The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-02

then, let us stop it. Let us do something
concede something, to bring about neace
You cannot expect. with only four and a
half millions, as Mr.. Benjamin saws Won
have, to hold out forever against twenty
Millions
Again Mr. Davis smiled
edo you suppose there are twenty
millions at the North determined to
crush us?"
"I do-tO crush your government. A
small number of our people, very small
number, are your friends secessiOnists.
The rest differ about measures and candi-
dates, but are united in the determination
to sustain the Union. Whoever is elected
in November, he must be committed to q
vigorous prosecution of the war;
Mr.. Davis still looked incredulOus. I
remarked
est is so, sir. Whoever tells you 9TH
erwise deceives you. l think know north
ern sentiment, and / assure you it is SO.
You know We have system Of lyceum-
lecturing in our large towns. at the close
of these lectures it is the custom of the
people to come upon the platform and
talk with the lecturer. This gives him an
excellent opportunity of learning public
sentiment. Last winter / lectured before
nearly hundred such associations all over
the North-from Dubuque to Bangor-and
l took pains to ascertain the feeling of the
people. l found a unanimous intention
to crush the rebellion, and save the Union
at every sacrifice. The majority are in ia
vor of Mr.. Lincoln, and nearly all of those
opposed to him are opposed to him be-
cause they think he does rot fight you
with enough vigor The radical Republi-
cans, who go for slave suffrage and thor
ough confscation are those who will de-
feat him if he is defeated But if he is
defeated before the people, the House will
elect a worse mani mean worse for you.
1t is more radical than he is-you can see
that from Mr.. Ashley's reconstruction bill
and the people are more radical than the
House. Mr.. Lincoln, know, is about to
call out five hundred thousand more men,
and can't see how you can resist much
longer; but if you do, you will only deep
en- the radical feeling of the northern pe0-
pie. They will now give you fair, honor
able, generous terms but let them suffer
much more, let there be a dead man in
every house, as there is now in every vii
lage, they will give you no terms-they
will insist on hanging every rebel south of
-. Pardon my terms. Imean no Of
fence
I" You give no offence, he replied, smil-
ing very pleasantly. | wouldn't have you
pick your words. This is a frank, free
talk, and l like you the better for saying
what You think. Go on"
81 was merely going to say that, let the
Northern people once really feel the war
they do not feel it yet-and they will
insist on hanging every one of your Lead
ers."
"Well, admitting all you say, can't
see how it affects our position. There
are some things worse than hanging or
determination. We reckon giving up the
right OF self-government one Of those
things"
"By self-government you mean dis
uniOn-Southern independence
eyes"
"And slavery, you say, is no longer an
element in the contest 2"
emo, it is not; it never was an essential
element. 1t was only means of bring
ing other conflicting elements to an earlier
elimination. 1t fired the musket which
was already capped and loaded. There
are essential differences between the North
and the South that will, however this war
may end, make them two nations"
''YOu ask me to say what | think.
Well do you allow me to say that know
the South pretty well, and never observed
those differences"
'Then you have not used your eyes,
My sight is poorer than yours, but have
seen them for years.
The laugh was upon me, and Mr.. Benz
jamiu enjoyed it. ...
"Well, sir, be that as it may, if un-
derstand you, the dispute between your
government and ours is narrowed down to
Union or disunion."
"Yes; or to put it in other words ::
Independence or subjugation.'
Then the two governments are ire.
concilably apart. They have no aterna-
tive but to fight it out. But it is not SO
with the people. They are tired of fight
ing and want peace and as they bear all
the burden and suffering of the war, is it
not right they should have peace, and have
it on such terms as they like?"
"I don't understand you. Be little
more explicit"
MR.. DAVIS REFUSES AN ARMISTICN.
"Well, suppose the two governments
hould agree to something like this: To
go to the people with two propositions ::
say, peace, with disunion and southern in
dependence, as your proposition-a
peace, with union, emancipation, no con-
fscation, and universal amnesty, as ours.
Let the citizens of all the United States
(as they existed before the war; vote Yes
or NO on these two propositions, at spe-
cial election within sixty days. If ma
iority votes disunion, our government to
be bound by it, and to let you go in peace.
If majority votes union, yours to be
be bound by it, and to stay in peace. The
two governments can contract in this way.
and the people, though constitutioually
unable to decide on peace or war, can
elect which of the two propositions shall
govern their rulers. Let Lee and Grant,
meanwhile agree to an armistice. This
would sheathe the sword; and, if once
sheathed, it would never again be drawn
hxy <bsc -