Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-08-25

Il
able to decide on peace or war, can elect
which Of the two propositions shall gov
ern 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
by this generation
"The plan Is altogether impracticable,
If the South Were only one state II
might work but as is, If one south
ern state objected to emancipation II
would nullify the whole thing; for you
are aware that the people of Virginia
cannot vote slavery out of South Carroll.
Ma, nor the people of South Carolina
vote ii out of Virginia"
"But three-fourths of the states can
amend the constitution. Let it be done
+, in that way-in any way, so that 1t be
done by the people. am not a states
man or a politician, and do not know
just how such plan could be carried
out; but you get theidea-that the peo-
Pile shall decide the question"
"That the majority shall decide it you
mean. We seeded to rid ourselves OF
the rule of the majority, and this would
subject us to it again"
But the majority must finally rule,
either with bullets or ballots"
" l am not so sure of that. Neither
current events nor history shows that
the majority rules, or ever did rule
The contrary, think, is true. Why
sir, the man who should go before the
southern people with such a proposition
with any proposition which implied
that the north was TO have a voice in
determining the domestic relations OF
the south, could not live here a day.
He would be hanged to the first tree,
without judge or jury"
"Allow me to doubt that. | think it
more likely he would be hanged if he
let the southern people know the major
ity couldn't rule" l replied, smiling
az have no fear of that" rejoined
Mr.. Davis also smiling most good hu-
moredly. 81 give you leave to proclaim
it from every house top in the South"
But, seriously, sir, you let the ma
jority rule in single state; why not
let it rule in the whole country 2"
Because the states are independent
and sovereign. The country is not
1t is only confederation of states !;
or rather it was; it is now two confed-
erations"
"Then we are not people-we are
only political partnership
"That is all"
"Your very name, sir, United States,
implies that" said Mr.. Benjamin. "But
tell me, are the terms you have named
emancipation, no confiscation, and uni
versal amnesty-the terms which Mr..
Lincoln authorized you to offer us7"
"No, sir; Mr.. Lincoln did not author
ize me to offer you any terms. But |
think both he and the northern people,
for the sake of peace, would assent to
some such conditions"
"They are very generous" replied Mr..
Davis, for the first time during the in
terview showing some angry feeling
But, amnesty, sir, applies to criminals.
We have committed no crime. Confis-
cation is of no account, unless you can
enforce it. And emancipation You
have already emancipated nearly two
millions of our slaves-and if you will
take care of them you can emancipate
the rest. | had few when the war be-
gam l was of some use to them; they
never were of any to me. Against their
will you 'emancipated' them, and you
may 'emancipate' every negro in the
Confederacy, but we will be free! We
will govern ourselves. We will do it if
we have to see every southern planta-
ton sacked, and every southern city in
flames"
II see, Mr.. Davis, it is useless to con-
tinue this conversation" replied, "snd |
you will pardon US, if we have seemed |
to press our views with too much perth |
nacity. We love the old flag, and that |
must be our apology for intruding upon
you at ALL"
You have not intruded upon me, he
replied, resuming his usual Manner
' am glad to have met you both. l
once loved the old flag as well as you
do; | would have died for it; but now
t is to me only the emblem of oppres-
SION"
81 hope the day may never come, Mr..
Davis, when I say that" replied the
Colonel
CLOSE OF THE INTERVIEW.
A half hours conversation on other |
,opics-not of public interest-ensued,
md then we rose to go. As we did so, |
he rebel President gave me his hand, |
md bidding me kindly goodbye ex-
PRESSED the hope of seeing me again in
in happier times-when peace
hould have returned: but with the
'olonel his parting was particularly cor
ial. Taking his hand in both of his he
aid to him
Colonel, I respect your character and
our motives and / wish you well-I
Tish you every good | can wish you
with the interests of the
onfederacy'
The quiet, straightforward bearing
nd magnificent moral courage Of our
fighting parson" had evidently inn
ressed Mr.. Davis quite favorably.
AS we were leaving the room he
dded
Say to Mr. Lincoln from me that I
hall at any time be pleased to receive
for peace on the basis of our
1t will be useless to.ap-
roach me with any other"
When we went out Mr.. Benjamin
allied Judge Ould, who had been wait
lg during the whole interview--two
the other end of the hail, and