Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-20

1zalllEl
The Circumstances which Fed to the
Visit TO Richmond OF M. Gilmore
and Colonel JaGues.
The New York Tribune thus sums mn
the prehminariesto the visit to Richmond
of which wepublish an account this morn
ing: 1880
While on visit to the Army of the
cumberland in May, 1855, Gen. Rosecrans
handed letter to Mr.. Gilmsre from sub
orelnate officer, asking for furlough, with
request that he Mr. Gilmore1 would see
nin, and # the plan he proposed seemed
feasible the General would telegraph to
IIe var department for the flrlough ask
ed lie added that Col. Jaques-the gen.
/ | SieuiAn Ieierred to-was prominent mem
Der of the Methodist Church. and aItboneb
I a clergyman, one of his trIIest and hest 81
ticers. The letter of Col. JaqDes avowed
: his conviction that, from facts which had
come to his knowledge, the members of
the MethO ist Episcopal Church. Soutb.
we're heartily tired of the rebellion that
they considered slavery-its cause-yirtu-
ally abolished; that they ardeEitly desired
peace and the privilege Of returning to
tnelr allegiance TO Church and State. He
believed, If permission were given him
TO go within the lines of the Copfede-
racyi that he could, within ninety davs
return with proposals Of peace that vo6d
be acceptable to the Government, obtained
through the influence Of the large BODY of
ms Ohurch at the South. He proposed to
90 openly IN his uniform, as sthe messen-
ger OF God" Mr. Gilmore considered the
enterprise rash one, and that Gol. Jaoues
Hould only throw away his lifefi IN its Dros-
eeution- BE so reported to Gen. Rose-
Grams, who, however, did not agree with
him, saying,-I know if he talks peaee n
the people, the leaders viii hang him. bnt
mel not do that he'll go to the leaders
themselves. The terms he will TofTsr NAV
h2f5 fs.5R Re accepted, but it win strengthen our
fore, telegraphed to Washington for a fo,-,
months Through for Colonel Jaoues and
asked for an interview for him with A..
PRESIDENT Both requests were imme5isto1
y refused, but fuller explanation of Col
Jaquess IS purpose was asked for bv mail
i've known Mr.. Lincoln twenty yearsn
SAID Col Jaques, shut [ might write fort,
letters and accomplish nothing Tbers.
upon he urged Mr.. Gilmore 10 go -
W ashington on his way home. a rsorsst
tnat was seconded by General Roso
Grams. And in du season M
Gilmore presented himself to the Presi-
dent armed with letter from General
Kosecrans in which he said that he be-
heved the public interest could be premoted
Oy granting Colonel Jaqes's request, be-
cause OF its moral influence, though he aid
dld not anticipate the results tiiat the Col
expected from bis mission The President
az az nfst declined to entertain the subject
because, he said, Il happen to be Presi-
dent of the United States. We can r,aJa
no overtures to the rebels. If thew want
peace all they have to do is to Law down
their arms" Finally, however, be stated
IN clear direct way, the terms he
would give the rebels portion of which
have since been included in the Amnesty
Proclamation. And he added:
You can write what saw TO Gener,I
kosoerans, and he can communicates ss
much OF 1t as he thinks best to Colonel
Jaques but the Colonel must not under
stand that he has these terms from me-
we want peace, but We can make no over
lures Tor the rebels. They alrsady know
mat the country would welcomethem back,
ma treat them generously and magnani-
nously" %
General Rosecrans was Immediately
written to, and within ten days Colonel j.
Monroe Af1 he WAY W.lyg to the South. At Fortress
on board fag-of-truce bto59aAlggie chm, himself
entered the rebel lines, still in his uniforr5
Go where you please and stay as long as
you like" said the rebel officer who irst
met him. The narration continues:
ne 5AhT Ts one & can dfsH a5Ph a5Phfsk fsk r5B BE- fs668
who he was, or why he came and there
were ten chances to one that he would be
.alen as q spy. But what was that to him?
lie was about his Masters work, and his
trust in the Master, which lwhoever runs
may read" in his face, carried him safely
through.
lie went to Petersburg, and there they
came TO him. As Nicodemus. came to the
great Peace-Maker, so the rebel leaders
came to him, by night. Disguised, and
under false names, they sought him to ask
The way TO peace.
" Lay down your arms; go back to your
allegiance, and the country will deal kind
y and generously by you," he said to all
Of them.
From all he had the same answer:
& We are tired Of the war. We are will
ing to give up slavery. We know it is
gone; but so long as our government holds
out, we must stand by it. We cannot be-
LEAN ~ anu GdCu OLueT-
Colonel Jaques remained aErPetersburp
several weeks, and then returned to Balti-
more. He wrote to the President relating
the result Of his mission, but received no
reply. Months later, lMr. Gilmore learned
that the letter was never received.
But Col Jaques was now anxious
for another visit to the rebels,
proposing, this time, to see the
arch-rebel himself Leave of absence
was again granted him by Mr. Lincolu's
order. In few weeks he joined Mr.. Gil.
more at Baltimore, but on going to Wash
ingtOn it was known that '1unexpeeted OBJ
stacles were in the way of his further pro-
gress." What these were Is not stated but
they could be removed by Mr. Gilmore's
accompanying him. Accordingly the two
gentlemen started, and were passed through
the lines by Gen. Grant. Il went to Rich
mend" continues Mr.. Gilmore, hbecause 1
thought L could render material aid to Col.
Jaques, in paving the way to negotiations
that might result in peace" How they
Jared in that mission, what Mr.. Davis said
to them, and what they said to Mr.. Davis,
will be found in the account which Wepub-
Gsh in another column. esfD