Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-11-04
NO. 80.


which Mr.. Lincoln authorized you to offer US -
j." No. Sir, hr. Lincolndd not authorize me to
ofsT you any terms. But think beth he aud
the Northern people, for the sake Of peace,
WoHld assent TO some suoh conditions"
" Fhey are very generous" replied MI. Davis,
for the FIRST time during The interview showing
some angry feeling. But Amnesty Sir, applies
10 criminals. We have committed no crime-
G0nhsoation is Of no account unless you can ell
force it. And Emancipation You have al-
ready emaneipated nearly two millions OF our
slaves, and ii you will take care of them, you
may emanoipAte the rest. had few whenthe
war began, was Of some use to them they
never we're Of any to me. Against their will
you emancipstod them and you may emauei-
pair every negro IN the Conf4deraoy, but aeewM
! be nee We will govern ourselves We ipH do
II, II We have to sse every Southern plantation
sacked, aud eycry Southern city ia flames
see, Mr. Davis, it is useless to continue this
conversation" replied, and you will pardon us.
IL Ma have seemed 10 pTers our views with toe
much pertinacity. We love the old nag. and that
must be our apology for intruding upon you At
all,
fou have not iniruded upon me-" he replied,
resuming his usual manner. am glad to have
met you both. once loved the old flag as welt
AZ you do; would have died for ii but now it
ia to me only the emblem Of oppression.
e bops the day may never come, Mr.. Davis,
When say that" said the Colonel.
half hours conversation on other topics
not of public interest ensued and then ne rose To
go. AZ We did 50, the Rebel President gave As
his hand aud bidding me a kindly gOod-bye.
expressed the hope Of seeing me again in Rich
mend in happier tines whom peace should havE
returned but with the Colonel his parting vas
particularly cordial. Taking his hand in both VI
lis, he said 10 him
% Colonel respect your character and your
uuttsRa anil uia I
good eaa wish you consistently with ihs later
esis Of the ConfedeTAoy."
The quiet, Straightforward bearing aud mag-
nihcent moral courage Of our lighting parren'
had evidently Impressed Mr.. Davis very fsyots-
bly,.
As We were leaving the room, hc added
Z" Say TO Mr.. Lincoa frou me, that shall al
any time be pleased 10 receive proposals for peace
on the basis Of our Independence. IL wilt be
useless to approach me with any other."
HheR We vent out AT Benaialn called Jldge
0sld. who had been waiting during the whole
Interview honIs-at ths other cod Of Tbs
hal. and We passed down the stairway together.
As Pot my arm WiIAia that of the Judge, he
said to me-
"Wsll, Whist Is the Tssnit p
" Nothing but war. war to the knife"
" EphFaim Is Joined 10 his Idols, lei him Ol,ue"
added the Colonsl sOlsmniy.
should llhe 10 relate the incidents ii The next
DAY, uhea 10 vislted Castle Thunder LlbbY
Prison, and the hospitals occupied by our wound
ed; but the iimlts cfa magazine article will noi
permit can only say that VI sundawn We
passed out OF the Rebel lines, and al ten o'e'oct
that night stretched our tired limbs On tue
downy" cots 10 General Butlers tent. thank
full, dsyoully thanksal, that ne were ohee asaia
ander the folds Of the old nag.
Thus ended our visit 10 Richmond have sn.
desYored 10 sketch 10 faithfully. The c1nSofsa.
tion with AlF. Davis took DOWN shortly a;lsr
entering the Union lines, and haSe tried lo re-
port hH exact language. exienualing nothing,
and coloring nothing that be said. Some Of his
sentences. as rssd them over, appear stiltsa
and high down, but they did mol sound 50 when
uttered. As listened 10, they seemed the simpls,
natural language Of his thought Il e spoke de.
hberaiely, apparently weighing every word, aud
knowing we'll that all he said would be given IL
the public.
He is man Of peculiar ability. Our inter
view with him explained to me why, with liz
money and no commerce, with nearly every cns
Of their Important cities iu our hands, and wild
Oh army greatly Inferior in numbers and equip
ment 10 ours, Ihe Rsbels have held out so long
IL is because OF the sagaOfy, energy, and iudom-
table will Of Jefferson Davis Without him the
Rebellion vsuld erumbe to pieces in a day;
with him IL may continue TO be, even in disaster,
a power mat viii taH the whole energy and re-
sources Of tbs nation.
The Southern masses want peace. Many Of
rhe Southein leaders want il, both my eompan-
ion and ], by correspondence and intercourse
with them, know this but there can be no peace
so long as Mr.. Davis controls the South Ig-
noring slavery, he himself statss the issue, The
only issue with him, Union, or Disunion Thas
is IT, We must conquer, or be conquered. We
ean negotiate only with the bayonst. We oan
have peace and union only BY putting forth all
cur strength, crushing tho Southern armies, and
overthrauing the Southern government.