The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-31
NEWS FROM the SOUTH.
THB KIRKE-JAQURS VISIT TO RTnnOsD.
REBEL ACCOUNT OF TIE AFFAIR
STATEMENT Of SECRETARY BENJAMIN,
As., ~, -.
From the Richmond Examiner, August %. i

AZ usual Mr Benjamin, Secretary o: State has placed
the country 10 . mean, base aud humiliating position
Having. nothing earth to do In the way of tho eg
mate business Of his ONCE, bs spends his activity In
would be or little consequence II they affected him alone
Unfortunately, however, owing to the public Office which
he nominaiy) holds, his stupid bunders touch us all
,sbor closely We ud now The Secretary Of State Of
Inc ,ss.-.., -, eo~aUed In newspaper alterca-
lion with the spies who lately snssrea u.s n....-cond
letter Of introduction our Secretary OF STATE from
Mr.. -. The spy does not tell the name OF tho
Yankee who introduced him. but we should greatly dc
sire to know bat Yankee commission spy into
ues and assure TO him handsome treatment and
TO the President aud public Offices, by Of letter
10 Mr. Benjamin. The statement Of this fact causes US
unpleasant sensation.
Satan lnds mischief still FOR Idle hands 10 do and
our Secretary Of state having no Stale affairs TO attend
to. natu ally, By way OF roaxaton falls easily into com
muuicaton with sort of scoundes who have time TO
talk him. especially such introduced by letter
from his nanieess Yankee friend, Mr.. No wonder
he hnds shortly afterwards. that the prowlng Yankees
have made up bundle OF asehoods to suit the taste
their fellow countr at home aud thus have The
edyUg spscscle OF the Confederate Secretary of state
entering into controversy with those spies in the public
journals about The facts which they report IL II too
late; he received them gracously on the introduction OF
his friend, Mr.. procured them IN interview with
the President aud now they are making capital OF thoir
adventure tho way OF magazine articles and lectures
at twenty FIVE cents per head he cannot nov nvaats
the accuracy OF the Information which these spies have
carried North by alleging "the extreme inacc1racy OF
Mr.. Gilmore's narrative" I"
Perhaps the most absurd thing in all this business is
the manner In which ar. Benjamin has addressed his
long eutation OF the spes--"fo Hon James N. Mason
Commissioner to the Continent, &C. &c ct cetera Mr..
Mason ssioner To any CONTINENT Mr.. Mason
has read, and will read. in all probability
either the narrative OF the spies Sr BeDjamns reu
tation thereof. Why does MT Mr.. Benjamin send
communication TO newspapers once, and seattle
and scold those spies 10 the best Of his abi
tyr II anything advocate provocatisn Of sce-g
Cabinet minister of the Confederate States engaged n
such alteration at all. to see him put on such
rreposerous diplomatic airs, turning paragraph into
THE so-cALLED "PsAcE Mrss:oS'' TO RICHMOND
THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE AFFAIR.
pspARrxEsr OF srAm,)
RicnMesp August 2S, 1854.
me pancs'ons @ o wica nave nave ,ha & ap'
ect OF informal overures for peacS between the two
fedcaons OF states DOW Mt war 90 this continent render
IL desirable that you should be fully advised Of the views
and policy 0f this government matter OF such para
mount importance 1t likewise proper that should
be accurately Informed OF what has occurred on the
several occasions mentioned 10 the published statements
lou have heretofore been furnished with copies Of the
States with approval OF the President the 14th OF
June last and bavo doubtless acted conformity with
the resolution which requested that copies OF this
"The principal sentiments and purposes by which
these States have been aud are still actuated !"
authority due 90 the solemn declaration OF the Legisa
tive aud Executive Departments Of this government, and
explanation In few sentences IL IL poited out that all
asS is immunity from interference with our internal
peace and prosperity 'and u be left in the undsurbed
those ualenable rights Of hfe liberty aud
the pursuit OF happiness which our common ancestors
| u
cal compact. let them lorbonr asgressons upon US
and the war s Mt an end II there be questions which
require adjustment By negotiation We haye ever been
willing and still willing to enter into communication
with our adversares 10 spirit OF equity and manly
frankncss TLe manifesto closed with the declaration
that eve commit our cause to the enlightened Judgment
of the world TO the sober reflections Of advesaes
themselves and 20 the solemn and righteous arbitration
wIthin very few weeks after the publication OF this
manifesto, seemed t. have met with resp nse from,
letter was received by Genera Lee from Lieutenant
Geasral Grant, in the following words
HFAOauAnrFHs ssviTs % rTg uyTsD nIy ,ss
General n r. nvv oommaains cOn'ederate forces near
asSfn,l9I ycs resns., tna. co'ons James Jsqa.s.
