The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-27


Apa shouts on their desolate path.
- ring of the vhip. and the clanking chain
40 dying away 10 the south;
"A letters are bursting nom soul and limb,
Ind the seal h torn nom the mouth.
sAe knuckle il white with the fearful grip
i1at clutches the hilt q the sword
e sheAtho Il alone In the breast OF the zoe,
ri the land and the laws are restorsd.
ve have sworn by the blood that besprinkles
vnen ~ ~ .ri fneit By comrades grave,
inas the soil thus made sacred should never
y trod by the foot Of slave.
ne Interview with JeH. Davis
Oolonel Jelues ana s'EAmuna
Klfkess In xlchnona.
The following narration makes part Of
an article in the September number of the
Atlaatic Moxthly, and Of closing chapter
q new volume entitled "Down in Ten
sesee," by Edmund Kirke. about to be
published by Sheldon.
SporTswooD HousE, Richmond, Va.
Altar Z day spent in our room, conver-
ing with the Judge, or watching the pass
ofs-by in the street,-I would like to tell
Who they were, and how they looked; but
ssch information is, just now, contraband
we called again, ct nine O'Clock, at the
oate Department.
Mr.. Benjamin occupied his previous seat
4 the table. and At his right sat spare,
hin featured man, with 1ron.gray hair
md beard. and clear, gray eye, full Of
Nb and vigor. He had broad, massive
hrehead, and 4 mouth and chin denoting
meat energy and strength Of viii. His face
vAs emaciated, and much wrinkled, but
NJ features we're good, especially his eyes,
jhou9h one Of them bore . scar, apparent
y made by some sharp instrument He
ireign manufacture, and, a. he rose, / saw
hat ko was about i've feet ten inches high.
With slight stoop in the shoulders. His
manners were simple, easy, and most fas-
chatting, ana there was an indescTibable
charm In his voice, - he extended his
hand and said to us:
u am glad to see you, gentlemen. You
'are very welcome to Richmond"
And this was the man who was Presi-
deot Of the United States, under franklin
Pierce, and who il now the heart, soul, and
brains of the Southern Confederacy!
His manner put me entirely ct my ease
tho Colonel would be Ut his il he stood
before Csesar-and / replied:
1--WE thank you, Mr.. Davis. It IL not
olten that you meet men Of our clothes and
eor principles in Richmond"
md trust your coming may lead to
nore frequent and . more friendly inter.
course between the North and the SOUTH"
I'VE sincerely hope it may"
"Mr. Benjamin tells me that you have
asked to see mo to-"
And he paused, - If desiring We should
finish the sentence. The Colonel replied:
im the hope that You may suggest some
way by which this war may be stopped.
Our people want peace,-your people do,
and your Congress has recently said that
you do. We have come to ask how it can
b brought about
I'm . very simple way. Withdraw your
armies from our territory, and peace will
come ofitself. We do not seek to subjugate
you. We are not waging an offensive war,
except 20 far AZ it is offensive-defensive,-
that is, 90 far as we are forced to invade
you to prevent your invading as. Let as
alone, and peace will come at once.'
"But We cannot let you alone 20 long -
you repudiate the Union. That is the one
thing the Northern people will not surren-
der.6 a.
Il know. Ysu would deny to rs What
you exact for ,yourselvss-the right OF self
mo, air." remarked. We would deny
you no natural right. But We think Union
essential to peace, and, Mr.. Davis, could
two people, with the same language, sepa-
sated only by an imaginary live, liye at
peace with each other? Would not disputes
constantly arise, and cause almost constant
var between them?"
"Undoubtedly,-with this generation.
You have sown such bitterness at the South
you have put such an ocean of blood be-
tween the two sections that 1 despair Of see-
ing any harmony in my time. Our chill
dren may forget this war, but tce cannot. !"
II think the bitterness you speak Of,
air." said the Colonel, ''does not really ex-
ht. We meet and talk here as friends, our
soldiers meet and fraternize with each 9TH
e. and feel sure that if the Union were
restored, more friendly feeling would
arise between us than has ever existed
The war has made us know and respect
each other better than before. This is tho
view of very many Southern men; I have
had it from many of them-your leading
citizens"
"They are mistaken" replied Mr. Davis.
They do not understand Southern senti-
Ment. How can we feel anything but Bit
rights? If you enter my house and drive
me out Of Il, am I not your natural ene-
nYou put the case too strongly. But We
cannot fight forever the war must end at
some time; we must finally agree upon
UOmethlng; can We not agree now, and stop
this ffightful carnage? We are both Chris
tan men, Mr.. Davis. Can you, ~ Chris
tan man, leave untried any means that
mo. I cannot. desire peace as much
= you do. deplore bloodshed as much
. You do; but I feel that not one drop Of
the blood shed in this war is on my hands,
can look up to my God and say this. I
uied all In my power to avert this war. !
NV i coming, and for twelve years la
bored day and night to prevent it, but I
could not. The North was mad and blind;
4 would not let us govern ourselves, and
@ .. the war came, and now it must go on
1u the last man of this generation falls In
als tracks, and his children seize his mus
Get and fight our battles, unless you &c
xno'ctedge our rightto self government. We
sfe not fighting for slavery. We are fight
ing for independence, and that, or EXTERN
nation we will have.''
And there are at least four and half
mlliions Of US left; so you see you have
work before you, }" said Mr.. BENJAMIN, with
decided sneer.
I'VE have no wish to exterminate you,"
ssnswered the Colonel. IT belive what l
aave said-that there is no bitterness be-
tween the Northern and Southarn neonle.