The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-09

to a more frequent and more friendly
intercourse between the North and the
South"
"We sincerely hope it may"
MIR. Benjamin tells me you have
asked to see me, to''--
And he paused as if desiring we should
finish the sentence. The Colonel re-
plied,-
eyes, sir. We have asked this inter-
view in the hope that you may suggest
some way by which this war may be
stopped. Our people want peace,-your
people do, and your Congress has re-
Gently said that you do. We have come
to ask how it can be brought about"
:" In very simple way. Withdraw
your armies from our territory, and
peace will come of itself. We do not
seek to subjugate you. We are not wa
glng an offensive war, except SO far as it
is Observation-Disclosures is, so far as
your invading us. Let us alone, and
peace will come at Once.o
" But we cannot let you alone so long
as you repudiate the Union. That is
the one thing the Northern people will
not surrender"
" l know. You would deny to us what
you exact for yourselves-the right of
self-government."
:" No sir" remarked. "We would
deny you no natural right. But we
think Union essential to peace; and, Mr..
Davis, could two people, with the same
language, separated by only an imagi-
nary line, live at peace with each other?
Would not disputes constantly arise, and
and cause almost constant war between
them ~
"Undoubtedly,-with this generation.
You have soWn such bitterness at the
South, you have put an ocean of blood
between the two sections, that despair
of seeing any harmony in my time. Our
children may forget this war, but aoe
cannot"
II think the bitterness you speak of,
sir said the Colonel, 'sdoes not really
exist. Wemeetand talk here as friends !;
our soldiers meet and fraternize with
each other and feel sure, that, if the
Union were restored, Il more friendly
feeling would arise between us than has
ever existed. The war has made us know
and respect each other better than be-
fore. This is the view of very many
Southern men; have had it from many
of them,-your leading citizens"
''They are mistaken" replied Mr..
Davis. "They do not understand South
ern sentiment How can we feel any
thing but bitterness towards men who
deny us our rights? If you enter my
house and drive me out of it, am [ not
your natural enemyp'
" You put the case too strongly. But
we cannot fight forever; the war must
end at some time; we must finally agree
upon something; can we nos agree now,
and stop this frightful carnage? Weare
both Christian men, Mr.. Davis. Can
you, as {; Christian man, leave untried
"NO, cannot. i desire peace as much
as you do. l deplore bloodshed as much
as you do; but feel that not one drop of
the blood shed in this war is on n1v
hands,-I can look up to my God and
say this. l tried all in my power to
avert this war. | saw it coming, and
for twelve years l worked night and
day to prevent it, but could not. The
North was mad and blind; it would not
let us govern ourselves and so the war
came, and now it must go till the last
man of this generation falls in his tracks,
and his children seize his musket and
fight his battle, uaiess you acknowledge
oar right to self government. We are not
fighting for slavery. We are fighting
for lndependence,-and that, or exter-
mlnaLlOn, we 1rM nave"
"And there are, at least, four and u
half millions of us lett SO you see you
have work before you," said Mr.. Ben
jamin with decided sheer.
1--WE have no wish to exterminate
you," answered the Colonel. ~ believe
what have said,-that there is no bit
terness between the Northern and South
ern people. The North, know, loves
the South. When peace comes, it will
pour money and means into your hands
to repair the waste caused by the war;
and it would now welcome you back,
and forgive you all the loss and blood
shed you have caused. But we must
crush your armies, and exterminate your
government. And is not that already
done? You are wholly without money,
and at the end of your resources. Grant
has shut you up in Richmond. Sherman
is before Atlanta. Had you not, then,
better accept honorable terms while you
can retain your prestige, and save the
pride of the Southern people :'
Mr.. Davis smiled.
81 respect your earnestness, Colonel,
but you do not seem to understand the
situation. We are not exactly shut up
in RichmOn6 IF vOlr nanarS toll tho