Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-08
Mr. Gilmore in Reply TO Mr.. Ben:
jamin.

cretary.
The following extract will throw addi-
tionAl light upon the subject;
Itmight be diseourteous to state that
| Mr.. Benjamin has wilfully misrepresented
| the whole of this conversation. l will
therefore, merely say that while reporting
it his imagination got the better of his
memory To sustain this assertion, will
simply notice one of his statements. he
says:
Mr.. Gilmore then showed me card,
written and signed by President Lincoln,
requesting General Grant to aid Mr.. Gill
more and friend in passing through his
lines to the Confederacy."
Now, this asserted act of mine was simply
an in1possibility. The card referred to was
addressed by President Lincoln TO General
Grant, and was delivered by me to the lat
ter gentleman, nine days prior to this in
terview. 1t has not been IN my possession,
nor have [ seen it since delivered it to
General Grant. How, then, could have
| shown it to Mr.. Benjamin? The said card
was published in The Boston Transcript of
July 22d, and was pretty extensively copied
into the newspapers of the North. The
Il Secretary of State of the Confederate
States" undoubtedly thus learned of its ex-
istence- he did not learn of it from either
Colonel Jaques or myself, for neither of
US alluded TO it in any way whatever.
Mr.. Benjamin's memory has played him
false in regard to this entire conversation.
1 made none of the remarks he attributes
to me, in fact, did not sag ten soords dit-
ring the a0hoLe interUieO. The conversa-
| +ion 1ryaa o1tor,afbor bo4 4n,oo,, NJ D,,;,..;,
and Col. Jaques, and though I sat within
three feet of him, and heard every word
he said, did not hear Col. Jacques make
any of the remarks Mr.. Benjamin attri-
butes to him. He could not have made
the request that our visit should be kept q
profound secret" for he is q m8trof truth
and good faith, and the express understand
ing between him and nae, before we entered
the Rebel lines, was, that if we failed in
paving the way for peace negotiations, I
should inform the public why we did fail
No request for secrecy was made by either
party. All that was said on that subject
was said subsequently by Mr.. Davis, and
was in these words & give you leave to
prod it (wbat he had said) from every
house-top in the South
In regard to this whole matter l will
add, that, with Mr.. Beniamin's circular be-
fore me, l have carefully re-read what l
have written in respect to the interview
with him, that with Mr.. Davis and the at
tending circumstances, and that no part of
my whole narrative Gan be altered or amend
ed, and have it consistent with the truth.
In my published report l have as ex-
plcitly as language can do it, disclsimed
having, in any way, acted for Mr.. Lincoln,
but will repeat, that neither Colonel ia
ques nor myself had any official or unof-
fetal authority from the President; that
we were not requested or authorized to ex-
press bis views, opinions or desires to Mr.
Davis or to any one else; that our "nis-
sion to Richmond" was initiated and exc
cuted solely on our own private account
and responsibility, and that we have uni
formly and always said so both inside and
outside the Rebel lines.
Mr.. Lincoln gave me a pass. 1t reads
as follows;
Allow J. R. Gilmore and friend to pass
with ordinary baggage to General Grant
at his Headquarters.
A. LINCOLN.
He also gave me note TO General Grant,
that read as follows:
Will General Grant allow J. r. Gilmore
and friend to pass our lines, with ordinary
baggage, ana go South.
y A. LINCOLN.
And that is all that the President did,
or wrote, or said, or caused to be done, or
has said or written in relation to this
whole matter.
So much for Mr.. Benjamins circular
l will uow add a few words to relieve that
gentleman from the food of billingsgate
which is being poured upon him by the
Richmond editors, because, as they assert
| "on the introduction of a nameless Yankee
friend, Mr., Mr.. B. received two spies,
and procured them an interview with the
President"
The Examiner greatly desires to know
what Yankee has commissioned spies into
our lines, assured them handsome treatment
and access TO the President etc. Now
MIR. EraDiaer, it wasn't Yankee at all
nor was it a Mr.. Itwas simply Madam
IA near relative Of Mr.. Davis, now resid-
ing at the North. Her letter wasa ddress-
ed to Mr.. Davis, not to Mr.. Benjamin
and it is no doubt secured to me the courte.
and kindness received at the hands o.
the Rebel President,
Furthermore, Mr.. Benjamin did not pro
cure us access to Mr.. Davis. Our letter t.
the Secretary was requested by Judge 0uld
as he expressed it, ''as a matter of form
We knew when it was written, and W.
knew four days before we left Washington
that Mr. Davis would receive us.
The facts about this are simply as follows
A prominent citizen of the confederacy
who desires peace even at the saricice o
slavery, met Colonel Jaques at Petersburg
year ago. They have corresponded since
and when in May last, the Colonel decide,
to visit the Confederacy again, hs wrot
that gentleman, who at once communics
ted the ColOnels intention to Mr.. Davis, an
asked if he would see him. Mr.. Davis re
3 piled that he would, and suggested that tn
( gentleman should make his way TO Bait
: more and escort Colonel Jaques throug
5 the lines. The gentleman met Colonel Ji
) ques in Baltimore late in June, but the Co
4 onel objected to entering Rebellion by Ii
pa ba ok door, TIE southerner then said, "G
2 to the Front. Have flag sent to Lee
Ask to meet Judge Ould. l will return s
o once to Richmond and see that everythin
y works smoothly"
q For that reason secured Mr.. Lincoln
% pass to the Front. For that reason, SSwhe
y General Grantsaid to me; "I don't belieN
8 the rebels will receive you. They have n,
q answered flag for q month. However
IL will send one. shall have to address &c
Lee. Shall say you want to meet Judg
: Ould2" l said HIf you please; and SUI
At pose you add, that if there appears to L.
y any objection to Guilds meeting us, yC
would like to have him refer our request
JEFF. Davis" And for that reason Gener
Grant inserted in his note to General L
l. the clause; "Tt not consistent for you
in grant the request here asked, Iwould b
- that this be referred to President Davis f
~ his action; )" on which clause Mr.. Benjam
ie has attempted to build so much.