The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-26

p "a 8 &c aTF u Z = : Y aA Ak 81 10
Nr. edmund Kirke" Gilmore delivered q.
lecture at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, last week,
in the course of which he gave an account of
his recent visit to Richmond, which was as fol-
Ows:
went to Richmond with the Rev. Colonel
Jaquess, and went with the hope of making
negotiations which might result in peace. II
we shouldSucceed, we thought the conscious
ness OF having served our country would pay
our expenses.
Ii we Jailed, we might serve our country by
letting the people of the North know what was
the reason OIL cur failure: for I went with
propositions, on the basis of which I might
have made an arrangement for peace with Mr..
Davis, and ii we were unsuccessful. it wonId
be useful for the cOuntay to know what rrOr
ositions were rejected. We went to Richmond
in an ambulance, and were three hours on the
way after we entered the rebel lines. We en-
tered Richmond at ten o'clock and PLANTED
Our white tiaS in the very heart of the rebeI
capital.
AS we stopped, Judge Guild the rebel Com
missioner OF Exchange, directed JACQUES to
Dulton up his oyercoat as it was danpero1,s 10
~ seen with blue uniform in the Street, Of
isici.iiioiiu. we were taken to hotel ana
snomn up 20 No. Co. shabby room with
some inc furniture in very bad order, We
were PROVIDED with supper. and directed how
TO apply ior an interview with the President
The next morning we directed = not tn Score.
tary Benjamin, asking an interview witt, the
fIesaent, anu were invited to call upon him
Wnen nc we inaue an engagement to meet the
President that evening, which was Sundav
On meeting our engagement VIC wera sicy-
into the State Department, where we eayy- nv
Benjamin. small, plump, blacli-haired MAJ
seated in his usual place, and o. his r;crbt q
prize, thin man. dressed in q suit Of darl,isl
grey, with mouth and chin expressive oftne
greatest determination. We told him simniy-
knowing the opinions Of our government II,
see on what terms peace might he made.
Mr. Davis replied. quietly, withdraw y0ur
armies from our territories, and peace will fol-
low of itself. Ne told him that the Northern
people would never agree to any plan which,
did not include the establishment of the Union
Mr. Davis said that we never CouIdiIiye in
peace. The North had sowed such a bitterness
between the two sections that we never could
have peace tn this generation.
We then urged upon him that il was his
duty to use every effort TO put an END to thi,
monstrous bloodshed. lie acknowledged this,
and declared that none Of the blood shed In
this war could be laid to his own Charge. They
(the South) were not fighting for slavery; they
were lighting for Independence; and indepen-
dence or determination they would have We
then tried to show that the position of the rebel
armies was such that it was better for them to
give up the contest while they could do it
with honor; but lie was unwilling to admit
that his armies were in such q desperate posi-
ton. He laid the blame Of the harha1ity of
this war entirely upon the North, utterly ie-
norin@ the Instances OF rebel barbarity which
we brought to his notice.
then had considerable conversation with
Mr. Davis, in which l indirectly Offered. hin.
the terms which | had been authorized to SUE
n no Il fe,t<, =.
to meet me. did not state them explicitly.
These terms will be given through the newspa-
pers in short time. They were, in general,
entire additions general amnesty,no confisca-
ton, the Southern debt to be ignored, the debts
OF the General GOvernmenent to be borne by
all the States. MIR. Davis declared such terms
could never be accepted by the Southern peo-
pie, and that rather than submit to them they
would stake there whole property and their
national existence.