The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-02

Greeleys american Conflict" q COM
plete set of the Rebellion Record, and a
dozen numbers and several bound volumes
of the Atlantic Monthly, and in the GEN.
ter of the apartment was black walnut
table, covered with green cloth, and filled
with multitude of estate papers. :" AT
this table sat the secretary. He rose as
we entered, and, as Judge Ould introduced
us, took our hands and said
~ am glad, very glad to meet you,
gentlemen. have read your note, and y
blowing to me" and the open letters
you bring from --. Your errand
commands my respect and sympathy.
Pray be seated"
AS we took the profered seats the colo.
mel, drawing off his "duster," and display
ing his uniform, said:
owe thank you for this cordial recep.
ton, Mr.. Benjamin. We trust you will
be as glad to hear us as you are to
see us :"
"No doubt l shall be, for you come to
talk of peace. Peace is what we all
want"
eft is indeed; and for that reason we
are here to see Mr.. Davis. Can We see
him, sir?"
"Do you bring any overtures to him
from your government?
sNo, sir. We bring no overtures and
have no authority from our government.
We state that in our note. We would be
glad, however, to know what terms will be
acceptable to Mr. Davis. If they at all
harmonic with Mr.. Lincoln's views, we
will report them to him and so open the
door for official negotiations
care you acquainted with Mr.. Lincoln's
views?"
Zone Of us is, fully
"Did Mr.. Lincoln, IN ana rav, author.
ize you to come here?"
| emo, sir. We came with his pass, but
not at bis request. We say we have nc
official, or unofficial authority. We come
as men and Christians, not as diplomatists,
hoping, in frank talk with Mr.. Davis, to
discover some way by which this war may
be stopped"
"Well, gentlemen, will repeat what
you say to the President, and if lie fol-
lows my advice-and l think he will
he will meet you. He will be a.
church this afternoon; so, suppose you
call here at nine this evening. If any
thing should occur in the meantime to
prevent his seeing you, will let you know
through Judge Ould."
After day spent in our room, convers-
ing with the judge, or watching the pass
ers-by in the street, should like to tell
who they were and how they looked, but
such information is just now contraband-
we called again at o'clock at the State
Department.
| JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Mr.. Benjamin occupied his previous sea,
at the table, and at his right sat spare
thin-featured man, with iron-gray hair and
beard, and clear gray eye full of life and
vigor. He had broad massive forehead,
and mouth and chin denoting great en-.
orgy and strength of will. His face was
emaciated and much wIinkled, but his
features were good, especially his eyes
though one of them bore a scar, appar-
emily made by some sharp instrument
He wore suit of grayish brown, evident.
ly of foreign manufacture, and as he rose
I saw that he was abont five feet ten inches
high, with slight stoop in the shoulders
His manners were simple, easy, and quite
fascinating; and he threw an indescrib.
able charm into his voice, as he extended
his hand, and said to us:
81 am glad to see you, gentlemen. Yqu
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, soul and brains Of
the Southern Confederacy!
His manner put me entirely at my ease
the colonel would be at bis, if he stood
before Cmsar-and replied:
eve thank you, Mr.. Davis. 1t is moi
often you meet men of our clothes, and
our principles, in Richmond"
"Not often, not so often as | could
wish; and trust your coming may lead
to more frequent and more friendly in
tercOurse between the North and the
South"
eve sincerely hope it may"
''Mr. Benjamin tells me you have asked
to see me, to-
And he paused, as if desiring we should
finish the sentence. The colonel replied
eyes, sir. We have asked this inter
view in the hope that you may suggest
some way by which this war can be
stopped. Our people want peace, your
people do, and your Congress has recently
said that you do. We have come to ash
how it can be brought about"
"In very simple way. Withdraw
your armies from our territory, and peac,
will come Of itself We do not seek t.
subjugate you. We are not waging al
offensive war, except so far as it is often
sive-defensive-that is, so far as we are
forced to invade you to prevent your in.
vading us. Let us alone and peace vii
come at once" ,5..
"But we cannot let you alone so lon,
as you repudiate the Union. That is tn,
one thing the northern people will not sur
render" h. "A f.s..
ssI know. You would deny to us wha
you exact for yourselves-the right of self
government. ~
4 "No, SIR" 1 remarked. ssWe woul,
4 deny you no natural right. But we thinl
the Union essential to peace; and, Mr.
Davis, could two people, with the sam
language, separated by only an imaginar,
line, live at peace with each other
| u-.ll - J;enufoo oonofo ntlv ovsrn -.