Wilmington journal., 1864-09-01
CIRCULAR
DEPARTMENT oP STATE,


nasions mentioned in the published statements.
You have heretofore been furnished with copies OF h
sates ih tie approval Of the President. the l4tl
lime last and have doubtless acted in conformity ith the
should be laid tcregn Governments The princi
pes sent mers and purposes by WcR nese states have
with all the authority the solemn declaration Of the
Legislative and Ex cutiye Departments OF this Govern
ent or explanation. In few sentences it ia pointed out
that oil we ask immunity from nterference with our in
terna Ueacs pert, " and to be left in the undis
turbed yment those raenable rights of life, liberty
The of happiness which our common ancestors
declared tbs equal heritage of all paFeS 20 tne social
compact Let them orbear aRgressions upon u.s. and the
is a. m end If there be questions eHer bs.n wno0 sd
src still willing 10 into communication with ad-
TIE 7Sspesfo closed with the declaration that
commit canse TO the engh 5ned Judgment of the
word, he sober refsctions of aaversarieF them
sslses a to the solemn and righteous srbitrament of
WrIn yery few weeks after the publication Of this
manifesto. seemed TO have with ponss from
Pesi1Gn Lincoln. In the early part OF last letter
received by Cen Lee from Lieu. Gen. Grant, in the
following words:
"EDQ's .1i, 4inFs p, OF rVs Vs UTITzP sF.GHs,
"Ce4era 4 Lsz commanding Confederate forces near
Petersburg, Va:
'Gener2-I would eq7egt that Con james F. Jacquess
ISL inofs volunteer iataDry, and j. Il; Gilmore, ESD be
allowed to meet Col Eobert 0uld COMMISSIONER the
the armies you mar 1esiga The object the
mestiog legitimate with the duties OF Colonel Oud
AZ consistent for you grant the request here ssk
Cd ud beg that tnis be referred President Davis
Requesting early answer this communication as
you mag ind II conVeient to make, sl5sc,oe myself,
''I0nr cbedient RerEsnt,
90. S. GRANT, Lieut.. General U. S. A..
On tire reference Of this ls1.er to the President he au
t6o'Ized %oiene ouj 70 net the persons named in Cen
,arG~d r. pcud 'el ted to the President, il the
Jacquess and Gilmore ta1 No. said anything him sbou:
his duties Com scner for exchange Of prisoners, but
Ihl. Icy I0-.e &t4 ~ !oF tIe
purpose OF sSeiAg 'ho ie-oh tHas tty caLe with tho
knowl dgS End approval - Fosident Lincoln, and under
his pass. .hat lhey ..g-. messengers with
view II paViH1 Ia WGy or meeting OF formal Commia
stones Authorized Cegotae peace, and desired
muunicatG President Davis tie views OF Mr. Lincoln
aid TO obtain tie PIesdentE news III THarn SO as to ar
range for meeting Of Coumeioaers Colonel O1d stated
thai he had tod them repeatedly a aa useless to
10 Ichond 10 tax OF pc-ce on n oincr terms than the
recognized Independence Of the Conederacy to which
nevertheless confident their interview would result in
peace. Ihs FIeslIeu this report OF Colonel Out de-
On Tie evening OF the 10th July Colonel Oud conducted
provided for them il winch they to remain under
surveillance ming her stay here, and the 1nornng
"gP0TswooD House.
/" Richmond, Va, July 18th, 1854.
" Hon j. p. Bsajanatn Secretary of State of G. s. A:
Dear Sir The Undersigned, JAS r: Jacqusss, of Hi
uos and ames Il. Gilmore of Massachusetts res
pectluy solicit interview with President Davis. They
visit chnon1 as private citiz5Es and have official
character uhorIty bat they fully possessed of
United States u relative an
adus; ;st o. the dh3rehces new existing between the
North and ha South, aad have little doubt that
'rchange Of views between President Davis and them
selves ~ou,d opn the way 10 such ciaI negotiations
would ultimate in restoring PEACE 10 the two sections
distracted country.
