Newspaper Page Text
498
THE COUNTRYMAN,
TURN WOLD, GA., SEPTEMBER 13, 1864.
“A Glimmer of Hope.”
Some of our Macon cotemporaries do not
take the fall of Atlanta very philosophically.
The Intelligencer makes rather a fierce on
slaught on Presic • t Davis, on account of its
capture, and the T< itgraph, it seems, was in
utter despair, I'm s pell, but finally “heard a
report,” and picked up as much consolation as
is found in the foli> Hrig- paragraph :
“If this report be true—and it is not impossi
ble—there is a glimmer of hope for our arms
yet.’’
Well, a “glimmer of hope” is better than no
hope at all; but we trust that the fall of Atlan
ta does not reduce us to such straits, as that
we have nothing but a “glimmer of hope for
our arms.” We think that circumstances not
only justify a very strong hope, but a very de
cided probability of success. We have not lost
faith that we shall certainly succeed.
We are glad we do not edit, a daily paper.
In the excitement of the moment, we might,
giving way to temporary despondency, say
things we would wish we had not said.
* It iB natural for our Macon confreres not to
be very hopeful,- since the fall of Atlanta, be
cause Macou is (or may be) the next place.
But we opine our cause is not desperate, even
if Macon falls, along with Atlanta. Georgians,
just now, are more despondent than any other
people, because their homes are, for the first
time, invaded. But let us all remember that
the homes of Other confederates have been in
vaded, and the cause survives. We hope, far
beyond a‘glimmer of hope,’ that it will still]
survive even a much deeper penetration into
the heart of Georgia than now exists. In spite
of vert serious blows, we shall yet secure our
independence.
A Circular about the Peace Negotia
tions.
Department of State, )
Richmond, A.ug. 25, 1864.)
Sir :—Numerous publications, which
have recently appeared in the journals of
the United States,on the subject of in formal
overtures for peace between the two fede
rations of states, now at war on this con
tinent, render it desirable that you should
be fully advised of the vic-vs and'policy
of this government, on a matter of such
paramount importance.- It is likewise
proper, that you should be accurately
informed of what has occurred on the
several occasions mentioned in the pub
lished statements.
noil have, heretofore, been furnished
with copies of the manifesto, issued by
the congress of the Confederate States,
with the approval of the president, on
the 14th June last, and have doubtless
acted in conformity with the resolution
which requested that copies of this man
ifesto should be laid heforefthe^forcign
governments. 1 The principles, senti
ments, and purposes, t by which these
states have been, and are still actuated,’
are set forth, in that paper, with all the
authority due’to the solemn declaration
of the legislative and executive depart
ments of this government, and with a
clearnnss which leaves no room for com
ment, or explanation. In a few sentences,
it is pointed out that all we ask is immuni
ty from interference with our internal
peace and prosperity, ‘and to be left in the
undisturbed enjoyment of those inaliena
ble rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness, which our common ances
tors declared to be the equal heritage of
all parties to the social compact. Let
them forbear aggressions upon us, p.nd the
war is at an end. If there be questions
which require adjustment by negotiation,
we haye ever been willing, and are still
willing to enter into communication with
our adversaries, in a spirit of peace, of
equity, and manly frankness.’ The mani
festo closed with the declaration that ‘we
commit our cause to the enlightened judg
ment of the world, to the sober reflection
of our auversaries themselves, and to the
solemn and righteous arbitrament of Heav
en.’
Within a very few weeks after the pub
lication of this manifesto, it seemed to
have met with a response from Presi*
dent Lincoln. In the early part of last
month, a letter was ieqeived by Gen. Lee,
from Lieut. Gen. Grant, in the following
words:
‘IIeadq’rs Army of the U. S.,)
City Point, Va., July 8, 1864. (
Gen. It. E. Lee, Confederate forces near
Petersburg, Va:
General:—I would request that Colo
nel J. F. Jaques, 73rd Illinois volunteer in
fantry, and J. R. Gilmore, Esq., be allow
ed to meet Col. Robt. Ould, commissioner
for the exchange of prisoners,at such place,
between the lines of the two armies, as you
may designate. The object of the meet
ing is legitimate with the duties of Col.
