Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-31
The Kirke-Jaques visit to Richmond
THE INTERVIEW WITH JEFFERSON DAVIS.
His Iltimatum-- epeudenee or Subiugalion.

J
made By Col. JAQUEs and himself to Rich
mond, about which there mas been so much
speculation. The advance sheets of these
publication have been sent us and from
thetl we copy SO much relates directly to
the interview which these gentlemen obtain
ed with Mr. JEFF. DAVIS. There is, however,
in the volume preliminary statement of in
cidents which led to this visit, too long to be
reproduced, IN ertenSo, in columns but
which are not without interest We briefly
/ relate them TO complete understanding OF
/ all the facts in this remarkable enterprise.
While on visit TO the Army of the Cum
/ berland, in May, 1868, Gen. RosECRANs hand
| ed letter to Mr. GILMORE, from a subordi-
nate officer asking for furlough, with a re-
quest that he, Mr.. GILMORE, would see hin, and
| if the plan he proposed seemed feasible the
| General would telegraph the Department for
the furIough asked. lie added that Col. ia
QUEs-the gentleman referred to-was a
prominent member OF the Methodist Church,
and although clergyman, one of his truest
and best officers The letter of Col. JAoUEs
avowed his conviction that, from facts which
had come to his knoSledge, the members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, were
heartily tired of the rebellion /; that they con
sidcred slayery--its cause-virtually abolish
/ ed that they a-dently desired peace and the
| privilege of returning TO their allegiance to
! Church and State. He believed, if permits
sion were given him to go within the lines of
,l,. 4 y, ed that La IN atu
DAYS, return with proposals of peace that
/ would ne acceptable to the GoyeTnmel. , OBJ
tanned through the influence OF the large
body 81 his Church at the South. He pro-
/ posed to 9o openly ii. lis uniform, as ''the
messenger OF God" Mr.. GILMORE consider
ed the enterprise as rash one, and that Col.
| JAQUFs would only throw away his lite in its
prose tuition. He so reported to Gen. ROSE
GRAMS who, however, did not agree with him,
saving 81 know if he talks peace to the
people, the leaders viii hang him; but he'll
not do that he'll go TO the leaders themselves.
| The terms he will offer may not be accepted,
! but il will strengthen our moral position to
| offer them" He, therefore, telegraphed to
Washington for a four months furlough for
! Col. JAQUEs, and asked for an interview
for him vita the President Both requests
were refused, bur a fuller explanation Of Col.
JAQUEs's purpose was asked for by mail
Col JAQUEs thereupon urged Mr. GILMORE
to go to Washington on his way home, re-
quest that was seconded by Gen. RosEcBANs.
And in due season Mr.. GILMORE presented
himself to the President armed with a letter
from Gen. ROsECRANs, in which he said that
he believed the public interest would be pro-
noted by granting Col JAQUEs' request be-
cause of its moral influence, though he did
| not anticipate the results that the Col ex-
pected from his mission. The President at
| first declined to entertain the subject - be-
cause he said g l happen to be President of
the Urited State. We can make no over
lures to the rebels. If they want peace all
they have 80 dois to lay down their arms -
| Finally, however, he stated g III clear di-
rect way, the terms he would give the rebels,
portion of which have since been included
in the Amnesty Proclamation" And ne adj
| ded
| 20 You can write what say General Rosecrans,
/ and he comm uliCats much or it a. he thinks
best to Colonel jacques; bl.t the Colonel must OF
| understand that he las these terms from me. We
! want peace but make no oyertures to the
| Rebels. They already know that the country
| would welcome them back and treat them gencr-
| ously and magnanm Justly
Gen. RosECRANS was Immediately written
to- and within ten days Col. J. was on his
way to the South. At Fortress Monroe he
| was allowed to smuggle himself on board a
hag-ot-truce boat whence he entered the
rebel lines, still in his uniform "Go where
you please and stay as long as you like" said
the rebel officer, who first met him. The
narration continues:
| Amy see tie great risk he ran. lie had
no credentials; nothing TO show who he was or
| why he came; and there were ten chances to one
he would be taken as spy. But what was that
| to him : He was about his Masters work, and his
trust IN the Master, which 90 whoever may
| read" in his face, carried him safely through.
| He went to Petersburg, and there they came to
| him. As Nicodemus came TO the great Peace Maker
| so the Rebel leaders came to him, by night Dis
Suised, and under false names, they sought him to
| ask the way to peace.
% Lay down your arms; 20 back to your allie
glance, and the country will deal kindly and gen
erously by yeu," he said to them.
| From all he had the same answer:
| ''We are tired OF the war. We are willing to Civ G
up slavery We know it is gone, but so long our
| Government holds out we must stand by it. We
cannot betray it and each other
Col JAQUEs remained at Petersburg several
| weeks, and then returned to Baltimore. He
wrote TO the President relating the result OF
his mission, but received no reply. Months
later, Mr.. Gilmore learned that the letter was
never received. But Col JAoUEs was now
anxious for another visit to the rebels, pro-
posing, this time, to see the arch-rebel him
self Leave of absence was again granted
him by Mr.. LINcoLN'S orders In few weeks
he joined Mr. GILMORE at Baltimore, but on
going to Washington it was found that Gun
| expected obstacles were in the way of his
| further progress What these were is not
stated, but they could be removed by Mr.
| GnMoRE's accompanying him Accordingly
! the two gentlemen started, and were passed
! through the lines by Gen. GRANT. 81 went
! TO Richmond continues Mr.. GILMORE {" be-
cause thought could render material aid
/ to Col JAoUEs, in paving the way to negotia-
/ tons that might result in peace" How they
! Jared in that mission, what Mr.. DAVIS said to
| them, and what they said to Mr.. DAVIS vill be
/ found below:
HOW THEY WENT To RICHMOND.