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

sixty days. If majority votes Disu-
Mon, our government to be bound by it,
and to let you go in peace. Ii a majority
votes Union, yours to be bound by it,
and to stay i'm peace. The two govern
ments can contract in this way, and the
people, though constitutionally unable
to decide On peace or war, can elect
which OF the two propositions shall gov
ern their rulers. Let Lee and Grant,
meanwhile, agree to an armistice. This
would sheath the sword; and if once
sheathed, it would never again be drawn
by this generation"
"The plan is altogether ilnpracticable.
If the South were only one State, it
might work; but as it is, if one South
ern State objected to emancipation, it
would nullify the whole thing; for you
are aware that the people OF Virginia
cannot vote slavery out OF South Caro-
lima, 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 it be
done by the people. l am not a states
man or a 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 decideit you
mean. We seceeded to rid ourselves of
the rule of the majority, and this would
subject us to it again."
"But the majority must rule finally,
either with bullets or ballots"
81 am not sure of that. Neither cur
rent events nor history shows that the
majority rules, or ever did rule. The
contrary, l think, is true"
Mr.. Benjamin asked: care the terms
you have named-Emancipatio No
Confscation, and Universal Amnesty
the terms which Mr.. Lincoln authorized
you to offer us ?'
"No, sir, Mr.. Lincoln did not author
ize me to offer you any terms. But /
think both he and the Northern people,
for the sake of peace, would assent to.
some such conditions"
"They are ce,y generous" replied
Mr.. Davis, for the first time during the
interview showing some angry feeling.
"But Amnesty, sir, applies to criminals,
We have committed no crime. Confis-
cation is of no account, unless you can
enforce it. And Emancipation You
have already emaneipated two millions
of our slaves, and if you will take care
of them, you may emancipate the rest.
| had a few when the war began. was
of some use to them; they never were
of any to me. Against their will you
'emancipated't them; andyoumay eman-
cipate' every negro in the Confederacy,
but ace ,eiH be free! We shall govern
ourselves. We acHl do it, if we have to
see every Southern plantation sacked,
and every Southern city in flalnes.''
81 see, Mr. Davis, it is useless to con-
| tinue this conversation, )" | replied ssand
you will pardon us if we have seemed
to press our views with too much per-
tinacity. We love the old flag, and that
must be our apology for intruding upon
you at ALL"
You have not intruded upon me-"
he replied, resuming his usual manner
am glad to have met you both. /
once loved the old flag as we'll as you
do; / would have died for it but now
it is to me only the emblem of oppres-=
siOn."
81 hope that day may never come,
MIR. Davis, when 1 say that, said the
Colonel.
a half-hour's conversation on other
topics-not of public interest-ensued,
and then we rose to go.
AS were leaving the room Mr.. Davis
said:
"Say to Mr.. Lincoln from me, that /
shall at any time be pleased to receive
proposals for peace on the basis of our
Independence. 1t will be useless to APP
proach me with any other"
lean only add that at shutdown we
passed out of the rebel lines, and at ten
O'Clock at night stretched our tired
limbs on the ''downy'' cots of Gen. But
ler's tent, thankful, devoutly thankful,
that we were once again under the folds
of the old flag.
Thus ended our visit to Richmond. r
have endeavored to sketch it faithfully.
The conversation with Mr.. Davis took
down shortly after entering the Union
lines, and have tried to report his ex-
act language, extenuating nothing, and
coloring nothing that he said. Some of
hissentences, as / read them over, appear
stilted, and high flown, but they did
not sound so when uttered. AS listened
to, they seemed the simple, natural Ian
guage of his thought. He spoke DELHI
erately, apparently weighing every word,
and knowing well that all he said would.
be given to the public.
He is mann of peculiar ability. Our
interview with him explained to me