Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-09-02
THE EVENING STAR.
THE LATE PEACE INTERVIEW.
A Circular from the Rebel state Depart.

ment.
MT. BENJAMIN, the rebel Secretary OF State,
has issued a circular addressed to Mr.. Mason,
their commissioner in Europe, in relation TO
the recent peace mission OF Mr.. Gilmore and
Colonel jacques TO Richmond. After detail
ing the mears by which they reached Rich
mond and the interviev he had with them
before introducing them to Jef. Davis, MT
Benjamin says:
previously made by Colonel Ould, lett on my
mind the decided impression that Mr Lincoln
was averse to sending formal commissioners
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 conditions on which alone
he would be willing to take such a step would
be yielded by the Confederacy; that with this
view he had placed his messengers in a condi-
ton to satisfy US that they really came from
him, without com hitting himself to anything
the event of a disagreement to such condi-
tons as he considered to be indispensable. On
informing the President, therefore, of my coE-
clasions, he determined that no question ofform
or etiquette should be an obstacle to his receiv-
ing any overtures that promised however re-
motely, to result in putting an end to the car
mage which marked the continuance OF hostili-
ties.
1.-THE President came to my office at O'Clock
IN the evening, and Col. Guild came few
moments later, with Messrs. Jacques and Gill
more The President said to them that he
heard, from me, that they came as messengers
OF peace from MIR. Lincoln; that as such they
were welcome; that the Confederacy had never
cor cealed its desire for peace, and that he was
ready TO hear whatever they had to offer on
that subject.
"Mr Gilmore then addressed the President,
and in a few minutes had conveyed the in
formation that these gentlemen had the idea
that this government would accept peace on
a basis OF reconstruction Of the Union, the
abolition of slavery, and the grant of an amnes-
ty to the people fthe States as repentant rimi-
mails. In order to accomplish the abolition OF
slavery, it was proposed that there should be
a general vote Of all the people of both fedora.
tons, in mass, and the majority Of the vote thus
taken to determine that as well as all
other disputed questions. These were well
stated to be Mr.. Lncolns views. The Presi-
dent answered that as these proposals had been
prefaced by the remark that the people OF the
North were majority, and that the majority
ought TO govern, the offer was in effect, pro-
p0sai that the Confederate States should sur
render at discretion, admit that they had been
wrong from the beginning Of the contest, sub.
NIT to the mercies Of their enemies, and avow
themselves to be in need of pardon for their
crimes; that determination was preferable to
dishonor.
Ale stated that il they were themselves 80
unacquainted with the form of their own
government as to make such propositions, Mr.
Lincoln onght to have Known, when giving
them his views. that it was out Of the power of
the Don federate government to act on the sub.
ject of the domestic institutions Of the several
States, each State having exclusive jurisdic-
ton on that point, still less TO commit the deci-
SION of such question to the vote of a foreign
people; that the separation of the States was an
accomplished fact; hat he had mol authority TO
receive proposals for negotiation except by
virtue of his office as President of an indepen-
dent Confederacy and on this basis alone must
proposals be made to HIM.
"At one period Of the conversation Mr. Gill
more made use OF some language referring to
these States .'rebels,' while rendering an
account of Mr.. Lincolns views, and apollo
gized for the word. The President desired him
to proceed, that no offence was taken, and that
he wished Mr.. Lincoln's language to be re-
peated to him as exactly as possible. Some
further conversation took place, substanti-
10 vha Sat xhn TO-
when the President rose 10 Indicate that the
interview was at an end. The two gentlemen
were tsen recommitted to the charge of Colo.
mel Ould, and lett Richmond the next day.
"This account OF the visit Of Messrs. Gilmore
and Jacques to Richmond has been rendered
necessary by publications made by one or
both of them since their return to the United
States, notwithstanding the agreement that
their visit was to be kept secret. They have
perhaps concluded that as the promise of secre-
cy was made at their request it was per1nis.
sible to disregard it. We have no reason for
DE- string to conceal what occurred, and have
therefore no complaint TO make of the publicity
given to the fact of the visit. The extreme in
accuracy OF Mr.. Gilmore's narrative WILDE ap
parent to you from the foregoing statement.
"You have no doubt seen in the Northern
papers an account Of another conference on the
subject of peace, which took place in Canada,
at about the same date, between Messrs. O. @.
Clay and ]. p. Holcombe, Confederate citizens
OF the highest character and position, and Mr..
Horace Greedy, Of New York, acting with au-
thority Of President Lincoln. It is deemed not
improper to inform you that Messrs. Clay and
Holcombe, although enjoying in an eminent
degree the confidence and esteem OF the Presi.
dent, were strictly accurate in their statement
that they were without any authority from
this governmental treat with that of the United
States on any subject whatever.
1--WE had no knowledge OF their conference
with Mr.. Greedy, nor Of their proposed visit to
Washingt ton, till wesaw the newspaper publ
cations. A significant confirmation Of the truth
of the statement of Messrs. Gilmore and
Jacques, that they came as messengers from
Mr.. Lincoln, is to b e found in the fact that the
views of Mr. Lincoln, as stated by them to the
President, are in exact conformity with the
offensive paper addressed to "Whom 1t may
concern, which was sent by Mr.. Lincoln to
Messrs Clay and Holcombe by the hands of MS
private secretary, Nr. Hay, and which was
properly regarded by those gentlemen as an
intimation that Mr.. Lincoln was unwilling that
this war should cease while in his power to
continue hOstilities.