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

his recent visit to Richmond, which was a. fol-
ows ;so< .s'nA sNa'pesx ssssh'a sRA&e
went to Richmond With the Rev. Colonel
Jaquess and went with the hope of making
negotiations which might result in peace. II
we should eucceed, We thought the CONSCIOUS
ness OF having served our country would pay
our expenses. sise g. n
Il we failed, we might serve our countfPIbv
ietung the people Of the North know what was
the reason OF cur failure; for went With
proposin2ns. On the basis of which / might
nave mace an arrangement for peace with Mr.
Davis, and if we were unsuccessful. Is lwSnId
be usefui Tor the countay to know what prop
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 flag IN the very heart of the. rebel
Aswe stopped, Judge Ould, the rebel Com
missioner OF Exchange, directed JACQUES to
putton up his overcoat, as it was dangerous r.,
1 De seen with blue uniform in the streefs of
hlchmond. We were taken to hotel and
snomn up 70 No. co." a shabby room with
were provided with supper. and d;rected how
to apply Tor an interview with the President
The next morning we directed a not ~ Score
tary benjamin, asking an lnternicy With the
President, and were invited to cali unon him
Mnen ne we made an engagement to meet the
President that evening, which was Sunday.
On meeting our engagement we were shown
into the State Department where we saw M
Benjamin. small plump, black-hair ed man
seated in his usual place, and at his ripht
prize, thin man, dressed in suit of darkish
grey, with mouth and chin expressive of the
greatest determination. We told him simnlv
that we came without official authority, but
knowing the opinions of om government TO
see on what terms peace might be made. n
Mr.. Davis replied, quietly, withdraw your
armies from our territories and peace viii 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 9couIdiiiye in
peace. Inc North had sowed sucha bitterness
between the two sections that we never could
have peace TN this generation..a.d buocs9
we then urged upon him that it was his
duty to use every effort to put an end Il, this
INDUSTRIOUS blOodshed.- z He Acknowledged this.
and declared that none of the blood shed ii,
this war could be laid to his own charge They
Cthe 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 he was unwilling to admit
that his armies were in such q desperate posi-
ton. He laid the blame Of the barbarity of
this war entirely upon the North, utterly ig-
noring the instances of rebel barbarity which
we brought to his notice.
then had o considerable conversation with
Mr.. Davis, in which l indirectly offered him
the terms which had been authorized to sug-
gest: but as he did not show any disposition
to meet me. did not state them explicitly.
These terms will be given through the iewspa-l
pers in short time. They were, in general,
entire abolition, a general amnesty, no confisca-
tion, the Southern debt to be ignored, the debts
of the General Governmenent to be borne by
all the States. Mr.. Davis declared such terms
could never be accepted by the Southern peo-
pie, and that rather than submit to them thew
would stake there whole property and their
national existence. .95 - =, INA .rsag ~