Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-09-03
The Kirke-Jaques visit to Rio, lmond
THE INTERVIEW wTa JEFFy SO, n.v,s.
His Iltinatum--Iuaependssv :, s,n,.y.,,o..

: Dorm an Tennessee, new volume about to
be published, Mr.. J. ( GILMORE, &. Edmund
Kirke y gives an q count of the recent visit
MADE ny col' - quEs and himself to Rich
mond, about "o .ch there has been so much
speculation The advance sheets of these
puoiica'ions have been sent us and from
'heM We co py SO much as relates directly to
roe iaserv lew which these gentlemen obtain
"a @'sh sir. JEFT. DAVIS. THERE'S, however,
an she volume preliminary statement of in
efoe0 Is which led TO this visit, too long to be
reY oduced, IN ertepso, IN our columns but
I'd. .,ich are not without interest We briefly
relate them to complete understanding OF
all the facts in this remarkable enterprise.
/ While on visit to the Army of the Cum
berland, in May, 1868, Gen. RosEcRANs hand
ed letter to Mr. GILMORE, from subordi-
nate officer asking for a furlough, with re-
quest that he, Mr. GILMORE, would see him, and
if the plan he proposed seemed feasible the
General would telegraph the Department for
the furlough asked. He added that Col. ia
oUEs-the gentleman referred to-was a
prominent member of the Methodist Church,
and although clergyman, one of his truest
and best officers. The letter of Col. JAQUEs
avowed his conviction that, from facts which
had come to his knowledge, the members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, were
heartily tired of the rebellion; that they con-
| sidered slavery-its cause--virtually abolish
ed that they ardently desired peace and the
privilege of returning to their allegiance to
Church and State. He believed, if permis-
sion were given him TO go within the lines of
the Confederacy. that he could, within ninety
days, return with proposals of peace that
would be acceptable to the Government, OBJ
tanned through the influence OF the large
body of his Church at the South. He pro-
posed TO go openly in his uniform, as "the
messenger of God" Mr.. GILMORE consider
ed the enterprise as arash one, and that Col.
JAouEs would only throw away his lite in its
prosecution. He so reported to Gen. ROSE
GRAMS, who, however, did not agree with him,
saving 81 know if he talks peace to the
people, the leaders will hang him; but he'll
not do that, he'll go to the leaders themselves
The terms he will offer may not be accepted,
but it will strengthen our moral position to
offer them" He, therefore, telegraphed to
Washington for four months furlough for
Col. JAQUEs, and asked for an interview
for him vita the President. Both requests
were refused, but fuller explanation of Col.
JAQUEs's purpose was asked for by mail.
Col. JAouEs thereupon urged Mr.. GILMORE
to go to Washington on his way home, re-
quest that was seconded by Gen. ROsEcRANs.
And in due season Mr.. GILMORE presented
himself to the President armed with letter
| from Gen RoSECRANs, in which he said that
he believed the public interest would be pro-
NOTED by granting Col. JAoUEs' request, be-
cause of its moral influence, though he did
not anticipate the results that the Col ex-
pected from his mission. The President at
first declined to entertain the subject, Z" be-
cause" he said " happen to be President of
| the UIited States We can make no over
lures to the rebels. If they want peace all
| they have to do is to lay down their arms"
| Finally, however, he stated Gin a clear, di-
rect way, the terms he would give the rebels,
a portion of which have since been included
| in the Amnesty Proclamation" And he adj
| ded:
"You can write what say to General Rosecrans,
and he communicate as much OF it as he thinks
best to Colonel Jaques; but the Colonel must not
understand that he has these terms from me. We
want peace but we can make no overtures to the
Rebels. They already know that the country
would welcome them back, and treat them gener-
| ously and magnanimOusly."
Gen. RosEcRANs was Immediately written
| to. and within ten days Col. j. was on his
way to the South. At Fortress Monroe he
was allowed to smuggle himself on board a
| hag-of-truce boat, whence he entered the
rebel lines, still in his uniform. eco where
you please and stay as long as you like" said
the rebel officer, who first met him. The
| narration continues:
/ Any one the great risk he ran. lie had
| no creden tials nothing to show who he was, or
| why he came; and there were ten chances to one
| he would be taken as a spy. But what that
to him lie was about his Masters work, and his
/ trust IN the Master, which whoever runs may
| read' in his face, carried him safely through.
| He went to Petersburg, and there they came to
| him. As Nicodemus came to the great Peace Maker
| so the Rebel leaders came to him, by night. Dis
guised. and under false names, they sought him to
| ask the way to peace.
| sLay down your arms; go back to your allie
glance, and the country will deal kindly and gen.
/ erously by yeu,' he said to them.
| From all he had the answer
| =. We tired of the war. We are willing to give
up slavery. We know it is gone, but so long our
/ Government holds out we must stand by it. We
! cannot betray il and each other"
Col. JAoUEs remained at Petersburg several
weeks, and then returned to Baltimore. He
wrote to the President relating the result of
his mission, but received no reply. Months
later, Mr. Gilmore learned that the letter was
never received. But Col. JAQUEs was now
anxious for another visit to the rebels, pro-
posing, this time, to see the arch-rebel him.
SELF Leave of absence was again granted
| him by Mr.. LINCoLN's orders In few weeks
he joined Mr.. GILMORE at Baltimore, but on
going to Washington it was found that "un-
| expected obstacles were in the way of his
| further progress" What these were is not
stated, but they could be removed by Mr..
GILMoRE's accompanying him. Accordingly
the two gentlemen started, and were passed
through the lines by Gen. GRANT. 81 went
to Richmond" continues Mr.. GILMORE, "be-
cause thought could render material aid
to Col JAoUEs, in paving the way to negotia-