The Portland daily press., 1864-08-20
The Late Mission Extraordinary to Rich
mond.

Elsewhere in this paper we have copied from
the for, Incoming number ofthe Atlantic Month
ly, copians extracts from the report made by
Mr.. Gilmore-perhaps better known by his
nom de plume, Edmund Kirke''-ofthe extra
ordinary mission Of himself and Col. Jacques TO
the rebel capital. We ask for it not a careless
but a careful reading, that the reader may tie
better know how to appreciate the rumors Of
peace and the recommendations for an armis-
tice. put forth 10 copperhead journals with
view TO mislead the people and aid the cause
Of those who hate the administration worse
than they do the rebellion aud love their whole,
undivided country less tnan they love their
party.
The conversations OF Colonel Jacques and
M. Gilmore with jefferson Davis we've frank,
full and friendly; nothing appears to have
been concealed or affected on either side; Da-
Wis declared bis own determination with great
confidence and boldness, and be was told In
return, with equal confidence and boidness, of
the determination of the North.
The Evening Post very perinently remarks
that 1.-TWO things are chiefly remarkable in
these conversations Of Davis with our SELL
appointed ENJOYS. The first is the tenacIty
and vehemence with which he clings to the
dctum tina. the South Is lighting for no other
end than selfgovernment. He confessedly
and almost Indignantly throws slavery to the
winds, alleging that he cares nothing about it,
and that he would willingly release the remain
Ing two millions OF slaves TO the North, IL the
North would provide for their support. If he
was siocere In this, the North, we think. would
willingly care for the negroes in order TO get
them enanclpated; but almost in the same
breath he observed that each state of the Con-
feierscy had a controlling voice In the dspos
al OF that question, and il would be useless to
agiiate it. His seeming indifference 10 the
fate Of the slave was then but shit TO give
poiat TO his cry for selfgovernmeut; cry
which has nothing to go upon unless our whole
ppllticsl lie hitherto has been cheat aud a
failure. The South has always enjoyed self
government under the constitution: had 1t at
the moment of separation; and would still have
!. ifit would consent 10 accept the Constitu-
ton. Daring the eighty years Of our national
existence, with the exception OF eight, 1t has
directed the management Of the national gov
eminent; 1t has always held a majority of all
the national otice.; aud 1t has always been
sustained by the dominant party of the North.
A more himsy or inipuient pretext could not
be invented than that which asserts that the
South was ever deprived Of the right or the
power OF selfgovernment
"But the second matter of Importance Is his
open, earnest and unfinchiug dlsdain of all
profers OF peace, except on the ground of dis.
union aud Independence. This was his tone
FIRST, last and all the time. Assuming hypo-
critically, as we are bound to think, desir.
FOR the end of the war, or ito be let alonen as
be phrased II, he yet repelled, with warmth
amounting to anger, every thought OF recon-
ciiation aud harmonoy between the North
and South. We are two countries, he said.
we are distinct people, the South bitterly
hates the North, 1t can never consent to live
under the same rule, and we shall prosecute
The war until our separate existence is Official
fyrecognised or every man of us rots under
thu sod. When Colonel Jaques limited at terms,
which he was not authorized to offer, but which
he had r,ason to suppose Mr.. Lincoln would
approve aud the people sanction--aamely,
general vote Of the people Of both sections on
the question OF peace with disunion, as the
southern proposition, or peace with general
spnesty. no conaseauon and emancipation,