Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-09-06

They therefore ask an interview with the Presi-
dent, and awaiting your reply are
Most truly and respectfully
Your obedient servants,
JAS. + JAQUEs,
JAS. h. GILMORE"
The word "ofioal" is undercored and the
word "peace doubly underscored in the original.
After perusiug the letter, ! invited Colonel
Oud to conduct the writers to my Office, and on
their arrival stated to them that they must be
conscious they could not be admitt' to an inter
view with the President without informing me
more fully Of the object Of their mission, and
satisfy me that they came by request Of Mr.. Lln-
coin. Mr.. Gilmore replied that they cane unof
fcllIy, but with the knowledge and at the desire
OF Mr. Lincoln that they thought the war had
gone far enough that it could never end eX ep
by some sort OF agreements that toe agreement
might as well be made Gow as after still further
bood,hed that they knew by the recent address
Of the Confederate Congress that W. were wihing
to make peace that they admitted that prqpo
sails ought to come from the North, and that they
were prepared to make these proposals by MI.
Lincon's authority; that il was necessary to have
sort Of Informal understanding in advance Of
regular negotiations for # Commissioners we're
appointed without some such understanding they
would meet quarrel and separate, leaving the
parties more bitter against each other than before !
that they knew Mr. Lncoln'a views and would
state them, if pressed by The President to do so,
and desired to learn his in return
| again insisted on some evidence that they
came from Mr. Lincoln, and 10 order to satisfy
me- Mr.. Gilmore referred 10 the hct that per-
mission for their coming through our lines had
been asked officially by General Gralt 10 letter
to Gen Lee, and that Gen. Grant in that letter
had asked that this request should be- referred to
President Davis. Mr.. Gilmore then showed me
card, written and signed by Mr.. Lincoln, re-
questing Gen. Grant to aid Mr.. Gilmore and
friend in passing through his lines into the Con
federacy. COl. Jaques then SAID that his name
was not put on the card ior the reason that 1t
was earnestly desired that their visit should be
kept secret that he had come into the Confede-
racy year ago, and had visited Petersburg on
similar errand, and that il was feared If his name
should become known that some Of those who
had formerly met him in Pete sburg would con.
lecture the pdrpose for which he nov came. He
said that the terms Of peace which they would
offer tJ the President would be honorable to the
Coniederac, that they did not desire that TIE
would be glad 10 have my promise as they gave
theirs, that their visit should be kept profound
secret if ii failed to result IN peace that II would
not be Just that either party should seek any ad.
vantage by diSulglpg the fact Of their overture
for peace if unsuccessful. | a,sented to this re-
quest, and then, rising, said "Do understand
you to state distinctly that you came as messen-
gers from Mr.. Lircoln for the purpose of agreeing
with the President as to the proper mode of in
augurating formal negotiation for peace, charged
by Mr.. Lincoln with authority for stating his own
views and receiving those Of President DAVIS "
Both answered in the aih NATIVE, aud then said
that the President would see them at my office
the same evening at 7. M.-!hal, at least, |
presumed h. would but If be objected after hear.
ing my report they should be informed. Tney
were then recommllted TO the chrge Of Colonel
Ould, with the understanding that they were to
be re.conducted to my office at the appointed hour
unless otherwise directed.
This interview, connected with the report pre-
vously made by Col. Ould, left on my mind the
decided impression that Mr.. Lincoln was ayerse to
sending formal Commissioners 10 open negulIa-
tions, lest be might thereby be deemed to have
recognized the Independence Of the Coniederac,,
and that be was anxious 10 learn whether the con
dtons on which alone he would be willing to take
such step ud be yielded by the Coniederacy ;
that With this view he had placed his MESSENGERS
in condition to isiy us that they really came
from him, without committing himself to anything
in the event Of disagreement as to such condi-
tons as he considered to be indispensable. GA
informing the President, OF my conclusion, be de-
termned that no question OF form or etiquette
- 10.
tures that promised, hOweye remotely. to result
in putting an eLd to the carnage which marked
the continuance OF hosIllities.
The President came to my office Of inc o'clock
in the evening, and Col. Ould came few moments
later with Messrs. Jaques and Gilmore. The
President sad TO them that he had heard from
me that they came as messengers OF pc ce from
Mr.. Lincoln that such they were welcome ;
that the Coaiederacy had never concealed Its de-
sire ior peace, and that be was ready 10 hear
Whatever they had to offer on that subject.
Mr. gilmore then addressed the Ple.dent, and
ia lew MINUTES had conveyed the information that
these Two gentlemen had come to Richmond, i'm.
pressed with the idea that this Government would
accept peace on the basis of a reconstruction OF
the Union, the abolition Of slavery, and the grant
of an amnesty TO the people oil the States as re
penlant criminals. In order to accomplish the
abolition of slavery il was proposed that Their
should be general vote of all the people OF both
Considerations, and the majority OF the vote thus
tuken was to determine that as we'll as all other
disputed questions. These were stated to be
Mr., I.incoln's views. The President answered
that as these proposals had been prehced by the
remark that the people Of the North were ma
ouly, aud that majority ought to goverr, the
offer was, in effect, proposal that The Conieder-
ate States should surrender at discretion, admit
that they had been wong from the beginning oil
the contest submit TO the mercy of their enemies,
and avow themselves TO be 10 need Of pardon for
crmesj that determination was preferable to such
dshonor.
He stated that if they were themselves so un.
acquainted with the form of their own Govern.
mtnt as 10 make such propositions, Mr Lincoln
ough, to have known when giving them his views
that il was out of the power OF the Confederate
Governmental to act on the subject Of the domestic
Institutions of the several States, each Stale hly.
rg exclusive jurisdiction on that point, still, less
to commit the decision of such question TO the
vote Of foreign peoples that the separation Of
the States was an accomplished fact that be had
no authority TO receive proposals Tor negotiation
except by virtue OF his office as President OF az
Independent Coniederacy, and on this basis alone
must prop sls be made to him.
AT enc period OF the conversation Mr.. Gilmore
made use Of some language referring to these
States as rebels" while rendering in account OF
Mr. Lincoln's views, aud apoogi1ed Tor the word.
The President desired him to proceed, that 70
offence was taken, and that be wished Mr.. Lin
coin's anguige 10 be repeated to him as exactly
as possible Some further conversation took
place, substantially to the same effect as the fore
going, whe he President rose to indicate that
the interview was at an eud. The o gentlemen
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