The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-09-02
The Interview with JEFF. Davis.
Col. Jaques and Edmund Kirke, in
Richmond.

Col. Jaques ana edmund kirkeH In
I Richmond.
! The following is part of the article in
the Atlantic Monthly, referred to last week
as giving a history of the visit of Mr.. Kirk
and Col. Jaques TO Richmond 4
/ IN RICHMOND.
( The next morning, after breakfast. which
we took in our room with Mr.. Javins, we in
dited note-of which the following is q
copy-to the Confederate Secretary of the
State
SPorTswooD HOUSE, RICHMOND, Va, ]
July l., 1861
"HoN. J. p BENJAMIN, Secretary Of State
: etc.
Dear Sir r:-The undersigned respectfully
solicit an interview President Davis.
! They visit Richmond only as private citi-
zens, and have no official character OF author
( ity; but they are acquainted with the views oi
/ the United States Government, and with the
sentiments of the Northern people, relative
/ to an adjustment of the difference, existing
! between the North and the South, and ear
! nestly hope that free interchange OF views
between President Davis and themselves may
open the way to such oBiciat negotiations as
will result in restoring PEACE t. the two sec
ton Of our distracted country.
They therefore ask an interview with the
/ President and, awaiting your reply, are
/ "rrul y and respectfully yours"
! This was signed by both of US; and when
the Judge called, as he appointed, we sent ii
together with a commendatory letter had
received OF setting out. from near relative
Of Mr.. Davis-to the Rebel Secretary. In
halt an hour Judge Ould return ed: MIR.
Benjamin >erds YOU his compliments, and
will be happ, TO see you at The State Depart
meHt."
We found the Secretary-a short, pump,
oily little man in black, with keen black
eye, Jew face, yellow skin. curly black
hair, CLOSELY tri mined black whlsk-rs, and d
ponderous gold watch ciain-in the north
west room of the niteI States Custom
House Over the door OF this room were
the words, q" State Department" anc about
its walls were hung few maps and battle
plans. In lie CUrEer was ter OF shelves
filed with b1okS,-Imong which | noticed
Hcdclys History" Lcssin-'s - Pictorial,
Partor's " BuIler, Gfeeleys American Con-
dict" complete set OF the " Rebellion Re
cord" and dozen Numbers and several
bound ,ol1mes Of the Atlantic Monthly,
a-I in the center of the apartment was a
:, 4c> walnut table, covered win green cloth,
lrG flied wi a nCIt!t'j-c OF = ak Papers.
\. ms table 81. IN Secretary. tie lose a
= entered, ard. IS .ua5- O4.d introduced
u>, 'ooh oar hands and >l'I:
Z" | am glad, very glad, to meet yoa. gentle
l.en. Lave read your note, and '-bCwlng
To ne the letter YOU brlhg from ---.
Your errand commands n,y respect and syn
paluy Pray he seated.
As We took the proifered seats, t..e Colone.
..y.a,rg off his " Gu-ter," ard displaying his
uniform, said
We thank You for this cordial reception,
Mr. Benjamin. We trust you will be as glad
to hear US as YOU are to US.
No doubt shat! be, for ou come to talk
ct peace Peace s what we all want.
1T is. indeed; AID :or the reason W. have
come to ses Mr.. Davis. Can We see him,
Sir ,"
DO you bring any overtures 10 him from
your Government ,"
No. Sir. We bring no overtureS aad
have no authority from our Government
We state that in our note. We would br
glad, however, to know what terms will be
acceptable TO Mr.. Davis. II they at all haT-
n1ouize with Mr.. Lincoln's views, We will re-
port to them to him, aad 50 open the door
Tor official negotiations
Are you acquainted viii Mr., Linco!n's
views ,"
! "Oue Of US is, fully"
+ Did Mr.. Lincoln, IN any Wdy, authorize
you to ONE Lere
! Ne, Sil, We came with his pass, bat
not 10y his request. We say distinciy, We
have no otcia!, or unofficial authority. We
come as G.en and Christians, not d, diploma
lists, hoping, in frank talk with Mr. Davis
to discover some way by which TINS War MA!
be stopped.
well, gentlemen, will repeat what YOU
say to the President, and if he follows my
adyice,-and think he wIll,-ae VIII meer
you. He sill be al church this afternoon
so, suppose you call here at nine this evening
If arything should occur in the mean time
to present his seeing YOU will let you know
through Judge OuId."
Throughout this interview the manner O
the Secretary Was Cordial but with this C r
dlalIty was strange coa>traln. and diff
dence, almost amounting to tImi Hiy, which
struck both n,y companion ard myself. Con
tras;ing his manner with the quiet dignity o
the Colonel, | almost fancied our position:
reversed that, instead OF our being in hi
power, the Secretary was in ours, and mo
mently eX 'ected to hear some unwelcom,
sentence IRON our lips There IS something
after al, in moral power. Mr.. Benlanii.
does not possess II, ror is he q great man
H. has d keen, shre@d, ready intellect, bu
not the stamtna TO orig nate, or even I,
execute any great good or great wicked
ness.
After a day spent in our room. conversin:
with the Judge. or Watching the passsrs-b,
in the street, would Ike to tell who the
were, and how they looked but such infor
} formation is, j)Ist low, con,r40sad, we call
ed asain, at uin" O'Clock, at the State Depart
ment.
Mr. Benjamin occupied his previous sea
. at lie table. and al his isht sat spare, thi
ts..u-ed man, with iron gay hair and beard
'anl 4 clear gray We, fl! Of lie aud yigol
He had broad, MASSIVE forehead, and
II au,h and chm noting great energy an
strength of vii HIS .acs was emaciatet
y and much wrink ed, ba. his features wer
( good especially ms t! e!e,,-:@ough ole IF ther
e tore scar, apparently made oy some shar
. instrument. He woIc { suit OF gra,ls
brown, evidently Of foreign manufacture an,
L as he rose, | saw that he y as about FIVE fe,
/, ten inches high, with slight stoop in Il
i shoulders. HIS manners we're simple, cas-
;, and most fascinating; and there was an i:
l.scr;b,bIs harm in h. v,;ce % no av.sn