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


Importance To- extend to me his grateful friend
ship. aud which of such nature a. 10 tik the
kindly recollections Of gentleman uponrhe actor
in such a scene for life On this point details
would here be out oi place AID unnecessary
/ saw Mr. Davis 10 Washington. ID. G., twice
afterSsr ARDS On each OCCASION his greetings were
of the most cordial mature; and the pressing invi
tstons 70 visit him n his residence together with
the delicate manner in which he more than offer
ed may say urged-his services to promote
nv personal interests. left no room for doubt IN
nv mind that the part | took in the affair in
Mexico was as vivid in his recollection and re
garded by him "a Of the same importance. az at
the first / never coUespOnded With Mr.. Davis,
although. on the occasion OF each Of our partIngs.
he urged me TO do 20 when should reach my
home: and on each OF nv calls upon him az
not done 80. | saw Mr.. Davis more until
brought to him ia Richmond.
Mr. Davis reception of me on that last meet
ing vas not emily fully "A cordial as before. but |
believed not merely from his expressions but
from the manner Of bis expression and action,
that it a source OF intense qualification to
him that | Was still willing TO render him
vice. although called upon in so strange man
ner and entirely ignorant of the nature OF the ser
vice requirei | promptly expressed my wiling
ness To serve him in any way that would not
trench upon the duties and obligations owed to
the Constitution Of the States loyal to the Fed
eral Government He assured me that what be
desired of me was of As much service TO the Fed
eral Government as 10 that OF the Confederate
States; and Immediately Informed me that being
DESTROYS OF termination OF this war aud an ami
cable adjustment Of the differences between the
North and the South. he wanted some person upon
whom he could rely who would 20 TO Mr.. Lin
coin and present 20 him informally, but planly
aud verbally, certain propositions which he
thought might lead 70 the desired end. lie said
that, after thinking over nearly hundred per
sons, he decided 90 try and procure Ine, and had
therefore sent for me- | very naturally inquiries
why he had chosen me; and added, 81 am but
plain man, unknown 10 fame as politician, anC
unaccustomed TO dealing nth Statesmen ON ques
tons of state" He replied that those were th,
very reasons why be had selected me. aud that
being such man, he had confidence his PROPOSE
tons would be presented as he expressed them
without encumbering them with side issues u
minor details which We're to be an after cofsid
Grafton and officially determined
Before statlng his propositions. he desired &c
know If | would 60 10 Dir. Lincoln with them
| hesltsted in view OF the risk to my persona
liberty, which thought | incurred. Mr. Davi
assured me he would Get me within the Fedora
lines as safely as he had brought me to Rich
mOnd and labored to assure me that | would re
ceive no harm in going to Mr. Lincoln. still
hesitated, in view of the arbitrary arrests mad
by the authorities at Washington; and urged that
although was yet unacquanted with his prOpo
sails, u Mr.. Lincoln should reject them, ! Nigh
be sent to Fort Warren or Fort Lafay ette, or b.
confined in scme other place, for the purpose O
silencing me Going directly to Mr.. Lincoln
could not reconcile with my personal safety; bu
finally. at the suggestion Of Mr. Davis. con
scented that would drop a letter to M. Lincoln
which, While it should give 10 particulars OF IN
interview with him, would lead him to believ
that il was matter of importance t. him (Mr
L. TINT he should be fully advised on the sub
ject Mr.. Davis added. in the event of Mr.. LIN
coin sending Tor me, Mr. l.. would take care q
me-meaning by that | would suffer no njur,
That being settled. Mr.. Davis proceeded to stat
bis propositions. reading FROM paper on hi
table, Int not giving them 20 me IN writing. an
requesting me not to reduce them 10 writing, Il
coming from him, previously to seeing Mr. Lin
coin. They were rs follows:
First. A general and unconditional amnesty {
all political offenders against the Federal Govern
ment. such would place them in the postio
they occupied before the commencement of hos
Utilities, as IL respected their irnmuni.ies rights an
privileges.
Secondly. The restoration of all fugitive slave
within the control of the Federal Government
and guarantee that the General Government
will give the entire weight of its influence an
authority IN carrying out the provisions of th
fugitive slave law, in the recovery of those fugi
tive slaves Sho may have passed beyond til
immediate control of the Government
Thirdly That each of the contending partie
shall be held responsible only for the debt in
CURED by it. in the same manner as ii they Ina,
been recognized independent powers.
These, as Mr.. Davis expressed il, were TN
bases on whichs restoration of the separate
States could be effected with the Federal Union
There were many other points, he said, to toe set
ted but there would be comparatively little diff
Guilty in reference 10 them, If the major PROPOSE
tons we're agreed upon.
At that interview, Mr.. Davis spoke of the i'm
mnence Of foreign Intervention. and said that HI
deprecated either Intervention or mediation iron
abroad-intervention, because he believed i
would end IN force OF arms, and, whatever nigh
be the result, would be alike disastrous to IL,
North and the South; mediation. because he be
lieved that, il the North was disposed to treat OF
tile matter of settlement. it could be much NOR,
satisfactorily aud benefcially determined upon b,
mutual commission.
Mr. Davis also spoke of Mr. Lincoln enamel
patton proclamation. That proclamation seemed
To annoy him. He rather casually remarked tina
II would ''play he'll with US" This he explane,
by saying that. if the proclamation was not sus
pended, or the period before it should becom,
operative extended, or entirely revoked-whicl
he presumed would not be the case as there VI
not sufficient time for the people OF The y orth an,
the South TO comprehend il in all its length an,
breadth and bearings, and arrive at proper con
clusions as 10 the course to be pursued IN refer
ence to tit would only be the stimuous To- an
Interminable and ruinous He said il Mas e
garded throughout the Confederacy and in foreign
countries. well los many ia the North as .
bid for general servile nsurrectOn He looked
upon II, he said, a. inctlng 10 acts of b lrbarsn
having no parallel IN the history of the civilize,
world. Ii persisted in, Mr.. Davis warmly as
serted, il would be the determination of the col
ored population in the Confederate States, unles
the European powers interposed to prevent il
Intervention IN either case-between the Nortl
and the South. or between the white and tin
black races IN the South-would involves so man,
interests, he believed, a 10 produce a genera
warfare throughout the world He appeared q
shudder AT the contemplation anu seemed de
SIRIUS OF shrinking back from the overw helmrn.
thoughts of the tremendous responsibilities rest
ing upon Us at the present juncture Mr. Davi
could have had no object IN seeming 10 appear q
me what he really was not looked upon hin
n man accustomed TO dealing with men, and
regarded HIM not only bow Ell down unde
aweight OF tremendous responsibilities, but o
constantly accommodating aud almost verpo " erinl
sorrows Ii may be aggressive, but unhesita
tingly assert that ! regard Mr. Davis as a MAJ
who tbs day needs, and may say deserves. ~,
sympathy of humanity in pre- eminent degree
la heart, GO not believe him rebel against In,