The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-05

flow South to relieve your destitute and
suffering. Indeed, we would sustain our
President should he. in such case, issue his
proclamation of universal amnesty"
1 DAVIS Avows INNOCENCE.
Davis, with the evident expectation of
shaminS this speech. replied: You have
poorly manifested your love in your con-
duct of the war;
The Colonel replied promptly, "Oh! we
are not just now making-friends-we are
fighting rebellion
Mr.. Davis asserted that he foresaw this
! struggle, this bloOdshed. etc. and while in
Congress strove to avert it.
Before God" said he, Il have not a
droD of this blood on my skirts &C.
| The Colonel afterward remarked that he
barely escaped the impulse of replying
that this would be dangerous appeal to
carry before Cod
Davis then proceeded with long dis
sertatiOn on States rights, etc. alluding
to the Declaration of American Indepen-
dence and its initial principle, that the
right to govern depends upon the consent
of the governed, and added III we Of the
| South talk of peace and continued union
we will thereby confess that we have blum
dered in beginning this war;
Col. Jaquess asserted that Mr. Davis's
harangue would compare favorabIy with
| TIC prev style -! SpPccH-
es in the North, and would have been fully
Endorsed by the Peace Party, then organ
lied to defeat President Lincoln's reelec-
| ton.
SEPARATION OR HUMILIATION.
The COlOnel's next effort was to change
the drift of the conversation and to OBJ
tain the rebel ultimatum. Mr.. Davis as
serted that the Southern people have a
| tad hafr nf h.,
The Northern reply was simply, Il have
| failed to discover it." and the Colonel adj
ded. I'VE are told that were an armstice
| for JO days agreed upon, our people could
not be induced to resume hOstilities."
OH said Mr.. Davis, Il am in favor of
an armistice if you will admit our indie
pendence; for we are bound to have sepa-
ration or annihilatiOn.'
Then, Mr.. Davis, you will obtain ami
hilati0n: for our people are determined
you shall not establish the doctrine of Sc
cession. Would you come back into the
Union as confederacy if we would give
constitutional guarantees Of your claims in
the matter of slavery, etc?''
At this point Secretary Benjamin. who
had been writing for long time, blurted
| out with volcanic heat and impatience: III
| the throat of every slave in the COnfeder-
acy were cut, we would have nothing but
separation"
Mr. Davis assented, and reiterated his al
Tentative of separation or annihilation,"
| and again received the emphatic consola-
ton that he would, in that case, inevitably
be accommodated with the coveted ami
hlation. Mr.. Gilmore here asked how
they would be satisfied with the plan of
| submitting the question TO the people. and
allowing them to vote for Mr.. Davis as
| the Secession and Mr.. Lincoln as the
| Union candidate?
yes" said the Colonel, 'let the ma ior-
ity decide
The reply was from Mr. Davis, with an
attempt mt severity, You can do that in
your consolidated form, but l have no
right to ask my people thus to VOTE
And here followed that heretical but
| Characteristic anti-republican sentiment
from the Secession Chieftain: I'VE have
left you to rid ourselves of the despotism
| of majoritiesw
The Colonel suggested to Mr.. Davis that
he had better not let the Southern people
know this, and received the assurance that
| he was at liberty to proclaim it from eyerv
permission the Colonel was prevented by
circumstances"
CLOSING THE INTERVIEW.
Mr. Benjamin in his account of the oc-
| casi0n asserts, for effect that at this Doint
MI. Davis wished to close the interview.
Col. Jaquess positively contradicted this
statement, and asserts that he was the first
to indicate such n desire. Three times did
The Colonel arise, and three times was he
detained by renewal OF the conyersa-
ton.
Once Col. Jaquess asked Mr.. Davis IL
they would ever meet again. "Oh! yes"
was the reply.
Col. Jaquess-"My Northern friends say
look like Jeff Davis
Mr.. Davis-"YOu ought not to consider
that a compliment"
Col. 'Jaquess-"I do not consider it a
left-handed one. by any MEANS"
Mr.. Davis-"Your resemblance to N.Y.
self occurred to me when you entered the
ROOM"
Col Jaquess-"And / had the CORE
spending thought at the same time"
Then followed q talk for 30 minutes
about ancestry, ETC., in which both parties
forgot that they were enemies, Mt the con-
clusion Of which Col. Jaquess for the third