On
the morning of the 9th of October | left Har
per's Ferry. and in the afternoon reached Balti
more. The next morning went to nv father
in laws residence, IN Carroll county, Maryland
about twenty six miles from Baltimore and, at
ter spending couple of days there, returned to
my home in Pittsburg
1t was not until the morning of the 10Th of
November that decided what course to pursue
i then wrote to Mr.. Lincoln, stating that ABOUT 4
week had elapsed since my return home from an
interview with Mr. Davis at Richmond. during
whiel, certain matters had transpired which ! be
lieved. properly followed up, would lead to a
cessation of h0stilites and the restoration of the
Union. also expressed NV willingness to- visit
Washington, should he desire il On the night of
the 10Th. about liz o'clock, received a tele-
gram, signed l. NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War,
requesting me to come to Washington | re
turned for answer that I would start the next
morning, and accordingly did so reached
Washington on Tuesday morning, having re
manned IN Baltimore during part of the night
At 10 O'Clock on the morning of the 18Th, pre-
sented myself at Mr. Stanton's Office, aud, send
ing in my card. 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 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
/ connections as also those of nv wife: what was
my business, aud with whom was ! employed.
All Of these being promptly replied 10, | then
presented Mr.. Stanton with a letter OF introduc
! ton from Thomas Bakew ell, ESQ, of Pittsburg,
personal friend of Mr. Stanton and also used
the name OF my employer, John Dunlap, Esq
we'll known to Mr.. Stanton, and who bad given
me permission to refer 10 him. also referred to
Rev A j Endsley. well known clergyman of
! Pittsburg. Dir. Stanton wrote a few lines, aud
sending Tor Mr.. Tucker, one of his assistants
requested him to conduct me 10 the Executive
chamber and present me to Mr.. Lincoln Mr.
Stanton handel Mr.. Tucker the note he had
written, and instructed him TO let me present il 10
| Mr.. Lincoln. Mr.. Tucker accompanied me 20
the door of the Executive chamber. and left me
outside, while he entered alone. In less than
five minutes he came out, and, leaving the door
open, directed me to enter. Mr.. Lincoln was
alone. He greeted me in easy, affable man
ner, and, on taking a seat near his table bv his
direction. he handed me my own letter to him,
with the inquiry, did you write that letterY" |
replied, 81 did, sir" He then rang the bell
which was answered by man whose business il
is to wait the door of the Executive cham
Der for certain specific purposes Mr. Lincoln
told this man he would receive no more visitors
that morning On the mans departure Mr. Lin
coin requested me to tell him in detail, as nearly
as | could remember, everything touching the
matter hinted at in that letter. l commenced by
saying that had been guilty of some irregular
ity-perhaps impropriety--and hoped that the end
! would, in his judgment, justify the means Mr.
Lincoln said might speak free y--that he would
protect me- | then gave him all the details
of my visit to Mr. Davis, as they are herein.
before written. Mr.. Lincoln's first remark made
without moments hesitation was Il see moth
ing Objectionable in them" | understood him to
refer to the proposals of Mr.. Davis, as | ceased
speaking when | named them. | suppose that
Mr. Lincoln saw glance the pleasure and
easerness with which caught at his reply; for hc
began Immediately To modify the expression, in
view. apparently, of certain contingencies; but
the impression made upon my mind then was not
removed by any subsequent remarks of Mr. Lin
coin, nor is it now removed by anything find in
his message To Congress, namely: that, ii left to
the impulses and convictions OF bis own heart.
and at liberty TO do so. he would inaugurate IA
peace on the basis OF these proposals. Mr. Lin
coin then sent for Mr.. Stanton. On Mr.. Stanton
taking seat, Mr. Lincoln, treating my statement
OF visit TO Dir. Davis as an admitted fact told
Mr.. Stanton the nature of the visit, and repeated
the proposals IN nearly the same words emitting.
however, all that related TO the fugitive slave
law. tie then appealed to me as to his correct
hess. when supplied the omission | was merely
asked nv Mr.. Stanton how often | had seen Mr.
Davis since our return from Mexico. and whether
had seen him or held communication with him
since the commencement OF the rebellion, and
previously 10 the recent visit To Richmond
replied that had seen him but twice. and had not
seen him since the commencement OF the rebellion
but the once detailed. and that had held no
communication with him IN any wav. Mr. Lin
coin then told me that there would be a meeting
of the Cabinet that afternoon and that he wished
me to remain at my hote! between the hours of
4 and 8. in the event OF his desiring 10 see me-
and in that case he would send for me- He ask ed
me what hotel had put up at. | replied, will
\ lard :" About > O'Clock that afternoon Mr.
Lincun'S messenger came TO the hotel Tor me
| Immediately accompanied him. and was prompt
IL ushered into the presence OF Mr.. Lincoln and
his Cabinet. | remained at that meeting until
nearly III o'clock that evening On nv entrance,
without any other ntimaiion to those present. in
my hearing, as to who was, Bic. Lincoln merely
said, Mr. Greene. state 10 these gentlemen the
circumstances attendaIt on your visit to Rich
mOnd, and what you SAW AID heard there l
inquired, "Sha | 90 Into "DETAILS sir. As 90 the
first call that made upon in Pittsburggr
Yes, Mr. Lincoln replied, land everything sub
sequent thereto bearing upon this matter until
YOU came 20 see me this morning | then lie
petted all that had heretofore said, without an
interruption. in the form of inquiry or otherwise