Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-01

/ THE PEACE INTERVIEW AT RICHMOND.
Circular from The Confederate Secretary Of State
relating sohat occurred at the LHteyvteD.
The Hon. j p. BEs,AMIs the Confederate Secretary
Of State has addressed circular to the Hon James NJ
Mason Commissioners Of tho Continent, DO. &c &c., Pa
rs n relation to the recent mission Of Mr. GM0RE and
Col JACQUES to Richmond in which the Secretary gives
Of that mission essentially different from the
account of Mr. Gilmore, which was placed before our
readers days ago. We insert th. document entire
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, ii
Richmond, august rs, 1864.
SIR: Numerous publications which have recently APP
peared in the Journals of the United States tho
of informal for peace between the two Fedora
tions Of states at this continent render it
desirable that you should be fully advised OF the views and
policy OF this Government matter of such paramount
Importance 1t is likewise proper that you should be &C
occasions mentioned in the published statements
You have heretofore been furnished with copies OF the
manifesto issued by the Congress OF the States
nth the approval Of the President the 4th June last
and have doubtless acted in conformity with the resolution
which requested that copies Of this manifesto should be
laid before foreign Governments The prlnciPal senti
men and purposes by which hese States have been and
are still acuateo set forth in that paper with all the
authority due to the SOLE mn declaration OF the Legislative
AID Executive Departments OF this Government and with
clearness which leaves room for comment or expla
nation In few sentences 1t pointed out that all we
ask immunity from interference with our Internal peace
and prosperity and to be lett in the uudisturbed enjoy
ment of those naenabe rights of life, liberty and the
pureut of happiness which our common ancestors do
cared be the equal heritage OF all parties to the social
compact Let them obear aggressions upon us and the
is at an end Ii there be- questions which require
adjustment by negotiation have ever been willing and
are still willing enter oto communication with our ad
versares spirit Of peace OF equity and manly rank
pess" The manifesto closed with the declaration that
we commit our the enlightened judgment of the
world to the sober reflections Of our adversares them
selves and to the solemn and righteous arbrament OF
Within very few weeks after the publication Of this
manifesto it seemed to have met with response from
President Lincoln In the early part Of last month e.
ter received by Gen. Lee from Lieut. don 1raht III
/ the following words:
| "HEADqUARTERs ARMIES OF THE UEITED STATES,
| CRY PoIET Va, JULY g. 1864,
Seen = Lei Commanding Confederate forces near
"GErEnAL: would equest that Col james JACQUES.
Eco be- allowed to Col Robert Oud Commissioner for
the Of Prisoners at such place bewe the lines
Of the two armies you may designate The Of the
meeting is legitimate with the duties Of Col Ould Com
missioner If consistent for you grant the quest here
asked would beg that this be referred to President Davis
Requesting as early an answer this communication
Won may find convenient to make subscribe myself very
| "U. s GRANT, Lieut. Gen. U. s. A.
On the reference of this letter to the President he
authorized Col Oud to meet the persons named in Gen.
Grants letter and Col Oud after seeing them returned
70 Richmond and reported to the President in the pre-
senca Of the Secretary Of War and myself that Messrs
and Gilmore bad not said any thing to him about
hs duties as commissioner for exchange OF prisoners but
that thew asked permission to Richmond for The
of seeing the Presidents that they with the
appovalo President Lincoln and under his
pass that they informal messengers sent with view
of having the way for meeting formal commissioners
authorized to negotiate for peace and desired to commu
nicste to President Davis the views of Mr. Lincoln and
TO obtain he Presidents views in RETURN to
far = meeting OF commissioners. Col Oud stated tDat
he had told them repeatedly that it useless to to
Richmond to talk of any other terms than the
r. copnieed Independence OF the Conederacy to which
thew sad they were of that and that they WERE
confident that their interview would result
| In peace. a,
n hermit them to come to Richmond under bis chsrge
On the evening of the 10th July Col. Ould conducted
these pentlemen hotel 10 Richmond, where room
provided for them in which they we're to remain under
surveillance during their stay here and the next morning
| ''o0 "SpoTrswoop HOTEL
/ " Richmond, IVA J Jnly IL, 1864.
Sec,etsry of state Confederate States of America
| aDEAR SIR. The undersigned James Jacques, Of ILL
nois James Gilmore Of Massacbus, tbs most respect
Richmond as private citizens and have official character
or authority but they IN Of the views of the
United States overnme relative a. ustment of the
now existing the North South and
have little doubt that free change Of views between
is and solver would open way to such
Official negotiations would ultimate in restoring PEACE to
| the v sections OF our distracted country ,
They therefore ask interview with the President
Most trn and resp ectfuy your obedient servants
ea JAS, +. JAcerEs,
JAS X. GILMORE"
The word "ofRciaI" lie undersigned, and the word
| peace" doubly underscored in the ORIGINAL
After pei using the letter invited Commissioner Ould
10 conduct the write to my office; and on their arrival
ted TO them that they must be conscious they could not
be admitted to an interview with the President without
inf minp me more fully of the object OF their MISSION
and satisfying me that they by request of Mr. Lin
| ooln rH
MIR Gilmore replied that they came uno6ically, but
with the knowledge and the desire of Mr. Lincoln that
they thought the had gone far enough that could
never end except by sort of agreement; that the
might as well be made after further
that they knew by the recent address OF the
Confederate Congress that willing to make
peace; that they admitted that proposals ought to
from The North and that they were prepared to make
these proposals by Mr. Lncoln's authority that it was
esssry to have sort of informal understanding in ad
vance Of regular negotiations for commissioners Were
appointed without some such understanding they would
meet quarrel snd separate leaving the parties more bit
ter against each other than before that they knew Mr.
Lncolns views and would state them pressed by the
Pre,d mt TO do so and desired to learn his in return
again insisted evidences that they came from
Mr. Lincoln; and, in order to satisfy me, Mr. Gilmore
referred TO The fact that permission for their coming
through our lines had been asked officially by Gen Grant
in letter to Gen Lee and that Gen. Grant in that letter
rad asked that this request should be referred to Pres
dent Davis Mr. Gilmore then showed me card written
and sgned by Mr. Lincoln, requesting Gen Grant to aid
Mr. Gilmore aud friend in passing through bis ines into
the Confederacy. Col Jacques then said that his name
was not put on the card Tor the that was
nesty desired that their visit should be kept secrets that
he had come into the Conlederacy year ago. and had
visited Petersburg similar errsnd and that 1t was