Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-01

them that he had heard from me that they ~ mes
sengers of pssoe from Mr. Lincoln that such they
welcome that the Conoderacy had mover concealed
its desire for peace and that he ready TO hear what
ever they had to offer on that subject
Mr. Gilmore then addressed the President and in few
minutes had conveyed the information that these two gen
temen had come to Richmond impressed with tho ides
that this Government would accept peace basis o.
reconstruction Of the Union the abolition of slavery
and the grant Of amnesty TO the people OF the States al
rerontaLt criminals In order to accomplish the abooI
of slavery was proposed that there should be genera
vote Of all the people Of both declarations in mass and the
majority Of the vote thus taken to determine that 81
we'll az all other disputed questions These were stated
to be Mr.. Lincon's views. 4
The President answered that as these proposals had
been preaced by the remark that the people OF Inc Noh
were msority, and that majority ought TO govern the
Offer was 10 eject proposal that the Confederate States
should surrender ut discretion admit that tney nHd oeen
wrong from the beginning of the contest submit 70 Inc
mercy of their enemes and avOw themselves 70 DO Ia
of pardon their that DETERMINATION was pre-
ferable to dshonor. He stated that II they were the
selves wth the form OF their own Govern
ment as to make su PROPOSITIONS, Mr. Lincoln ought y
have known when giving them his views, That II was OUT
of the power Of the Confederate Government to act on the
subject of the domestic institutions Of the ssvera States
each State having exclusive Jurisdiction that point st
lees to commit the decision of such question TO the vote
Of foreign people that tho separation Of the States was
accomplished fact; that he had authority to receive
proposals negotiations except by virtue OF his ONCE az
President of independent Coafederacy and on THIS
basis alone must proposals be made TO him.
at one period OF the conversation Mr. Gilmore made use
of some language referring to these States as rebels
while rendering account Of Mr. Lincon's views, and
apoogized for the word The President desired him to
proceed that no tonce taken, and that he wished
Mr. Lncolns language to be repeated 10 him as exao
as possible.
Some further conversation took place. substantially to
the same effect as the foregoing when the President
to indicate that the interview at an end. Inc two
gentlemen then re-commtted to the charge OF Col
Oud, and left Richmond the next day
This account of the visit of Messrs. Gilmore and
JACQUES to Richmond has been rendered necessary by
publications made by both of them since their re
turn to the United States, Notwithstanding the agree
ment that their visit to be kept secret They have
perhaps concluded that the promise OF secrecy was
made at their request it permissible to disregard it
We have no reason for desiring to conceal what oc
Cured and have therefore compaint to make OF the
publicity given to the fact Of their visit The extreme
naccuracy of Mr. Gimores narrative will be apparent to
you from the foregoing statement.
You have doubt in the Northern papers an
account of another conference the subject Of
which took place Canada at about the same date be-
tween Messrs C. c. Clay and j. +. Holcombe, Confede
rate citizens of the highest character and POSITION and Mr.
Horace Greeley, Of New York. acting with authority Of
President Lincoln 1t deemed not Improper to inform
you that Messrs Clay and Holcumbe although enjoying IN
an eminent degree the confidence and seem Of the Pes
dent strictly in their statement that they
without any authority from this Government to treat
with that of the United States on any subject whatever
We had knowledge of their conference with Mr. Greeley
their proposed visit to Washington, till saw the
newspaper publications. significant confirmation OF the
truth Of the statement of Messrs Gilmore and Jacqu
that they came rs messengers from Mr. Lincoln is to be
found in the TACT that the views of Mr. Lincoln stated
by them to the President are in exact conformity with
the offensive paper addressed to whom it may concern
which sent by Mr. Lincoln to Messrs. Clay and Ho
combe by the haLds Of his private secretary Mr. Hay aud
which properly regarded by those gentlemen an in
tmation that Mr.. Lincoln unwilling that this war
should while in his power TO contoue hostites
J ? BENJAMIN, Secretary of State
Hon JAMES NJ MASON,
Commissioner to the Continent, &C. SO Paris.