Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-09-02

to emancipation, II would nulfy the whole
thing; for you are aware the pcople Of Fir.
ginia cannot vote slavery out of South Caro-
lima, nor the people of South Carolina vote
II out Of Virginia" @, a. ,-...--.sn
but three fourths of the States can amend
the Constitution. Let il be done in that way,
in any way, so that it be done by the people.
| am not statesman or n politician, and I
do not know just hos such a plan could bs
carried out; hut you get the ilea. a.--that the
PEOPLE shall decide the question:
That the majority shall decide it, you
mean. We seced'd to rid ourselves Of ,h~
rule OF tho majority, and this would subject
us to 1t again." ' g.. a. . ~ : +
" Blu, the majority must rule finally. either
with bullets or ballots" SO.
am not so sure of thpt. Neither cur
rent events nor history shows that the ma.
jority rules, or ever did rule. The contrary.
I think, is true. Why. Sir, the inan VII"
should go before the Southern people with
such proposition, with any proposition,
which implied that :he North was to have ~
voice in determining tho domestic relations
Of the South, could no, 1.-Two here q day. Iis
would DO hanged to the first tree, without
judge OF jury" -.-g
Allow me to doubt that. think il more
likely he would be hanged. IL he let ihs
Southern people know tho insiority couldn't
rule" replied, snsilings ! =
have no fear ef that rejoinci Mr..
Davis, also smiling most good hua,oreily.--
give you leave to proclaim II from every
house top in the Sonh.'s22, n''.
But, seriously, Sir, you let the msjority
rule in single State Why not let il rulc in
the whole country '... IL ~.
Because the States are independent and
sovereign. The country is not. II in only
a confederation Of States or rather ii seIs :.
! it Is now tee considerations.
| Then 40 are not peopls, s,-wc are only
political Partnership"
! THAT is all."v"A@' .r '' -
Your very name, Sir, United Statcs.,
implies that;n, said Mr. Benjamin. "Bu,.
j tell me, arc tEcN terms you have named
Emancipation, No Conf>cation. and Univcr-
sal Amnesty-!he terms which Mr. Lincoln
authorized you to offer usf' p
NO, Sir Mr. Lincoln did not author.sS
me to offer you any terms. But Miakbot
be and the Northern people, Tor the sake OF
peace, would assent To some such condl.
/ tions.", ; ".....' .. %,
/ They are rrry generous" replied Mr..
Davis, for the first time during tho intet.
view showing some angry feeling: But
Amnesty, Sir, applies to criminals. Wehavs
committed no crime. Contiscation is Of no
account, unless YOU can enforce it. And
Emancipation : Yaii have already cnanci.
patcd nearly two millions of odr slaves
and if you will take care Of them, you may
emancipato the rest. Il had few when thu
war began. WAS Of somc uSe 10 them
! they never were Of any to me. Against their
will you 'cmancipatcd them and you may
'emancipato' every negro in the Confederacy
but zee ,cW BE- free! We will govern our.
selves. Wo will do it, if we have to sev
every Southern plantation sacked, aud every
Southern city in flames" ..'.
al see, Mr.. Davis, ii is U.s. less TO contin,
nc this conversation replied; and ypn
! will pardon us, if we have seemed to press
our views with too much pertinaci,y. Wa
love the old flag, and that must be our spol-
ogy for intruding upon you at a,f."
," You have not intruded upon me-, ho
replied, resuming his usna mariner IL am
glad to have met you, both. l once loved
the old llag as well as you do !: would have
died tor Il; but now it is to mo only thu eIn
blcni.of oppression. 80 ..r
F." hope the day May never come. Mr.
Davis, when ] say that" said the Colonel.
! y hal: hours conversation on other topics
not Of public interest .--ensued, and then
We rose to 60 As we did so, the Rebel
President gave ne his hand, and, bidding
inc kindly good-by, expressed the hopo Of
seeing mo again in Richmond in happier
times. when peace should have returned
but with the Colonel his parting was partic
ularly coFdiak Taking his hand in both Of
his, he said to him - ,
Colonel, | respect your character and
your motives, and wish you well,-l wisi,
you every good can wish you consistently
with the interests Of the Cuntederacy." :
The quiet, straightforward bearing and
magnificent moral courage of our "iightnr
parsoa" had evidently impressed Mr.. Davis
very favorably.
Az wo were leaving the room, he added, -
Say to Mr.. Lincoln from me, that shall
at any time be pleased to receive proposal.
for peace on the oasis Of our Independence.
1t will be useless to approach mo with any
othcr."
When wo went out, Mr. Bcnj min callcj
Judge Ould, who had been waiting during
the whole interview - two houlH-at the 9th.
er end Of tho hall, and we passed down thu
stairway together. As | put my arm within
TINT Of the Judge, he said to me,---
Well, what is the result ~
Nothing bmt war, war to the knife" ~
Ephraim is joined to his idols. let him
alone" added the Colonel, solennly. ..
ECATE OE IOWA.