The New York herald., 1864-08-18

,erms-shey win insist on hanging every rebel south
OF -. Pardon my terms mean no offence"
"You give offence" ne replied smiling very pleas
artlv. wouldn't hive you pick your words This IS
rsBk free Talk and like you the better for saying What
you IN. K. Go on"
a merely going say that, 'eI the Northern
pie really feel the warthey do not feei IL ye nd
they will nsisi hanging every OF your leaders
''wel. admitting all you say cant see how II affects
ns or ex.erm,nai,on We reckon Swing no the reh, q
self governments one OF those thmgs."
"By self government you mean disunion-Southern IN
depepdeooe9
aYes /"
'And slavery, you say, NO longer element In The
contest /"
mo II is not, Il an essential element. II
was only means Of bringing other conflicting elements
already capped and loaded. There essential differ
between the North and tne South that will. bow
ever this may end, make them two na,ons
''You ask 20 say what think. Will you allow me
70 say that know the South presy well, and never o.
'.Then you have not used your eyes Ny sight .
poorer than yours, but have seen them for years.
Ss susn go M ,hp e av nnasrstpd You the
dispute between your government and ours rs narroweo
i down 70 thss-Union or disunon."
"Yes or to pot IL 10 other words: independence or
,Then the two governments are irreconciably apart
| They alternative but 70 fight II out But II is
not with the people They are tired OF fighting ana
want peace and as they bear all the burden ana soner
and have 1t on such terms as they kes"
81 don't understand you Be little more explicit"
MR.. DAVIS REFUSES AN ARMIsTICE.
"Wel, suppose the two governments should agree TO
something like thsIo go to the people with two propo
stons, peace with dsuni0n and Southern ndepen-
dence your proposon-audp peace with Union, ernan
cipatiun, conhscaon and universal amnesty
before the war; vote Yes or mo- on these two propo
sitions at special election within sixty days. II ma
ory votes disunon our government TO be ooonG oy ",
ana to let You go IN peace a majority vote un'en
70 be bound by it, and 70 stay in peace The two
governments can contract in this way and the people,
though constitutionay unable TO decide peace
can elect which OF the two propositions shall govern
their rulers. Let Lee and Grant meanwhile agree 70 an
armstice This would sheathe the sword; and If once
sheathed II would never again be drawn by ths genera
| tior.n
| "The plan is atogethey impractcable the South
we're only one State IL me ut work but as 's ono
southern State objected to emancipation i would nuy
vote slavery South Carolina the peo-
| pie or South Carolina vote !, c"t OF Vir,inta."
But three fourths OF the StSs .an amend the c0tsti
tuition. Let it be done that wayin way, so that
u be done by the people, am not statesman or poll.
carried out but get the ideathat the people shall
'Ihat the majority shall decide it, you mean. We Sc
ceded to rid OF the rulo Of the majority, and
| this would subject us 10 u again"
But the majority rule finally, either with bullets
II not 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 go before the Southern people with such propo
sitYon, with any proposition which implied that the
North 10 have voice in determining the domestic
relations Of the South, could not live here day. He
would be hanged to the first tree without judge or jury
would be hanged he let the Southern people know the
| majority couldn't rule replied smiling.
~ have no fear Of that - reoned Nj. Davis, also sm
ing moe good humoredy 81 give you leave to proclaim
II from every bouse.to in the South"
"But seriously cir you let the majority rule in single
state; why not let rule in the whole countryy'
"Because the States are independent and sovereign
or rather j, was il is now two confederaous"
"lhcn We are no! people-we are only political
partnership
"That is ALL"
"Yopr very name, sir 'Unitcd States implies that,
said Mr. BENJAMIN But tell me- are the S terms you have
nesty-the terms which Mr. Lincoln authorized you to
"No SIR Mr. Lincoln did not au4horIxn me 10 offer yon
any But think both he and the Northern peo-
Pile for the sake Of peace would assent % some such
"They very generous" reIed Mr.. Davis, for the
first time during the interview, showing some angry
feeling "But amnesty, sir, applies to criminals. We
have committed crime Confsca,ion rs Of account,
unless you can enforce it. And emancipation You have
already emancpa,ed nearly millions Of our slaves
and you will take of them you may emancipate
the rest. had . few when the war began was OF
them; they of any TO Against
their will you emancipa,ed' them and you may eman.
cipa,e every negro in the confederacy but We will be
have to sec every southern sacked and every
| Southern city In flames"
II see Mr. Davis, it is useless to continue this
sation, replied; and you will pardon us We have
seemed 10 press views with too much pertinacity
We love the old flag and that must be our apology for
intruding upon you at ALL"
"You intruded upon me-" he replied,
ing his usual manner. ~ am glad TO have met both.
died for il but it s TO only the emblem Of oppres
sion.'
al hope the day may come, Mr.. Davis, when
say that said the Colonel
CLOSE OF THE INTERVIEW.
half hours conversation other TOPICS OF pub
lie interest, ensued; and then TO CO. did
30 the rebel President gave me his hand, and bidding
me kindly goodby, expressed the hope Of seeing
again n Richmond in happier timee-when peace should
have returned but with the Colonel bis parting
tcuiary cordial Taking his hand in both OF his he said
10 him
"Colonel, respect your character and your motives
and wish you well wish you every good wish
you consistently with the interests OF the confederacy
The quiet, straightforward bearing and magnificent
moral courage OF our nRnng parson" had evidently i'm
pressed Mr. Davis very favorably.
As we were leaving the room he added
t'Say TO Mr.. Lincoln from that shall at any time
be pleased receive proposals for the basis OF
Independence. will be useless to approach with
any other"
When went out Mr. Benjamin called Judge Ould, who
had been waiting during the whole nterview-two
hoursat the other end OF the hail. and passed down
the stairway together. AS put my within that OF
the Judge. he said 10 me
.'Well what is the result'
tfNothing but war-war TO the knife.''
'Ephraim Joined TO his idols-let him alone added
the Colonel, solemuly