Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-09-14

tain the PRESIDENT views IN return, SO as 10
arrange for meeting of Commissioners.
Col Ould stated that he had told them re-
peatedIy it was useless to come to Richmond
to talk of peace on any other terms than the
recognized independence of the Confederacy,
to which they sad that they were aware OF
that, and that tiiey were, nevertheless, con
fideut that their interview would result IN
peace The President, on this report Of
Colonel Ould, determined to permit them to
come to Richmond under his charge.
On the evening of the 10th of July Colo
mel Ould conducted these gentlemen to ho-
tel in Richmond, where room was provl-
Cied tor them, in which they were TO remain
under surveillance during their stay here,
and the next morning | received the follow
ing letter =
''SPoTrSwooD HoUsE Richmond, Va,
July II. 1864, Hon. J Z. Benjamin, Secre-
tary of State Of the Confederate States of
America Dear Sir The undersigned, j.
L. ,Jaques, Of Illinois and j. 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 adjust
ment of the differences now existing between
the North and the South, and have litile
doubt that a free interchange of views be-
tween President Davis and themselves would
open the way to such official negotiations as
would ultimate in restoring PEACE to the
two sections of our distract ted country.
They therefore ask an interview with the
President, and awaiting your reply, are
Most truly and respectfully,
~ our obedient servants,
JAMES L. JAQUEs,
JAMES Il. GILMORE.
The word Official is underscored, and
the word peace" doubly underscored, III
the original
After perusing the letter, | invited Col
onel Ould TO conduct the writers to my of
fee; and on their arrival, stated to them
that they must be conscious they could not
be admitted to an interview with the Prasl
dent without informing me more fully OF the
object of their mission, and satisfying ME
that they came by the request of Mr. Ian
coin.
l5,fr.. Gilmore replied that they came an-
officially, but with the knowledge and at
the desire of Mr.. Lincoln; that they thought
the wag had gone far enough that 1t could
never end except by some sort Of agree
ment that the agreement might as well be
made now as after further bloodshed that
they knew by the recent address OF the Con-
federate Congress that we were willing to
make peace that they admitted that propo-
sails ought to come from the North, and that
they were prepared to make these proposals
by Mr. Lincoln authority that it was nee
essary to have sort Of informal understand
ing In advance to regular negotiations, for
If commissioners were appointed without
some such understanding they would meet,
quarrel, and separate, leaving the parties
more bitter against each other than before
that they knew Mr.. Lincoln's views, and
would state them if pressed by the President
to do so, and desired to learn his in return
| again insisted on some evidence that
they came from Mr. Lincoln; and in order
to satisfy me, Mr.. Gilmore referred TO the
fact that permission for their coming through
our lines had been asked officially by Gener
al Grant in a letter to General Lee, and that
General Grant in that letter had asked that
this request should be referred to President
Davis. Gilmore then showed me a card
written and signed by Mr. Lincoln, request
ing General Grant to aid Mr.. Gilmore and
his friend in passing through his lines into
the Confederacy Colonel Jaques then said
that his name was not put on the card Tor
the reason it was earnestly desired that their
visit should be kept secret that he had
come iuto-the Confederacy year ago, and
had visited Petersburg on similar errand,
aud it was feared that if his name should
become known, that some OF those who had
formerly met him in Petersburg would con
lecture the purpose for which he now came.
He said the terms OF peace which they
would offer to the President would be hon
orable to the Confederacy that they did
not desire that the Confederacy should. ac-
cept any other terms, but would be glad to
have my promise, as they gave theirs, that
their visit should be kept profound secret
if it failed to result IN peace, that lt would
not be just that either party should. seek
any adyantag. by divulging the fact OF their
overture for peace, if unsuccessful. L as
scented to this request, and then, rising, sald
DO | understand you to state distinctly
that you come as messengers from Mr. LIN
coin for the purpose of agreeing with the
President as to the proper mode OF Inaugu-
rating formal negotiation for peace, charg-
ed bv Mr.. Lincoln with authority for stating
his own views and receiving those of Presl-
dent Davis?' Both answered in the affirm
atiye, and / then said that the President
would see them at my Office this evening at
9P. NJ that, at least, presumed he would;
but if he objected after hearing my report,
they should be informed. They were then
recommitted to the charge of Colonel Ould,
with the understanding that they were to be
reconducted to my Office at the appointed
hour. unless otherwise directed;
This interview connected with the report
previously made by Colonel 0uld, left on my
mind the decided impression that Mr.. Lam
coin was averse to sending formal commits
sioners to open negotiations, lest he might
thereby be deemed to have recognized the
independence of the Confederacy, and that
he was anxious to learn whether the condl-
tions on which alone he would be willing to