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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