m re- Esq., be allowed 70 meet Colonel Robert oud Com
:s e s an, o. a. Ha a. such pns be
The obect Of the meeting legitimate with the duties Of
IL for to grant the reauest here asked
would bes that this pc rserredto President Davis, for
Reanes,Ing early answer 10 this Communication
yon may hnd 4 conveniepi 70 nass subscribe myself
u s. GRANT Lieutenant General U. 9. A.
On the OF this letter to the President he
tborzed Colonel 0ald 10 mee be persons named u Gene
raj Grants letter and Colonel onld, alter seeing them,
returned TO Richmond md reported 10 the President in
the presence OF the Secretary Of war and myself that
Messrs Jalues and Gilmore had NOT sail anything to him
about duties Commissioner for exchange prison
ers hut ihsi ihev asked permission TO Rchnond
see the President that they with the knowledge
and approval Of President iAacoo and under his pass
paving the way Tor meeting Of formal commissioners
authorized 10 negos,e FOR peace and desired to commu
ncate President Davis the OF Mr. Dincon and
obtain the Presidents views in return so to arrange
meeting os commissioners. Colonel oud stated that
he told them repeatedly that II useless TO
TO Richmond 10 TAX of pescr any terms than the re-
coQnsed independence ~ the cSpederacy TO which
said they OF that and TIA. they
theess confident that their interview would result In
peace The President, this report OF Colonel 0ud de.
termned to permit them to come to Richmond under his
charge.
on the evening OF The 18th u July Colonel Und
Quoted these gentlemen TO hotel IN Richmond, where =
dad rnrf fhan In hor IA
main under surveillance during their stay here and the
next morning received the following letter
srorrswoop Horrr RfcHpovp. Va Jnly II. 1854
Hon J. p BssJls Secretary OF State oonfsisrsie siaes
prsR sin-The under.isnsd Jsme.r Jaage. Of Hines.
mont s1s :. az PIRATE ss.n ana SsV. no o 81
snssoE H. are ay IL he yeTf &
difference. now existing te.wsen Worth and sona, sni
Pes dent Dav, and henseve woud open ne way suca
en- 9se w a. osr Tia s a p =
They therefore ass m iniesysw win ihs President
o''dl'n' servants Sss Sss Z. GILMORE.
The word ao.dciar is uudersoofsd, and the word
peace doubly underscored in the original.
After perusirg the lser invited Colonel ould 20 con.
inct writers my Office aud on their arrival stated
IL them that they must be conscious they conid not bs
admitted TO interview with the President without IN.
forming me more fully OF The oh ect OF their mission and
SATISFY me that they came by request OF Mr. Liucon.
Mr Gilmore replied that they came unohcay, nut with
The knowledge and at the desire OF Mr Lincoln ,ha.
thew tho gnt the war gone Gar enough lh4t il could
never end except by sort of agreement that the
agreement might vel he made now "a after stu trr.
her bD0dhd that They knew by the recent address OF
The Confederate Congress that We were Wiling 10 mako
peace that they admitted that proposals ought TO come
from the North, and that they we're prepared TO make
these proposals by Mr iincolns authority; that u was
necessary have sort OF informal understanding IN al
vance u regular negotiations, or commissioner were
appointed without such understanding, they would
meet quarrel and separate leaving the parties more
bitter against each other than before that they Snew
Mr. lincons views and would them, II pressed by
tho President to 10 SO, and desired to learn bis IN
return. -. =.
Mr. lincoln aud 10 order 10 satisfy me Nr. Gilmore re-
ferred 10 the fact that permission for their coming
through our lines had been asked officially ny General
Grant In letter General Leo AID that General Grant
in that letter asked thst this request should be
lerred to President Davis Mr, Gilmore then showed
me card written and signed by Mr. Lincoln requesting
eneral Grant TO aid Mr. Gilmore and freud IN passing
through his lines into the confsderacy Colonel Jaques