The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-08-25
JEFF. Davis Terms of Peace.

At Pawtucket, few days since, Mr.
Gilmore Edmund Kirke) delivered a
lecture, describing his interview with j eff
Davis during late visit to Richmond,
and giving the substance of their CONVEX
sation on the terms of peace. The fol-
lowing is an extract therefrom
| 81 went to Richmond with the Rev.
Col. Jaquess, and went with the hope of
| in peace. If we should succeed, we
thought that the consciousness of having
served our country would pay our expen-
ses. If we failed, we might still serve
the country by letting the people of the
North know what was the reason of our
failure; for [ went with propositions on
the basis of which 1 might have made an
| arrangement for peace with Mr.. Davis,
and it We were unsuccessful, it would be
useful for the country to know what prop
| ositions were rejected. We went to Rich
mond in an ambulance, and were three
hours on the way after we entered the
rebel lines. We entered Richmond at 10
o'clock, and planted our white flag in the
very heart of the rebel capital. As we
stopped, Judge Ould, the rebel commits
| sioner Of exchange, directed Col Jaquess
to button up his overcoat, as it was Gan-
gerOus to be seen with blue uniform in
the streets of Richmond. We were taken
to hotel, and shown up to NO. Co.,
shabby room with some fine furniture in
very bad order. We were provided with
supper, and directed how to apply for an
interview with the President. The next
morning we directed a note to Secretary
Benjamin, asking an interview with the
President, and were invited to call upon
him, when we made an engagement to
meet the President that evening, which
was Sunday.
"On meeting our engagement, we were
shown into the State Department, where
we saw MIR. Benjamin, small, plump,
black-haired, black-eyed man, seated at
his usual place, and at his right pale,
thin man, dressed In suit of darkish
gray, with mouth and chin expressive
Of the greatest determination. The latter
was Mr.. Davis. We told him simply that
we came without official authority, but
knowing the opinions Of our Government,
to see on what terms peace might be made.
Mr.. Davis replied, quietly, Withdraw
your armies from our territory, aud peace
will follow of ITSELF We told him that
the Northern people would never agree to
any plan which die not include the estab-
lishment of the Union. Mr.. Davis said
that we never could live In peace. The
North had sowed such bitterness between
the two sections that We never could have
peace in this generation. We then urged
upon him that it was his duty to use ev-
cry effort to put an end to this monstrous
bloodshed. He acknowledged this, and
declared that none Of the blood shed in
this war could he lay to his own charge.
They, the South, were not fighting tor
slavery; they were fighting for indepen-
dence and independence or extermina-
ton they would have. We then tried to
show him that the position of the rebel
armies was such that it was better for
them to give up the contest while they
could do it with honor; but he was un-
willing to admit that his armies were in
such a desperate position. He laid the
blame of the barbarity of this war entirely
upon the North, utterly ignoring the in
stances of rebel barbarity which We brought
to his notice. then had considerable
conversation with Mr.. Davis, in which
indirectly offered him the terms which /
had been authorized to suggest; but az
he did not show any disposition to meet
me, did not state them explicitly