Ould as commissioner.
If- not consistent for you to grant the
request here asked, I would beg this let
ter to be referred to President Davis for
his action.
Requesting as early an answer to this
communication as you may find it conven
ient to make, I subscribe myself,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
U. S. Grant.
Lieut. Gen. U. S- A.’
On the reference of this letter to the
President, he authorized Ool. Ould to
meet the persons named in Gen. Grant’s
letter, and Colonel .Ould, after seeing them,
returned to Richmond, and reported to
the President, in the presence of the Secre
tary of War, and myself, that Messrs.
Jaques and Gilmore had not said anything
to him about his duties as commissioner
for exchange of prisoners, but that they
asked permission to come to Richmond,
for the purpose of seeing the President;
that they came with the knowledge and
approval of President Lincoln, and under
his pass ; that they were informal mes
sengers, sent wiih a view of paving the
way lor a meeting of formal commisson-
ers, authorized to negotiate for peace, and
desired to communicate to President Da
vis the views ol Mr. Lincoln, and to ob
tain the President’s views in return, so as
to arrange for a meeting of commission
ers. Ool. Ould stated that he had told them
repeatedly, that it was useless to coine to
| Richmond to talk of peace, on any other
: terms than the recognized independence
| of the confederacy, to which they said
they were aware of that, and that they
were nevertheless confident that their in
terview would result in peace. The Pres^
ident, on this report of Col. Ould, deter
mined to permit them to come to Rich-
mondj under his charge.
On the evening of the 16th July, Col
Ould conducted these gentlemen to a ho
tel in Richmond, where a room was provfo
ded for them, in which they were to re
main, under surveillance during their stay
here, and the next morning received the
following letter : ,
‘Spottsw t ood House, )
Richmond, Ya., July 17, 1864. $
Ron. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of State
ofC.S.A:
Dear Sir :—The undersigned, James F.
Jaques, of Illinois, and James R. Gilmore,
of Massachusetts, most respectfully solicit
an interview with President Davis. They
visit Richmond as private citizens, and
have no official character or authority :
but they are fully possessed of the views
of the United States government Relative
to an adjustment of the differences now
existing between the North and the
South, and have little doubt that a free
interchange of views between President
Davis and themselves, would open the
way to such official negotiations as would
ultimate in restoring peace to the two sec
tions of our distracted country.
They, therefore, ask an interview with
the President, and, awaiting your reply,
are
Most truly, and respectfully,
Your obedient' servants,
James F. Jaques,
James R. Gilmore.
The word‘official’ is underscored, and
the word ‘peace’ doubtly underscored, in
the original.
After perusing the letter, I invited Col.
Ould to conduct the writers to my office,
and, on their arrival, stated to them that
they must be conscious they could not be
admitted to an interview with the Presi
dent, without informing me more fully of
the object of their mission, and satisfying
me that they came by request of Mr.
Lincoln. Mr. Gilmore replied that they
came unofficially, but with the knowledge,
and at the desire of Mr. Lincoln ; that
they thought the war had gone far
enough; that it could never end, except
by some sort of agreement; that the
agreement might as well be made
now as after further bloodshed; that
they knew, by the recent address of
the confederate congress, that we were
willing to make peace ; that they admit
ted that proposals ought to come from the
North, and that they were prepared to
make these proposals of peace, by Mr.
Lincoln’s authority ; that it was necessa
ry to have an informal understanding in
advance of regular negotiations, for, if
commissioners were appointed without
some such understanding, they wmuld
meet, quarrel, and separate, leaving the
parties more bitter against each otuer
than before ; that they knew Mr. Lincoln’s