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


Lincoln said might speak lreel y--that he would
protect me- | then gave him all the details
Of my visit 10 Mr.. Davis. ~ they are herein.
before written. Mr. Lnooln'H lrst remark made
without moment'a hesitation, was, 81 zee moth
Ing Objectionable IN them" ] understood him 10
refer to the proposals. OF Mr., Davis, M | ceased
speaking when | named them, | suppose that
Mr.. Lincoln saw AZ glance the pleasure aud
eagornees With which caught NJ his reply; for ho
began Immediately 10 modify the expression, IN
view, apparently, OF certain contingencies, hut
the impression made upon my mind then WIS not
removed by any subsequent remarks OF Mr. Lin
coin, nor N IL now removed by anything | fnd n
his message 10 Congress, namely that, VI left TO
the Impulses aud convictions 0f his own heart,
and at liberty 10 do so. he would inaugurato u
peace on the bnsis Of these proposals. NJ, Lin.
coin then sent for Mr. Stanton, On Mr., Stanton
taking a scat. Mr. Lincoln, treating my statement
Of q visit 10 DIR. Davis NJ an admitted fact. told
Mr. Stanton the nature Of the visit, aud repeated
the proposals IN nearly the same words. emitting,
however, all that related TO the fugitive slave
law, lilo then appealed 10 me ~ 10 his correct
ness, when | supplied the omission. | was merely
asked by 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, aud
previously "a the recent Walt 10 Richmond. |
replied that had seen him but twice. and had not
seen him since the commencement of the rebellion
but the once ~ detailed. aud that had held no
communication with him In any way, Mr., Lin.
coin then told me that there would bo a meeting
Of the Cabinet that afternoon, and that he wished
me 10 remain nj my hotel between tho hours Of
4 and q. In the event OF his desiring % see mo.
aud IN that case no would send for me- lie asked
me what hotel bad put up az, replied. "Wil.
hrd's." About > o'clock that afternoon Mr.
LncOlna messenger came to the hotel Tor me.
| Immediately accompanied him, aud WIS prompt.
" ushered into the presence of Mr. Lincoln aud
HE Cabinet, ] remained nc that meeting until
nearly ! | o'clock that evening On my entrance,
without any other ntimatlon 20 those present, Ia
my hearing, as 10 who | was, Mr.. Lincoln merely
said "Mr Greene. state 10 these gentlemen the
circumstances attendant ON your visit 10 Rich.
mond, aud what you saw and heard there"
inquired, "Shall go into details, sir. as To the
first call that was mnde upon me in Pittsburgh
"Yes," Mr. Lincoln replied. "and everything sub.
sequent thereto bearing upon this matter, until
YOU came TO see me this morning" then re-
peated all that had heretofore said, without an
interruption. IN the form OF Inquiry or otherwise.
until had done After had ceased 10 speak
there was pause OF full minute, and perhaps
longer, A most searching inquiry then com
menced M 10 my birth place: my relatives; my
occupations; the places Of my residence Tor years
before; nay knowledge of persons Ia those places
and their knowledge of me; my present domestic
and social relations; whether | had up 20 this
time been regularly employed in my business;
did have my employers consent to absent my.
self from his employment did he know the
nature Of the business which called me away? did
my wife knew itg did any one know it2 had |
no confidential friend aud adviser to whom | ap.
piled for counsel in the matterY These aud
every other conceivable question, designed 20 mr.
rive at as full a knowledge OF my history and
character "a far could he obtained by question
ing myself, occupied, think at least one half
the time of that setting. Nj. Stanton was the
principal questioner, and frequently made notes
of my replies Mr., Seward asked a few qucs
tons, and Mr.. Lincoln few No one else ask ed
me any. | was then put through rigid exami.
nation as to my acquaintance with Mr. Davis, It's
origin, and its circumstances. | was asked what
was the nature of the service | rendered Mr.. Da.
yit which made him attach so much value To III
declined 10 answer "Was il in military way9'
some one inquired. ut was not; il was personal
and private" 1t seemed to be a little ANNOYING
that declined 10 answer this question; hut il was
not pressed. Many other questions were asked
in reference TO Mr.. Davis sincerity in his pro
| iessed desire for settlement the bases of his
proposals; to all of which could but express my
belief in IL. and gave my reasons for that belief
in that thought he never desired war; slruddered
nc the prospect of its continuance, in view of the
ruin il was bringing on the country, and that he
deemed the Union of incaiculable value to the
| American people. These views of Mr.. Davis
sentiments were but differences derived from
many expressions of his, and from the manner OF
his entire conversation with me. together with his
desire that ] should reach Mr. Lincoln at the
earliest practical moment Some discussion then
arose among few of the members AS to why
Mr. Davis, il he sincerely desired peace did not
pursue a course that he knew all along was oDeu
To him. This consumed considerable time
Each seemed 10 be of the conviction that that
was the proper course: while not one seemed to
comprehend the difficulties which surrounded Mr.
| Davis should he. mt home, intimate such IA course
| The general amnesty and retention of all the
rights and privileges OF American citizens to be
guaranteed were something that they either lost
sight of, or deemed ofbut little consequence.
ventured. at last, to suggest this matter, which
seemed to throw a new light upon Mr.. Davis
proceedings and which, for "A time. seemed to be
lavOrably considered But rs discussion con
tiuued-or, perhaps | ought TO saw, comment
continued-on the suggestion, the favorable con
slderation became enyeOped in such cloud OF
embarrassing considerations of what appeared "a
me selfish ana partisan compilations, that the
further contemplation OF it, by a sort of tacil
consent was postponed. 1t was never resumed
in my hearing.
Some little merriment was INDUCED in, in ref
erence to Mr.. Davis views respecting the eman
cipation procla mation-the President in this
taking the lead; Secretaries Seward and Welle-
being the only gentlemen who seemed to preserve
the dignity of their position. and rightly TO esti
mate the Importance OF the occasion. AS for
| Mr.. Stanton, semi Gendish vindictiveness came
out prominently in every look, IN every motion
| of head and hand, and ia every word. 1t seemed
70 greatly please the President because il FILTERED
his vanity, and thought | could read in hi:
countenance that he deemed that proclamation a
stroke OF craftsmanship that posterty would re-
gard as the bOldest and grandest conception oil
military strategy the military necessity sunk
into utter nothingness that which others might
esteem its unconstitutiOnality. Never did the
tones aud bearing OF a man appear before me, in
all my ideas of the despot whose only will is law
as did those OF Mr.. Lincoln on that occasion.
| looked at him with the eye of an artist, and, had
| the ability to place Oh canvass my idea of the
highest type of despot, should paiut Mr. Lincoln
as he then appeared; because he presented to my
mind all the characteristics of a man conscious
that ne was lording it over free people
The very apparent self-gratulations of Mr. Lin
coin were the signal or license for little desul
tory and personal conversations amongst the
several gentlemen. Mr.. Lincoln dismissed me
BY saving that he wished to see me the next
morning at his chamber and very kindly offered
TO send an attendant with me to the hotel. This
| declined. One or two of the gentlemen said
they going partly in that direction but, with
out waiting for them, bowed myself out.
The next morning, at 10 o'clock, waited on
Mr. Lincoln, and was Immediately received The
only object seemed to be desire on the part of
Mr.. Lincoln to refresh his memory on some
points alluded to in the previous interviews, dur
ing which he sometimes compared my replies
with notes he had made. and, in two or three in
1 n
very brief At the close, Mr. Lincoln told me
there would be another meeting in his room that