Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-01-01


tive chamber and present me to Mr.. Lin.
coin. Mr.. Stanton handed Mr.. Tucker
the note he had written, and instructed
him to let me present it to Mr. Lincoln.
Mr.. Tucker accompanied me to the door
of the Executive chamber, and left me
outside, while he entered alone. In less
than five minutes he came out, and leav.
ing the door open, directed me to enter.
Mr.. Lincoln was alone. lie greeted me
in an easy, affable manner, and on taking
seat near his table by his direction, he
handed me my own letter, with the in
qniry, "Did you write that, sir?" I re-
piled, 81 did, sir" lie then rang the
bell which was answered by man whose
business it is to wait near the door of the
Executive chamber for certain specific
purposes. Mr.. Lincoln told this man he
would receive no more visitors that morn
ing. On the mans departure, Mr.. Lin
coin requested me to tell him in detail,
as nearly as | could remember everything
touching the matter limited at, in that le.-
ter. l commenced by saying had been
guilty of some irregularity perhaps i'm
propricty-and hoped that the end would
in his judgement, justify the means. Mr.
Lincoln said l might speak frcely-that
he would protect me. | then gave him
all the details Of my visit to Mr.. Davis,
as they are heretofore written. Mr.. Lin
coins first remark, made without q mo-
ments hesitation, was, 81 see nothing
Objectionable in them" l understood
him to refer to the proposition Of Mr.
Davis, as l ceased speaking when | nam
ed them. Isuppose Mr.. Lincoln saw Mt
a glance the pleasure and eagerness with
which | caught his reply, for he immedi-
atcly began to modify the expression, in
ew,apparently, of'certain contingencies;
but the impression made upon my mind
then was not removed by any subsequent
remarks Of Mr.. Lincoln, nor is it now re-
moved by anything I find in his message
to Congress, namely, that if left to the
impulse and convictions of his own heart
and at liberty TO do so, he would inau-
gurate a peace on the basis Of this propo-
sal. Mr.. Lincoln then sent for Mr.. Stan
ton. On his arrival, Mr.. Lincoln, treat
ing my statement of q visit to Mr.. Davis
as au admitted fact, told Mr.. Stanton the
nature Of the visit, and repeated the pro-
posal in nearly the same words emitting,
however, all that related to the fugitive
slave law. He the appealed to me as to
his correctness, when supplied the omis
sion. l was merely asked by Mr. Stan
ton 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 to the recent
visit to Richmond / Ireplied that l had
seen him but twice, and | had not seen
him since the commencement of the rebel
lion but the once as detsled, and that |
held no communication with him in any
way. Mr.. Lincoln told me that there
would be a meeting of the Cabinet that
afternoon, and that he wished me to re-
main at my hotel between the hours of
four and six, in the event of his desiring
to see me, and in that case he would send
for Inc. He asked me at what hotel
had put up at. l replied, "Willard's." ."
About p. M. Mr. Lincoln's messenger
} came to the hotel for me.
Immediately accompanied him, and
was promptly ushered into the presence
of Mr.. Lincoln and his Cabinet. remain
=. ed at that meeting until II o'clock tha
:, evening. On my entrance, without any
! other intimation to those present in my
: hearing, as to who | was, Mr.. Lincolr
,, merely said: "Mr. Greene, state to thcst
. gentlemen the circumstances attendan
= upon your visit to Richmond, and wha
you saw and heard there" | inquired
Shall go into detail, sir, as to the frs
! call that was made upon me in Pittsburgh
l. "Ges," Mr.. Lincoln replied, "and ever,
= thing subsequent thereto bearing upol
: this matter, until you came to see me thi
7 morning" | then repeated all that | hav
!, heretofore stated, without an Interruption
- in the form OF inquiry or otherwise, unit
= | had done. After had ceased to speak
:, there was pause of full minute, anC
:, perhaps longer. A most searching in
;, quiry then commenced as to my birthplace
! my relatives; my occupation; the place O
:, my residence for years before: my knowl
:, edge of persons in those places, and thei
. knowledge Of me; my preseat domesti
" and social relations; whether l had up t
this time been regularly employed in m
business; did heve my employers con
&c sent to absent myself from his employ
u ment? did he know the nature of the bus
!, mess which called me away? did my vii
Il know it? did any one know it? had l n
l. confidential friend and adviser to whor
!. l applied for counsel in the matter? These
"a and every other conceivable question de
y signed to arrive at full knowledge c
IS my history and character as far as coul
o be obtained by questioning myself, occu
!, pied, think, at least one half, the tim
u of that sitting. Mr.. Stanton was tn
q principal questioncr, and frequently mad
: notes of my replies. Mr.. Seward aske
o few questions, and Mr.. Lincoln a few
= No one else asked me any. / was the
lc put through rigid examination as to m
acquaintance with Mr.. Davis, its origi
r and its continuance. was asked wha
: was the nature Of the service rcndere
;, Mr.. Davis which made him attach S
q much value to it. declined to answer
u "Was it in military way ?" some on
= inquired. replied, at was not bu
=. personal and private" 1t seemed to b
y little annoying that dcliued to answe
. this question, but it was not pressed
10 Many other questions were asked in rel
% erence to Mr.. Davis sincerity in his pro