The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-30

The duty of the President to obtain the earliest
and mos; reliable information with regard to the
views. movements and objects of the enemy is 50
plain that we think it can hardly he disputed -
with regard TO the manner in which this informal
tion is 10 be obtained, should suppose be is quite
.onpo,en, 20 decide. His worst enemies allow him
.t least common sense and n certain dcgnce of judy
uent Jacques and Gilmore pressed themselves
anon his notice under very peculiar circumstances.
They proiesS,d TO he in possession Of Iinooln's
views and to desire to communicate with him cspc-
sially in reference TO them. That they spoke the
truth lac was gully entitled Ia believe, frdn the letter
Of General Grant 10 General Lac, and from their
reference 10 letter in the handwriting oil Lincoln,
then in their possession HID the President failed
10 us'- every effort to possess h'mSet oil i"no"h
views. most a~surdlv he would have been guilty oi
u fragrant breach of duty. The circumstances
unacr which the application was made were some
what peculiar. A great party has arisen at the
North whose platform is peace They threaten to
ethroue Lincoln, who is still now, as he has been
from the beginning, the advocate of unceasng war
10 dsaIm this party is, of course, great object with
Lincoln at this particular time He could do it only
in one way, and in that way he attempted It, lie
had sent these men here, as President Davis had
every reason 10 believe, after possessing them with
his views. They declared that they came for the
purpose of promoting peace by means of free
conversation with him upon the whole matter IN
, debate
Suppose he had rejected the application Does
not everybody what would have been the conse-
auenac! 1t would have been at once declared that
the obstacle to peace was jeff Davis and his Gov
erl.mcnt for that Lincoln had informally sounded
that Government, througiisthe medium of these two
eiIissalies, ard had found that it would not
even reoeive.a person sent TO talk about IT. This
would have been repeated through five hundred
newspapers, and its consequences would have been
fatal TO the Peace party of the North. The only
thing President Davis could do to battle the policy OF
Lincoln exactly that which be did do, namei -
receive the emiss,ries and hear what they had
stosay Why should he have decS hled TO see them
j. it beneath the dignity Of ruler to see any man
from whom he hopes 10 learn something that may
prove Of benefit TO the State Was he so much of a
novice, and 50 little accustomed to affairs that lie
need fear bling trepanned by the astute Yankees ,,
Was il necessary 10 keep these men from approach
ing him, hest they might extract something which it
was his duty not to reveal Ills position had already
been taken He had already declared the only basis
upon which he could treat for peace. Independence
and integrity Of boundaries 10 be acknowledged
Us preliminaries any negotiation even. lie could
not abandon this G1titude; and not being able to
abandon it even though he had wished, he ran 10
risk from any discussion or any proposison that 1t
WAS in the power OF Lincoln to introduce or to make.
But the interview itself has been of great benefit
III proving the world that Lincoln does not desire
peace, and that these men Were sent here for no
other purpose than 10 throw the odn Of rejecting
it upon our, Government The terms which they
proposed We're absurd and insulting, and purposely
made so, in order to insure their rejection. Pres
dent Davis acted with great wisdom i'll Bringing
them out in their full length. We now know
what Lincoln wants, and We very certain it is
not peace This may be understood from the mag
anne article of Gilmore 1t is rendered still more
apparent by the circular Of Mr.. BEN amin
Whether Mr.. benjamin took the best method of
making his testimony known TO the world, We do not
undertake TO say. What was important the ties
tlmony itself. How II out, and III what forIn it
presented to the world, is perfectly mmaterial
1t establishes beyond the shadow Of doubt the fac:
that these in possession Of Lincoln's views
and that they came here with his sanction and in
compliance with his wishes. In a word, it con-
to consent to peace long he can hold on
10 the, power which he now wields; for he knows |
ought know, that the terms he offers are such
neither We can submit to nor he enforce. Nh |
eI.lanins letter has completely put it out OF his
power to pretend an anxiety for peace, and III 50
doing has spiked his gun, as u contemporary ex-
presses 1t, eactually that it will hardly render
much service In the approaching campaign.