They therefore interview with the President
aud, awaiting yCuc reply,
Most Truly ann respectfully,
JAMES F. JACQUES.
"JAMBs Z. GILMORE"
The official is understood and the word peace
doubly understood in the original.
AMER peIus!rg the letter. invited Col. Guild to conGuc.
The tiers my Cce, ard their arrival stated them
an interview with the President without informing me more
fully the object Of their misson and satisfying that
they by request OF hr Lincoln. Mr. Gilmore re.
pied lat they came unofciay, bat with the knowledge
and ~ The desire CT Air. LlnCUn that they thought the
by of ssEeeuet tna Tho agreement might AS
well lie made after further bocdshe! that they
knew the recent address of the Confederate Congress
tta We we're wiling to make peace that they admitted
that proposals. ough 20 from the orh, aud thar they
authority that il necessary have of informal
uldeTs aiding IL advance OF regQlar negotiaons for if
saociag they would meet quarrel, aDd separate leaving
the parties mere bitter against each other than before
that tey knew Nj. Lncolns views and would them,
pressed by tee Presaent to do 30, and desired 20 learn
his in return.
again insisted on some eydsnce thai they came from
Mr.. Lnco.u and Id order to satisfy me, Mr. Gilmore
erTed the that permission tor coming through
letter General Lee aud that General Grant
ter hai asked that tls request should referred Pres
and aligned by air. Lincoln, requt sting Gen. Grant aid
Mr. Gilmore ard friend in passing through his lines into the
Con eOGTacy. Col jacques Il en- said that his
put the card for the that earnestly
sired their should be kept secret that he had
come iEtO ne ConIederacy year ago, had visited
Petersburg Grand ana mat it was feared if
his should become known that OF those who
had formerly not him Petersburg would conjecture the
rurpusG Tor which he He said that the terms
pele which Trey you'd offer President TouIG ne
orabe oGtcderacy, that they did not desr that
the should accept any other terms but would
be glad TO have they gave thera at their
n atIC1
Ii peace that would not oe just that pa.tY should
SEEK advantage by dYulgg tbs OF their overture
Tor peace, uHtrtcesstut asseped this quest and
then 1ls'rg sAI DO understand you to state dis.
tincty that uessrDgers from sr LpcoIn FIR
the purpose agreeing the President SIS to the
mode Ut IHauguratiDg formal negotiation for neacr
charged by with authority for stating his own
VewJ receiving those President Davis 20" Roth an
swered in Il. Affirmative and then said that the Presi
dent would see them y office sanie evening at
Z M that at least, presumed he would, bl. if he OBJ
JFa .3r 81 h heIr8 NY TGpoF tney s4ouj 'e informed
win understanding that they ware t, > Cd
to Office at lhe appointed hour unless otsTTise d.
Fected.
This Interview, connected with the report ravions
made by Col 0uld left my mind the decided mpr ession
soners to open negotiations lest he might thereby
deemed 10 haVo niz5d independence Coned
% M tna' Nc v as d. .us to learn whether the co2d
uons on W6Sh aiohe ne would be wiling to take such
E2p ToUlT be yelued BY the Contederacy; that with
this view a bad paed his messengers in conGi,ian to
satisfy 1s that lhsy really from him, without commit
ting HIM. elf to Is ENG The event Of Disagreement ns
10 such eordt Ii considered to be iriispensahe-
On Iii 0rGlng the PfesdGnt therefore, OF my uoGc oua
he determined b4 question - form etqastte snoud
be al obstacle hsrec soy overtures that promised,
however renl,c5 to rtsV rlsLng end the car.
mage which marked the Continuance of hostiIes.
The President eau 10 my ofce at o'clock tho even
ipg, Col. cams sv moments later with essrs
Jacquess Gilmore. The President said to them that
he had heard, tom Ete, th3t - messengers of
peace from Er LiacoIn that ..ch hey were welcome
that the Conedoraoy had concealed it's desire for
peace and that be ready to whatever they had
ofer OIL mat subject
MIR Gmcre then adJyn=sad t,o prssi1ant fam