Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-09-02

to emancipation, it would nullify the whole
thing; FOR you are aware the pcoplc Of Vir.
ginia cannot vote slavery out of South Caro-
lina nor the people Of South Carolina vote
il out Of Virginia" 2 =. ... ...--.. -,.."
But three fourths Of the States can amend
the Constitution. Let it be done in that way,
in any way, SO that il bc done by the people.
! am not a statesman or n politician, and [
do not know just ho~ such plan could bs
carried out; but you get the ilea.-.that the
PEOPLE shall decide the question:,
THAT the majority shall decide il, you
mean. We seced"d to rid ourselves Of ,hs
rule o! the majority, and this would subject
Us to it again" s a...'. sr w. : =
/" But the majority must rule finally. either
with bu'lc.s or ballots" 80,
am not SO sure Of thst. Neither cur.
rent events nor history shows that the ms.
jority rules, or ever did rule. The cuntrary
think, is true. Why, Sir, tue man VIII.
should go before the Southern people with
such a proposition, with any proposition,
which implied that he North was to have y
voice in determining tho domestic relations
of the South, could not live hero a day. Hs
would bu hanged to the first tree, wi,hoas
Judge OF jury"
Allow me to doubt that. think il more
likely he would be hanged, II he let the
Southern people know tho msjori,y couldn'l
rule. replied, sn,sngs -
- have ne fear ei that rejoincd Mr..
Davis, also smiling most good huisoreily
" give you leave to proclaim II from every
house top in the soul,.AsYa a'-.
/" But. seriously, Sir, you let the msjor,y
rule in single State why not let il rulo in
tho whole countryT' '..'. III NO. .,
Because the States are independent, and
sovereign. The country is not Il is only
confederation Of States; or rather It srus
it Is now t,co considerations
Then NO are not n peop's, we are only
a political partnership"
" THAT is all - AA. = e sf'. -
Your very name, Sir, United States,
implies that,Hs said Mr.. Benjamin. But.
toll me, aro theNtcrn,s you have namcd---
Emancipation, No ConRscaton. aud Univcr.
| sal Amnesty-!he terms which Mr.. Lincoln
authorized you to offer usg'
mo, Sir, Mr.. Lincoln did not authorizes
me to offer you any terms. But Miak both
he ard the Northern people, for the sako of
peace, would assent To some such condl.
tons" = n...... 3 -,
They are rfry generous" replied Mr..
Davis, for the first time during tho inter!
view showing some angry feeling. ~ But
Amnesty, Sir, applies to criminals. We have
committed no crime. Contiscation is OF no
account, unless YOU can enforce it. And
Emancipation ! Yon have already cinanci.
patcd nearly two millions Of ohr siavcs,--.
and If you will take care Of them, you may
emancipatc the rest. Il had a few when thu
war began ! was of some uso 10 them
they never were Of any to me. Against their
will you 'cmancinated them and you may
'emancipatc' every negro in the Confederacy
but orc nW BE- free We will govern our.
selves. We will do it, if we have to SEQ
every Southern plantation sacked, and every
Southern city in flames" :" ,.'
81 see, Mr. Davis it Is ust less 10 coDtin,
nc this conversation ! replied; and ypn
will pardon us, il we have seemed to press
our views witt, too much pertinaci,y. Wa
love the old flag, and that must be our apol-
ogy for ntruding upon You at a't'
" You have not intruded upon me- ho
replied, rcsuming his usual ma,incf. II aDt
glad to have met you, both. I once loved
the old flag asIwcll MS you do /; / would have
died for il; but now it is to me only tho em
blcni5of OPPRESSION ~' "' ..r
-" hope the day may never come, Mr..
Davis, when say that" said the Colonel.
\ hal: hours conversation on other topics
not Of public interest r--cnsucd, and then
We rose to go. As we did so, the Rebel
President gave me his hand, and bidding
me kindly good.by, expressed the hops Of
seeing mo again in Richmond in happier,
times, ,--w when peace should have returned
but with the Colonel his parting was partic.
ularly cordiaL Taking his hand in both Of
his, he said 10 him, - !
Colonel, | respect your character and
your motives, and wish you well, II wish
you every good can wish you consistently
with the interests of the Contederacy." {
'' The quiet, straightforward bearing and
magnificent moral courage of out fighting
parson" had evidently impressed Mr.. Davis
very iavorabiy.
/ Aswc were leaving tho room, he added, -,
Say to Mr.. Lincoln from me, that shall
at any timo bc pleased to receive proposal.
for peace on the 6asis of our undergraduates.
! II will be useless 10 approach mo with any
Other" .'.
When wo went out, Mr. Bcnj min called
Judge Ould, who had been waiting during
the whole intrrvicw-two houia--at the 9th.
cr end Of tho hall, and we passed down thu
stairway together. As put my arm within
That Of the Judge, he said TO me,-
Well, what is the result ~
"Nothing but war war to the knife" ~
Ephraim is joined to his idols. let him
alone added the Colonel, solemnly. ....