Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-30

mond, accompanied by Rev. Col. James F
Jaques, of the 73d Illinois, and had a famil'
iar interview with Jefferson Davis and sew
eral of his lieutenants. They went with
the full knowledge of the President, intent
on devising or discovering some ground oI
accommodation and adjustment between
the belligerents now devastating the Re-
public, and appear to have been treated
with signal courtesy, and even generous
hospitality, but had no success. Mr.. Gil.
more gives the net product of the unofficial
mission in this piquant passage:
Jefferson Davis said to me last Sunday,
(and, with ell his faults, believe him a
man of truth); This i0ar must go on till the
last Of this generation falls in his tracks.
and his children seize his nlusket and fight our
battle, unLe.S you acknowledge our right to self
government. We are not fighting for Slavery.
| We are fighting for IndependeHes, and that,
or determination, zoe IVilE have"
Mr.. Davis, / believe, has not yet Ac-
knowledged the right of his black country
men to "seif government or "indepen-
dence" either. Nor does he acknowledge
the right Of North Carolina to seoede from
his confederacy, and thus disconnect her.
self from Q rebellion into which she was
precipitated by the grossest frauds. The
Unionists of the South were conceded no
Uub Ou VI
ton by Davis and his upholders. Yet he,
doubtless, is fighting for ''iudependence"-
for freedom to impose chains on half the
people of the Slave States and to reign as
autocrat over the residue. "Independenoe"
is to him power, state, luxury, Importance:
but to the undistinguished many, even of
Whites, under his swsy,it is quite other
than these. We may safely assume that he
will make no peace that restores the Union,
so long as there is a possible allsrnative.-
Yet the Gilmore-Jaques mission is no fall
ure, though il resulted but in demonstrRt-
ing this.
In the other effort for peace, was q
participant, as follows:
Some time since it was announced by
telegraph from Halifax, that Messrs. O. o.
Clay, of Alabama, Jacob Thompson, Of
Mississippi, lex. U. s. Senators), Prof. J.
P. Holcombe, of the University Of Virginia,
and Geo. N. Sanders, of Kentucky, had
reached that city from Dixie, via Bermu-
da, on important business; and all of these
but Mr.. Thompson (who is in Toronto)
were soon quartered at the Clifton, on the
Canada side of Niagara Falls. heard
soon after of confidential interviews be-
tween some or all of these gentlemen and |
leading democrats from our own and |
graphic whispers of overtures for "recon- |
struction" and conditions were set forth |
as those on which the Oonfederates would |
consent to reunion. Il cannot say that
any of these reports we're authentic.) At
length, after several less direct intima- |
tions, received private letter from Mr.. /
Sanders, stating that Messrs. Clay, Hol-
combe, himself, aud another, desired to |
visit Washington, "upon complete and uu-
qualified protection being given by the |
President or the Secretary of War"
AS saw no reason why the Opposition |
should be the sole recipients of these gen.
tlemen's overtures, ifsuoh there were, land |
il is stated that Mr.. Clay aforesaid is pre- |
pairing or to prepare an important letter
to the Chicago Convention,) wrote the |
gentlemen aforesaid to Washington, there |
TO open their budget. 1 stated expressly |
that knew not what they would propose |
ifso invited, but could imagine no offer |
that might be made by them which would |
not conduce, in one way or another, to a
restoration of the integrity and just au-
thority of the Union.
The President ultimately acquiesced in
this view 80 far as to consent that the rebel
agents should visit Washington. but direo.
ted that l should proceed 10 Niagara and
accompany them thence to the capital
This service most reluctantly undertook,
feeling deeply and observing that almost
any one else might better have been cent
on this errand. But time seemed precious
and Immediately started.
Arrived on this side Of the Falls wrete
across to Messrs. CLAY 4 Co., stating that
on the understanding that they had the
needful powers from the authorities at
Richmond, WAS authorised and ready to
give them safe conduct to Washingt0n.-
They responded that, though in the conf
dental employment of their government,
and fully couversant with its views and
purposes, they had not the specific powers
/ required, but would get them, II permit
ted, and desired-in order to save time
to proceed at once to Washington, and be
permitted thence to communicate With
Richmond for the purpose. Not feeling at
liberty 10 concede this, telegraphed 70
Washington for further Instructions, and
was duly informed that Msjor hay, the
Presidents private secretary, would soon
be on his way to me. He reached the Falls
on the Goth, and we soon crossed over to
the Clifton, where Major Hay, after mutual
introductions, handed Prof. Holcombe the
following paper in the handwriting of the
President:
ExRcUTIvE MANSION,
wAsHISeFoE, July 18th, 1854.
To svkom it may concern:
Auy proposition which embraces the
restoration of peace, the integrity of the
whole Union, and the abandonment OF sla-
very, and which comes by and with an au-
thority that can coutrol the armies now at
war against the United States, will be re-
ceivsd and considered BY the Executive