Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-08-26

independence as your proposition-and
peace, With Union, emancipation. no
coa6scHfion and universal amnesty as
ours Let the citizens Of all the United
States as they existed before the wsr)
vote Yes or No, on these two propo-
sitions at special election within sixty
days IF msjority votes disunion our
Government TO be bound by IL, and to
let you 60 in peace. II ; majority vote
Union, yours 10 h@ bound By il, and to
stay IN peace. The two governm suts
can contract in this way, and the people,
though constitutionslly unable TO decide
on pesee or war, can elect which Of the
two propositions shall govern their ~ lers
Let Lee and Grant meanwhile afree TO
armissIee. This would sheaih the sword
and If once sheatdsd 1t woald snsver
/ again be drawn BY this generation"
The plan is altogether In practicable
If the Souih were only one State II
might work; but as It Is, If one Southern
State objerted TO emancipation il weald
nulhfy the whole thing. for voa are
aware she people af Virginia Garnet
vote slavery out Of South Carolina, nor
tbe people Of South Carolina vote il out
/ OF Virginia.
Bot shree-fourths Of the States can
amend the Constitution. Let IL be done
ia that wsy-in Auy way, so that Il be
done By the people. am not states.
mas or q politician, aud do not know
just bow sneh plan could be carried
out; but you get the idea--thas the peo-
ole shall decide the question.
et'TkaF tha - 4. :.
yoa mean. We seeded to rid ourselves
Of the rule Of the majority, and this
Wonld subject US to il again" as,
BAT the majority must rule finally,
either with bullets or ballots
Il am not sure OF that Neither cur
rent events nor history shows that the
the majority rules ar svsr did rule The
contrary, think, is Wae Why. sir the
man who should 70 before the Southern
people with such proposition, with any
proposition that implied that the North
i vas TO have voice ia determining the
domestic relations OF the Soash, cUuld
not live here 10 day he would be hang
ed to The hrst tree, without Judge or
Jury
"Alos me 70 doubt that think it
more likely he would be hanged il be
LEI The Sonlhsrn people knoE the majori-
y eouldn rule" | replied, smiling
d ] have no fear Of that reioinsd Mr..
Davis, also smiling good humoredy. 81
give you leave 70 proclaim it from every
bouse-soP in the Soath. - vel
! Bat, seriously, sir. You let the ma
jorify rule in a single State Why not let
ls role in the whole esuntry7"
Because ths States ars independents
aud sovereign The country is not II
is only confederation of States. or
tons '
i Then ws are not . peoDle--ws are
only . political partnership "
That Is all
"Your very name. sir, Uni,ed States
implies that, said Mr. Benjamin . Bat
tell me, are the terms you have named
| ~maaeI patton, no eonhscAiion, and uni
/ strsal Amnesiv-the terms which Mr.
/ Lineoiu authorized you 10 otFsr us7 p
=. No, SIR Nr Linculn did not author
| IKE ne 10 offer you anr terms But
ihipk both he saad abe Northern people,
for the sake OF peace. sopld assent to
some sutih conditions
They are very generous. replied
Mr. Davis, for the tirst time during the.
interyiew sho~ing some angry feeling
" But amsesiy, Slr, applies to eriBinaIs.
/ Ne have committed 10 crime Confs-
cation is Of no acebnni, unless you can
enforce IL And emancipation You
nave already emaReipa,ea nearly two
millions Of ogr slaves and II you Wii
take care Of them, you may emaneipate
ihe rest bad few when The var be
gan was Of some use 70 them; they
we're never OF sny to me Against their
vail you emancipated them, and you
may emaneipate every negro Ia the
/ Confederaey, but We will be fresi We
sill govern ourselves. We will do il, III
We have to see every Southern plauta-
ton sacked, aud every Southern city in
flames"
"Isee, Mr. Davis, IL is useless 10 con
tinae this cenysrsation, replied !;
and you viii pardon US if We have
seemed to press our views with teo
much pertiaaeity We love the old flag,
and that must be our apology for in
trading upon Jon 81 ali. : ass
'You have not intrudsd upon me, he
replied, resnming bis usual manner. 81
am glad to have met yoa both | once
loved the old Tag As we'll rs you do, and
would have died for il; bat now il is to
me only the emblem Of oppression"
81 hope the day may never come, Mr.
: Davis, when say that" said the Col
onel asaeA
.-. CLOSE or TIE ISTEEyIEE.
A half hours conyersAtion on other
/, topics, not Of public interest. ensued; and
then we rose 10 90 As we did 30, The
rebel President gave me bis hand. ana
bidding me kindly good bye, expressed
the hope of seeing me. again in Rich
mond in happier Gmss-whsn peaes
should have returned; bu. zith tks
ColousI bis parting wns particularly cor.
dial Taking bis hand ia both Of his b.
said 20 him: 1 ses-aa sei Tla
Colonel, respect your character And
! your motives, aud Wish you veil; vial
. you every good can wish zoe ecpsist
! entity with the interests OF the Confeder
scy, a
The quiet, ssraightforward bearing aqs
magnificent moral courage Of our tight
- ing parson" had evidently impressed Ar
/. Davis very favorably
As We we're leaving the room be sdd
ed e De-.
: Say to Mr. Lincoln from ne that
! shslI a. any time be pleased 20 reeeivl
!, proposals for peace On the basis OF ou
|, Independence Il will beusslsss to ap
: urozch me with any otber. -
When we vent out Mr.. Benjamin callel
= Judge Oald, who had been waiting dur
ing the whole iuterxiew--txo hoaTs-a
n the other end Of the ball, and We passe