Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-08-26

versal amnesty, as ours Let the citizens Of
all the United States Jas they existed before
the war; vote Yes or No on tbese Two
propositions, alta special election, within sixtv
days. II majority votes disunion, Dur ety-
ernmen. TO be bound by il and TO let YOU On
10 peace. /! majority votes union, yours
to be bound by it and to stay in peace. The
two governments can contract in this wav.
and the people, though constitutionally un.
able TO decide on peace or war, can elect
which Of the two propositions shall govern
their rulers. Let Lee and Grant mean while
agree to an armislice. This would sheatbe
the sword, and If once sheathed II would
never again be drawn by this generation"
The plan is altogether impracticabe II
the South were only one state it might work
but as 1t is, If one southern state objected TO
emancipation 1t would nullify the whole
thing for you are aware that the peonle Of
Virginia cannot vote slavery out of South
Carolina, nor the people Of South Carolina
vote slavery out Of Virginia"
But three-fourths Of the State can amend
the constitution. Let Il be done in that wav.
in any way, so that it be done by the people.
am not statesman nor a politician, and I
do not know just how such a plan could be
carried out; but you get the idea-that the
people shall decide the question"
That the majority shall decide it, you
mean. We seeded to rid ourselves of the
rule OF the majority, and this would subject
us to it a gain"
But the majority must finally rule, either
with bullets or ballots"
d" am not sure Of that. Neither current
events nor history shows that the majority
rules or ever did rule. The contrary think
is true. Why, sir, the man who should 20
before the southern people with such a prop
osition, with any proposition that implied
that the North was TO have a voice in deter
mining the domestic relations Of the South.
could not live here day. He would be
banged to the first tree. without Judge or
jury"
Allow me to doubt that. think il more
likely he would be banged If he let tho
southern people know that the majority
couldn't rule, | replied. smiing.
" have no fear Of that" rcjoned Mr.. Da-
Wis, also smiling most good humoredly "I
give you leave to proclaim it from every house
top in the South"
" Bot, seriously, sir, you let the majority
rule in a single state why not let i. rule IN
the whole country ?
" Because the states sre independent and
sovereign, The country is not 1t is only
confederation Of states or rather it was it
j. now two confederation"
Then We are NOT a people--we are only
political partnership -
That is ALL"
Your very name. sir, United States
implies that, said Mr. Benjamin. " But tell
me- are the terms you have named-emanci-
patton, no conhsoation, and universal amnes-
ty-the terms which Mr.. Lincoln authorized
you 10 offer Us
No. sir; Mr. Lincoln did not authorize
me to offer you any terms. But think both
be and the northdrn people. for the sake of
peace. would assent to some such conditions"
They are very generous, replied Mr..
Davis, for the first time during the interview
showing some angry feeling. But, amnes-
ty, sir, applies to criminals. We have COM
mitted no crime. Confscation is Of no ac-
count unless you can enforce it. And eman-
cipahon You have already emAncipated
nearly two millions Of slaves-and II you will
take care Of them you may emanoipate the
rest. had lew when the war began. |
was Of some use TO them. They never were
Of any to me. Against their will you eman-
oipated them, and you may smancipste every
negro in the coniederacy, but we will be free.
We will govern ourselves. We will do it If
we have to see every southern plantation
sacked, and every southern city in flames"
- see. Mr.. Davis, it is useless to continue
this conversation" | replied, " and you will
pardon US, il we have seemed TO press our
views with too much pertina dty. We love
the old flag, and that must be our apology for
intfuding upon you at all"
You have not intruded upon me, be re-
piled, resumng his usual manner. " am
glad 90 have met You both. once loved the
Old flag as well as you do ; would have died
for it but now it is only the emblem Of OPP
preston"
hope the day may never come when
cay that, replied the Colonel.
CLOSE OF THE INTERVIEW.
A halt hours conversation upon other
topics-not Of public interest-ensued, and
then we rose to go. As We did So the rebel
President gave me his hand. and bidding me
kludly goodbye. expressed the hope Of see
ing me again in Richmond in happier times
when peace should have returned but with
the Colonel his parting was particularly cor
dial. Taking his hand in both OF his he said
to him:
Colonel, | respect your character and
your motives, and wish you WE'LL wish you
every good | can wish you consistently with
the interests Of the coniederacy,'
The quiet, straightforward bearing and
magnificent moral courage Of our fighting
parson had evidently impressed Mr.. DAVIS
quite iavorably.
As we were leaving the room he added
Say t. Mr.. Lincoln from me that shall
at any time be pleased to receive proposals of
peace on the basis Of our Independence. 1t
will be useless to approach me with any
other
When we went out Mr.. Benjamin called
Judge Ould, who had been waiung during
the whole inteTview-two hours-at the
other end Of the hall, and we passed down
the stairway together. As | put my arm
within that Of the Judge, he said to me,
Well, what is the results'
Nothing but wAr-war to the knife.
"Ephraim is joined to his idols-let him
al one, added the Colonel, solemnly.
Within the last few days several appoint
ments of crippled soldiers have been made
to olerkships in the departments At Washing