Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-09-03
Mr. Brs,AMiy returned bis compliments,

partment, which they did the same day
Some conversation took place in which
! Messrs GILMORE and JAoUEs stated that they
brought no overtures whatever from our Gov
eminent, and had no authority from it be-
yond Mr. LrNcoLSs permission to come, and
we're there not as diplomatists, but as men
and christians, desiring to see if there was
not some way by which this war could be
stopped Mr.. BENJAMIN promised to use his
influence to have an interview granted, and
requested Messrs. GILMORE and JAouEs to call
again in the evening, which they did, and
then met the rebel President. We give the
remainder of Mr.. GILMoRE's narrative in full
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
| Mr.. BENJAMIN occupied his previous seat at
the table, and at his right sat spare, thin
featured man, with iron gray hair and beard,
and clear gray eye full of life and vigor.
He had broad massive forehead and mouth
and chin denoting great energy and strength
| of will. His face was emaciated and much
wrinkled, but his features were good, espe-
cially, his eyes-though one of them bore a
scar, apparently made by some sharp instru-
ment He wore suit of grayish brown, ev-
| identity of foreign manufacture, and as he rose
| | saw that he was about FIVE feet ten inches
| high, with slight stoop in the shoulders.
His manners were simple, easy, and quite fas-
cinating and he threw an indescribable charm
into his voice as he extended his hand and
| said to u.s.
81 am glad TO see you, gentlemen. You
are very welcome to Richmond"
/ And this was the man who was President
| of the United States under Franklin Pierce,
and who is now the heart, soul and brains of
the Southern Confederacy.
/ His manner put me entirely at my ease
| 1.-THE Colonel would be at his if he stood be-
/ fore Casar) and replied
" We thank you, Mr.. Davis. 1t is not often
| you meet men Of our clothes and our princi-
Piles in Richmond" @ A
"Not often, not so often as | could wish !;
and trust your coming may lead to more
frequent and more friendly intercourse be-
tween the North and the South"
ave sincerely hope it may"
Mr.. Benjamin tells me you have asked to
see me, to-
And he paused, AS if desiring we should
| finish the sentence. The Colonel replied
eyes, sir. We have asked this interview
in the hope that you may suggest some way
by which this war can be stopped. Our peo-
pie want peace; your people do, and your
i OOuSTtSS TcCCubly bhdb 9Ou w. We
have come to ask how it can be brought
/ about"
| In very simple way. Withdraw your
armies from our territory and peace will come
of itself. We do not seek to subjugate you.
| We are not waging an offensive war, except
so far as it is offensive defensive-that is, so
far as we~as we are forced to invade you to
| prevent your invading US. Let us alone and
| peace will come at once"
"But we cannot let you alone so long
| you repudate the Union. That is one thing
| the Northern people will not surrender"
CT know. You would deny US what you
| exact for yourselves-the right OF self-govern
| ment."
"No. sir.n remarked. ave would deny
you no natural right. But we think Union
| essential to peace; and, Mr.. Davis, could two
people, with the same language, separated by
| only an imaginary line, live at peace with
| each other? Would not disputes constantly
arise, and cause almost constant war between
| them?"
Undoubtedly-wi this generation. You
have sown such bitterness at the South, you
| have put such an ocean of blood between the
| two sections, that | despair of seeing any
harmony in my time. Our children may for
get this war, but we cannot"
81 think the bitterness you speak of, sir"
| said the Colonel, "does not really exist We
must talk here as friends: our soldiers meet
and fraternize with each other; and feel
sure that if the Union were restored more
friendly feeling would arise between us than
has ever existed. The war has made US know
and respect each other better than ever be-
fore. This is the view of very many South
eun men. l have had it from many of them
your leading citizens"
"They are mistaken" replied Mr.. Davis.
"They do not understand Southern sentiment.
| How can we feel anything but bitterness to-.
wards men who deny US our rights? If you
enter my house and drive me out of it, am l
not your natural enemy
"You put the case too strongly. But we
cannot fight forever; the war must end at
some time; we must finally agree upon some
| thing; can we not agree now and stop this
| frightful carnage? We are both Christian
men, Mr.. Davis. Can you, as Christian man,
| leave untried any means that may lead to
peace 2"
"No, cannot / desire peace as much as
| you do. l deplore bloodshed as much as you
do; but / feel that not one drop of the blood
shed in this war is on my hands; / can look
| up to my God and say this. / tried all in my
power to avert this war. l saw it coming
| and for twelve years | worked night and day
to prevent it, but / could not. The North
was mad and blind; it would not let US gov
ern ourselves; and so the war came, and now
it must go on till the last man of this genera
ton falls in his tracks, and his children seize
his musket and fight his battles, unless you
acknowledge our right to sel-government.
We are not fighting for SLAVERY. We are fight
ing for independenee-and that or determination
| zoe wiH hare"
"And there are at least four and half
millions of us left; so you see you have work
before you" said Mr.. Benjamin, with decid-
ed sheer.
eve have no wish to exterminate you"
answered the Colonel. 81 believe what
have said-that there is no bitterness be-
tween the Northern and Southern people.
The North, know, loves the South. When
peace comes it will pour money and means
into your hands to repair the waste causedby
the war; and it would now welcome you back
and forgive you all the loss and bloodshed
YOU have caused. But we must crush your
armies and exterminate your government.
And is not that already nearly done =? You
are wholly without money and at the end of
your resources. Grant has shut you up in
Richmond. Sherman is before Atlanta. Had
you not, then, better accept honorable terms
while ycu can retain your prestige and save
the pride Of the Southern people ?"
Mr.. DAVIS on THE CONFEDERATE PROSPECTS.