The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-09-08
THE PEACE QUESTION AT
RICHMOND.
REBEL VERSION oFTHE JAoUEs
GILMORE VISIT.
Explanation of j. P. Benjamin.
COMMENTS OF THR EXAMINER.


srcRxrARY prNiAMfs's EXPLANATION,
Dkf'r OF Stair, KfcHaosp aug. aS, lsaA
] SiR: Numerous publicat 'ons W hich have
recently appeared in the journals Of the
United States, on the SUBJECT of informal
overtures for peace between the two fed
erations OF States now at war on this
continent, render Il desirable that you
should be fully advised Of the views aud
policy of this Government on a matter Of
such paramount Importance. II 10 like.
wise proper that you should be accurately
informed Of what has occurred on the
several occasions mentioned in the pub.
lished statements.
You have heretofore been furnished
with copies OF the manifesto issued by
the Congress Of the Confederate States
with the approval of the President on the
l4th Of June last; and have doubtless
acted in conformity with the resolution
which requested that copies of this man.
iiesto should be laid before foreign Gov
ernment,. "The principal sentiments
and purposes by which these States have
been and are still uctuated," are set forth
in that paper with all tho authority due
TO the solemn declaration of the l. ,gisla.
tive and Executive Departments of this
Government, aud with a clearness which
} leaves M roam ne commcn, or .,nl.na'
,;on' In n G.w ,rn,ences !, !. no;n,pJ "..,
that all we ask IL immunity from inter.
ference with our internal neacs an and .e n,e..
peri,y. "and TO be lsl, in IL. nndis,urhsd n
enioynent of those inslicnsbIs rioh,. -,
life. liberty and tho pur.uii of b,nnines.
whi n our common ancestors dccIared A.
be the equal beritaye Of nil parties 10 tbe
social compact. Iet them forbe,r mo-.
pre.sions upon us. and tho war !, a, sn
end. II there be ouestions which reou;,e
adjustment by neputia,ion. we hnve sver
been willing and aro s,;u wiIl;no' N
enter into communication with ors nd. A.
yersaries. In n sp,rit of ne,ce. of .ou;,y
and manly franiness." The manifest
closed with the declaration ,h,, "vs
commi, our cause to ,be enligh,sned
Judgment of the world. ,o the ,nher "a,
Elections of our pdyer,ari,s ,hemseIvos
and TO The solemn and right,ou, srhi,s,
ltion of uenysn."
Within a very few weels ,o.r IN,
publication of mi. mnniCes,o !, .asm.,
! 10 have ma, with . raannn.. for, D.,
J.n, I;n.oi,, T., ,h n" .s'
man,h Io,,". , 49, uo ,e, oa Pa'' y, Ias
oa s,o., - Its,, W." s.e"eu ~ uene'a
the folIowino wnrJs. "''' ''an'' IL
,JIr.nouAprrp. ,pxrs or ryru @
"C,rv pmr ". IuIv a iae,
mCs, - = L. Cn,n, - n
fsJs..,. "y ps.''i' I'm
, acs..a',. ~ wa,,d oy' sas'
a "St'e NthNoh thoh WI
Vomn,se, irfa n,rv .nJ ci,"a."
Eso hs ,liowed ~ nee, C,l w'pas .
onid Commissio,e, snr ,so Eonh.nOo ooe, !,
pr;soners n, snch nIaca ha,u"ns ~ y
, lines Of The ,,vo armies n, 30, ma, A.
;an.,s Ths oh;sc, os ,hs nan,;, & a's
,e,,i,;m.,a with d. d,,,ias nr Coi HS i
ne C"mmiss;"ner ' ''' " ' o'''
.,Ic no, .nus,s,, Co. Al.
Q reones, he,e ssted yo,,S sa a"' ,sn t,''
, ,his he reterred 10 pros;,Ian, nss,s g.,
hi. ..,;on ''
.paana.,;, m ,,, al,
Q ,In;o",,ass @ aS " "'
/. oa ven,a", W moIe y,,h..r;to vb 2 m"u ,s,r W"
!. ..Vsrv rssnec,fol,y ynur ohoJ;ey, , sa.,, -,
an s G..Sr Zen, Csn IT 8 a ;,
% ~, ,ha raca.an. as ~. ,s,, a.
J. p,I,,,,n, NJ, anIhoris.d rn,onei uuI, ~ VI
d meet the persuns named In Can Csaa, CIV
n latter and Col OnId sGsr saa;n ,S"'.
re,nrned 10 Ricbmnnd md rane.,ad T
!, The President. In The nresence or ,h
Secrs,srv of Wa and mysair ,h., ~, ~
e Juoues and Gilmore b,d No, ss;d .n,
: thing 10 him about his duties n. Con-
missioner for .xcbanoe of nr;.onors h.
4 that thew asked permission 10 co,s y
Richmond for the purpose of seeing m
President; that thew came with m
. knowledge and approval of Presiden
Lincoln, and under his pass; that the
:. were Informal messengers, sent with
s view OF paving the way tor meeting q
informal Commissioners authorized I
negotiate Tor peace and desired TO CON
municate to PRESIDENT Davis the views q
1 Mr. Lincoln, ana 10 obtain The President
views IN return, so as to arrange for
s neeting OF Ionm'ssi !ners' Col oul
stntea that ne nau toiu them repeatedl
. that lt was useless 10 come TO kichmon
o to talk oi peace on any other terms tha
4 the recognized independence OF the Con
y federacy, to which they said they wer
aware Of that: and that they were, never
theiess, conhdent that sneir interview
would result 10 peace; Ihe President
If Oh TINS report orCoI' ould' determined I
d permit them to come TO Richmond unde
ms charge. 90,
On the evening oi the ioih july oul
Sonuu'ou S,'u ms se"',e'e" W no.e,
II Richmond where room was provided e
a them, IN which they were to renal
under surveillance during their stay he.,
and the next morning l received th