The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-14
A Strange Story.

The correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial writing from Jackson, mis-
aissippi, learns the f1lloR.ng facts In ref
erence TO a conference that took place
during the late war. His informant ls q
reliable gentleman of that city,
Immediately after the fall election OF
1862, when the Corperheads, ~ conse-
quence of the general gloom and despond
ercy following els:s.er TO our arms. had
carried important elections in the North
west, the wife of Dick Richardson, Cop
perhead Represen tative from Illinois
suddenly made her appearance In TINS
CITY and requested an interview with
Sterling Price, then in command here.
She came through the lines at Y Vlcksburg-
and, calling upon Price, at bis hea1quar3
ters at the State House, represented tnat
she came with authority from the Demo
cratic party of the West and Northwest
10 open negotiations with the Confeder-
acy. looking to a union OF the two sec
tions. AS vouchers for her authority
and as guarantee that she was acting ID
good faith. she gave him the names o.
certain distinguished Western poi1tlc!ans'
whose names have figured largely in the
annals of the Knights of the Golden Clr
Gle, and, in addition, those of many FED
eral Generals, some OF whom have since
won for themselves no little reputation
on the field and whose names, II pub
| lished in this connection, would excite a
sensation of painful surprise throughout
| the North. So well satisfed ID was Price OF
her sincerity and the Importance OF her
mission, that he at oncs telegrAphed to
| Joseph f. Johnston to come to jackson
and listen 10 her proposals. He did SO,
| and a second interview was held with her,
at which were present Gen. Price, Gen
/ Johnston and Major John Tyler, OF
Prices staff At that meeting she made
them two distinct propositions:
First, That the seeded States should
abandon their rebellion ahd return tC
the Union as it was. The Congressmer
from the West and Northwest were tc
guarantee them all the rights they
/ claimed, the enforcement of the Fugi-
tive Slave Law, the holding of slaves II
/ the Territories, etc., all of which the!
were to maintain, if the East should dis
1 sent by force of arms.
In case this wa not accep @ l.
Second, That the Western and North
western States should join the Confed
eracy, accepting their pro-slavery Con
stitution and jeff. Davis as President
provided they were not required 70 nc
| cept slavery In their own StaleS, eXcep
at the will of the people. This neH
Confederacy of the South and West,
was expected, would meet with no or
position from the East, and in case
did, their united arms were expected t
prevail. The secret military erganizs
!, tions of the West were pledged to brin
into the field sufficient force to ba
lance the Western army then at tn
E South. while the united rebel arm
: would easily overpower the East.
, So important did these proposition
, appear to General johnson that he CAV
Mrs. Richardson passes and letters
: Richmond, to procure an audience wit
: jeff. Davis. He. however, regarded tn
scheme as visionary, and with on pr
text after another postponed the aud
ence for two or three months, until sh
] became disgusted and returned home.
|