The Portland daily press., 1864-08-20

can't see how you can resist much longer;
put II you do, you will only deepen the rad
lcal feeling of the Northern people. They
will now give you fair, honorable, generous
terms; but let them suffer much more, let
there be a dead man in every house, as there
is now in every village, they will give you no
terms-they will insist on hanging every rebel
south OF - Pardon my terms. | mean no
offence
You give no offence" he replied, smiling
very pleasantly. II wouldn't have YOU pick
your words. This is frank, free talk, and
like you the better for saying what you think
Go on"
II was merely going to say that, let the
northern people once really feel the war-they
do not feel 1t yet-and they will insist on hang
ing every one of your leaders,
We'll, admitting all you say, can't see
how 1t affects our position. There are some
things worse than hanging or determination.
We reckon giving up the right of self govern
ment one of those things"
by self-government you mean disunion-
southern independence 2"
Yes
And slavery, you say, is no longar an ele-
ment in the contest"
NO 1t is not, it never was an essential ele-
ment, 1t was only the means of bringing
other conflicting elements TO an earlier eul-
minatlon 1t fired the musket which was al
ready capped and loaded. There are essen
tial differences between the North and the
South that will, however this war may end,
make them two nations"
You ask me to say what think. Will
you allow me to say that know the South
pretty well, and never observed those differ
ences?'
"Then you have not used your eyes. My
sight Is poorer than yours, but have seen
them for years."
The laugh was upon me, aud Mr.. Benjamin
enjoyed it.
"Well, sir, be that as it may, if understand
you, the dispute between your government and
ours is narrowed down TO this Union or dis
union"
"Yes; or TO put 1t In other words: Indepen-
dence or subjugation."
Then the two governments are irreconcil-
ably apart. They have no alternative but to
fight it out. But it is not so with the people,
They are tired Of fighting and want peace;
and as they bear all the burden and suffer
ing OF the war; is it not right they should
have peace. and have it on such terms az they
like?"
al don't understand you. Be little more
explicit"
Mr.. DAVIS REFUSES AN ARMIsTICE.
"Well, suppose the two governments should
agree 10 something like this: To go to the
people with two propositions: say, peace with
disuniop and southern independence, as your
proposition--and peace, with union, emancipa-
ton, no confiscatiun, aud universal amnesty,
as ours. Let the citizens of all the United
States tas they existed before the war; vote
Yes or No on these two propositions, at
special election within sixty days. Ii ma
joIity votes disunion, our government to be
bound by it and to let you go in peace. The
two governments can contract in this way,
and the people though constitutionally unable
TO decide on peace or war, can elect which of
the propositions shall govern their rulers.
Let Lee and Grant, meanwhile, agree to an
armistice. This would sheath the sword; and
If once sheathed, IL would never again be
drawn by this generation"
"The plan is altogether impracticable. If
the South were only one state, 1t might work
but as 1t Is, il one southern state objected to
emancipation, 1t would nulify the whole thing;
for you are aware that the people OF Virginia
cannot vote slavery out of South Carolina, nor
the people Of South Carolina vote it out OF
Virginia
But three-fourths of the states can amend
the constitution. Let it be done in that way
in any way, so that 1t be done by the peo-
pie. / am not statesman or politician. and
do not know just how such plan could be
carried out; but you get the idea that the
people shall decide the question"
That the majority shall decide 1t, you
mean. We seeded TO rid ourselves of the
rule of the majority, aud this would subject us
to it again."
'But the majority must rule finally, either
with bullets or ballots"
81 am not so 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 go be-
fore the southern people with such PROPOSE
tion which implied that the North was to have
a voice la determining the domestic relations
of the South, could not live here day. He
would be hanged to the first tree, without
judge or jury"
"Allow me to doubt that think it more
likely he would be hanged, If he let the South
ern people know the majority couldn't rule"
replied, smiling.
II have no fears of that" rejoined Mr.. Da-
Wis, also smiling most good humoredly. II
give you leave to proclaim it from every house
top in the South"
But, seriously, sir, you let the majority rule
in single state: why not let it rule in the
whole country?'
Because the states are independent and
sovereign. The country is not. 1t is only
confederation OF states. or rather it was; it Is
now two considerations"
Then we are not people--we are only
political partnership"
That is ALL"
Your very name, sir, United States i'm
plies that" said Mr.. Benjamin. "But tell me,
are the terms you have enamed-Emancipatio
no confscation, and universal amnesty-the
terms which DIR. Lincoln authorized you to
offer ?"
NO, sir; Mr.. Lincoln did not authorize
me to offer you any terms. But / think
both he aud the northern people, for the sake
of peace, would assent TO some such condi-
tions.n
"They are very generous" replied Mr.. Da-
Wis, for the first time during the interview
showing some angry feeling. "But, amnesty
applies to criminals. We have committed no
crime. Confscation is of no account, unless
you can enforce II. And emancipation You
have already emancipated nearly two millions
of our slayes-and ii you will take care OF
them, you may emancipate the rest. had
few when the war began. was of some use
to them; they never were of any to me,
Against their viii you 'emancipated them, and
you may 'emancipate' every negro in the Con-
federacy, but We will be free We will gov
ern ourselves. We will do it If we have TO see
every southern plantation sacked and every
southern city in flames"
II see, Mr.. Davis, il Is useless TO continue
this conversation" replied; "and you will
pardon US, ii We have seemed to press our
views with too much pertinacity. We love
the old flag, and that must be our apology for
intruding upon you at ALL
"You have not intruded upon me-" he re-
piled, resuming his usual manner. II am
glad TO have met you both. once loved the
old flag as well as you do; | would have died
for 1t; but Now it is TO me only the emblem of
oppression"
Il hope the day may never come. Mr.. Da-
Wis, when 1 say that said the Colonel.
CLOSE OF THE INTERVIEW.
A half-hour's conversation on other topics
not OF public interest-ensued, and then we
rose to go. As We did so the rebel President
gave me his hand, aud bidding me kindly
goodbye, expressed the hope of seeing me
again in Richmond in happier iimes-when
peace should have returned; but with the Col
onel his parting was particularly cordial,
Taking his hand In both of his, he said to
him