Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-08-31

| a suit of grayish- brown. evidently OF foreign
| manufacture, and, as he rose, l saw that he
was about Eve feet ten inches high, with
! slight stoop in the shoulders. His manners
were simple, easy, and most fascinating
and there was an understandable charm IN his
voice, as he extended his hand and said to us;
II am glad to see you gentlemen. You
are very welcome to Richmond.
! And this was the man who was President
of the United States, under Franklin Pierce,
and who is now the heart, seal and brains OF
the Southern Confederacy.
His manner put me entirely at my ease.
The Colonel would be if he stood before Ce-
s;gi'-;, I'd I replied
we thauk you, Mr. Davis. 1t IS not of
ten that you meet men OF our clothes ana
our principles Iii Richmond.
Not otten-not so often as ! could wish;
and [ trust your coming may lead t o a more
| frequent and more friendly intercourse be
! tween the North and the South
| We sincerely hope 1t may.
! MIR Benjamin tells me that you have
/ asked to see NE to
/ And be raused, as if desiring that we
| should finish the sentence. the Colonel
Yes sir We have asked his interview,
in the hope that you may suggest some way
! by which this ar may be topped. Our
people want peace-y0ur people DO, and
| your Congress has recently suld that yOH 90.
We have come to ask now it can be brought
about
I'm very simple way. Withdraw your
! armies from our territory, and peace will
come OF Itself We DO not seek to subiu,
| gate you. We are not wagng an offensive
war, except so far as it is ofensive--deten-
| sive-that IS 50 far as we are forced to IN
ID n,
Us alone and peace viii come at once.
Bat we cannot let you alone 50 long as
| you Iepudiate the Union That Is the one
| thing the Northern people will not surjen-
| der.
Il know. You would deny to US what
you exact for yourse!yes-thc right OF self
government.
No sir, - I remarked 1--WE would deny
You no natural right But we think Union
essential to peace and, MIR. Davis, could
| two people, with the same language, sepa-
rated by only an imaginary line, live at
| peace with each other? Would not disputes
constantly arise, and cause almost constant
war between themI
dly-with this generation. i Iou
have sOWn such bitterness at the south; You
have put such an ocean Of blood between
the two sections, that. / despair Of seeing
any harmony IN my time. Our children may
| forget this war, but ,re cannot.
Il think the bitterness you speak OF, sir,
said the Colonel, does not really exist. W.
meet and talk here as friends; our soldiers
meet and fraternize with each other: and L
feel sure that if the Union were restored, a
more friendly feeling would arise between us
than has ever existed. The war has made us
| know and respect each other better than be-
| fore This is, the view Of very many South
| ern men ! have had it from many OF them,
| your leading citizens.
! They are mistaken. replied Mr.. Davis
They do not understand Southern senh-
ment How can we feel anything but bit
| terncSS towards men who deny Us our rights
! If YOU enter my house and drive me out OF
| it, am | not your natural enemy
You put the case too strongly. But we
| cannot fight rever the war must end at
| some time: we must finally agree upon some
| thing; can we not agree now, and stop this
! frightful carnage? We are both Christian
men, Mr.. Davis. Can g0H, as "A Christian
man, leave untried any means that may lead
! mo. | cannot ! desire peace as much
| as you do | deplore bloodshed as much as
you do; but feel that not one drop OF the
| blood shed in this war Is on ny hands,
can look up to my God and say this. !
tried all in my power to avert this war. L
| y
| [ worked night and day to prevent it, but |
could not The North was mad and blind;
it would not let Us govern ourselves, and SO
| the war came, aud now it must go on till
| the last man OF this generation falls IN his
tracks. and his children seize his musket
and fight our battle, aHtess y0u dc6R0ctedge
oar 1IJht Of seit-gOUernmeRt We are not
fighting for slavery We are fighting for
Independence, and that, or determination,
we ,cW have
And there are, at least, four and a-half
millions of rs left: SO yon see you have a
work before you, said Benjamin with
| decided sneer.
eve have no wish to exterininate you,
answered the Colonel. Il believe what L
| have said-that there is no bitterness be
tween the Northern and Southern people.
| The North | know, loves the South. When
peace comes, it will pour money and means
! into your hands to repair the waste caused
| bv the war: and it would now welcome you
| hack. and forgive all the loss and bloodshed
Won have caused But we must crush your
/ armies and exterminate your government.
! And is not that already nearly done? You
| are wholly without money, and at the end OF
| your resources. Grant has shut you up IN
| Richmond. Sherman Is before Atlanta
| Had YOU not then, better accept honorable
| terms while YOU can retain your prestige,
and save the pride of the Southernpeo
II respect your earnestness, Colonel, but
Won do not seem to understand the situation
! We are not exactly shut up in Richmond.
| If your papers tell the truth, 1t Is your cap
/ ital that is in danger, cot ours some
weeks ago, Grant crossed the haplIu
| Ann to whip Lee, and take Richmond.
rLee drove him in the first battle, ana 5neh :i