Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-09-01
.0Blot Statesman, mai |,
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY
The Ohio Statesman Company,
THURSDAY MORNING, ~ SEPT. /.
PEACE AT RICHMOND.
The Late Peace Interview i'm Rich-
mond--Circular from the state De-
partment. I4t 3f
The following circular from the State De.
partment will explain itself:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Z RICHMOND, August rs, 1864.

1 DEPARTMENT OF STATE
RICHMOND, August 25, 1854.
SIR-Numerous publications which have
recently appeared in the journals of the
United States on the subject of informal
oyertures for peace between two Fedora
tions Of States now at war on THIS iScontihent
render it advisable that you should be fully
advised of the views and policy fthis Gov
ernment on a matter of such paramount
Importance. 1t is likewise proper that you
should be accurately informed of what has
occurred on the several occasions mehtion-
ed in the published statements.
You have heretofore been furnished with
copies of the manifesto issued by the Con-
gress of the Confederate States, with the
approval of the President, on the 18th June
last, and have, doubtless, acted in conform
ity with the resolution which requested
that copies of this manifesto should be laid
before foreign Governments.
"The principles, sentiments and purposes
by which these States have been, and are
still actuated," are set forth in that paper
with all the authority due to the solemn
declaration Of the legislative and executive
departments of this Government, and with
a clearness which leaves no room for COM
ment or explanation. In few sentences it
is pointed out that all we ask is non-inter
ference with our internal peace and pros
perity, ''and to be left in the undisturbed
enjoyment of those inalienable rights of
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
which our common ancestors declared to be
the equal heritage of all parties to the social
compact. Let them forbear aggressions up
on us, and the war is at an end. If there be
questions which require adjustment by ne
gotiation, we have ever been willing, and
are still willing, to enter into cOmmunica-
tion with our adversaries in spirit of
peace, of equity and manly frankness." The
manifesto closed with the declaration that
''we commit our cause to the enlightened
Judgment of the world, to the sober retiec-
tions of our adversaries themselves, and to
the solemn and righteous arbitrament of
Heaven"
Within very few weeks after the publi-
cation of this manifesto, it seemed to have
met with response from President Lin
coin. In the early part of last month a
letter was received by General Lee from
Lieutenant General Grant, in the follow
ing words
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. ST.
CITY POINT, VA, July 8, 1864.
General r. E. Lee, Commanding Confederate
Forces near Petersburg, Virginia:
GENERAL:-I would request that Colonel
Jacques, Seventy Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, and j. r. Gilmore, Esq, be allow
ed to meet Colonel Robert Ould, Commits
sioner for the Exchange of Prisoners, at
such place between the lines of the two
armies as you may designate. The object
of the meeting is legitimate with the duties
of Colonel Ould as Commissioner.
Ifnot consistent for you to grant the re-
quest here asked, l would beg that this be
,afnrrod tO Pfacidan TloUic for his ontinn
Requesting as early an answer to this
communication as you may find it conve-
nient to make, subscribe myself, very re-
spectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General U. S. A.
On the reference of this letter to the
President, he authorized Colonel Ould to
meet the persons named in General Grants
letter; and Colonel Ould, after seeing them,
returned to Richmond and reported to the
President, in she presence of the Secretary
of War and myself, that Messrs. jacques
and Gilmore had not said anything to him
about his duties as Commissioner for Ex-
change of Prisoners, but that they asked
permission to come to Richmond for the
purpose of seeing the President; that they
came with the knowledge and approval of
President Lincoln and under his pass; that
the view of paving the way for meeting
of formal commissioners authorized to ne
gotiate for peace, and desired to communi-
cate to President Davis the views of Mr..
Lincoln,..an to obtain the Presidents views
in return, so as to arrange meeting of
commissioners. Colonel Ould stated that
he had told them repeatedly that it was
useless to come to Richmond to talk of
peace on any other terms than the recOg-
nized independence of the Confederacy, to
which they said that they were aware OF
that, and that they were, nevertheless, con-
fident that their interview would result in
peace. The President, on this report of
Colonel 0uld, determined to permit them
to come to Richmond under his charge.
On the evening of the 10th of July Col.
Ould conducted these gentlemen to hotel
in Richmond, where room was provided
for them, in which they were to remain
under surveillance during their stay here,
and the next morning received the fol-
lowing letter:
sod SPoTTswoop HOUSE,
RICHMOND, VA, July II, 1S64}
Hon. j.. p. Bewamin, Secretary Of State of
Confederate States Of america
DEAR SIR-The Undersigned Jas. F.
Jacques, of Illinois, and Jas. r. Gilmore, of
Massachusetts,, most respectfully solicit an
interview with President Davis. They
visit Richmond as private citizens, and
have no official character or authority; but
they are fully possessed of the views of the
United States Government relative to an
adjustment Of the differences now existing
between the North and the South, and have
little doubt that q free Interchange of views
between President Davis and themselves
would open the way to such Official negoti-