Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-08-18
Jefg. paris and his Terms OF Peace.

At Pawtucket on Wednesday evening,
Mr.. Gilmore Edmond Kirke) delivered
lecture in which he described his inter-
views with jeff Davis during late visit
to Richmond, and the subject Of their
conversation on the terms of q peace.
The Providence Press gives the follow
ing report Of Mr. Gilnore's remarks
'I went to Richmond with the Rev.
Col. JauRes, and went with the hope Of
making negotiations which might result
in peace. If we should succeed, we
thought that the consciousness of hay-
ing served our country would pay our
expenses. II we failed we might still
serve the country by ,etting the people
of the North know what was the reason
Of our failure for went with PROPOSE
tions, on the basis of which | might
have made an arrangement for peace
with Mr. Davis and five were unsuccess-
full. it would be useful for the country to
know what propositions We're rejected.
We went to Richmond in an ambulance,
acd were three hours on Lhe way after
we entered the rebel lines. We entered
Richmond at 10 o'clock, and planted our
white flag in the very heart o. the rebel
capital. ..
As we stopped, Judge Ould, the rebel
commissioner of exchange, directed Col.
| Jaoues to button up his overcoat as it
was dangerous to be seen with blue
| uniform in the streets of Richmond. We
were taken to hotel, and shown up to
| NO. sc, d shabby room with some fine
| furniture in very bad order. We were
provided with supper, and directed how
| to apply for aHinterview with the Pres
ident. The next morning we directed a
note to Secretary Benjamin asking an
interview with the President, and were
| invited to call upon him, when we made
! an engagement to meet the President
that evening which was Sunday.
On meeting our engagement, we were
4 shown into the State Department, where
we saw Mr Benjamin, small, plump,
! black haired black-eyed man, seated in
his usual place, and at his right pale,
thin man, dressedin a suit of darkish
gray, with moE IN and chin expressive
of the greatest determination. We told
him simply that we came without Off
cial authority but knowing the opin-
ions Of our government, to see what
terms of peace might be made. 4.
Mr.. Davis replied, quietly, withdraw
yonr armies from our territory, anC
peace will follow of itself We told hin
that the Northern people would nevei
agree to any plan which did not include
the establishment of the Union. Mr.. Da
Wis said that we never could liv'
in peace. The North had sowed such ;
. bitterness between the two sections, tha
we never could have peace in this gen
GRAFTON.
We then urged TI2on him that tt~,wa
ms duty to use every effort to put a,
end to this monstrous bloodshed. I'll
acknowledged this, and declared tina
none of the blood shed in this war couI
! he lay to his own charge. They, tn
South, We're not fighting for slavery
they were fighting for Independence
and independence or determination the,
would have. We then tried to SHOW
him that the position Of the rebel armie
| was such that it was better for them t,
give up the contest while they could d.
it with honor; but he was unwilling t
admit that his armies were in such a dies
perate position He laid the blame O
the barbarity of the war entirely upol
the North, utterly ignoring the instance
of rebel barbarity which we brought t,
his notice. | then had considerabl
conversation with Mr.. Davis, in whicl
| indirectly offered him the terms whicl
j had been authorized to suggest bu
as he did not show any disposition t,
meet me, | did not state them explicitly
These terms will be given through th
newspapers in a short time They were
In general, entire abolition, a genera
amnesty, no conflscation, the debts 0
tbs South to be ignored, the debts of tn,
general government to be borne by al
the states. Mr.. Davis declared tina
such terms could never be accepted b,
the Southern people, and that rathe
than submit to them they would stalk
their whole property and their nationa
existence"