the latter's letter to Mr. Lincoln.
This was, however, immaterial, as they had no authority to submit
anything. They asked Mr. Davis if the "_dispute_" was not "narrowed
down to this: Union or Disunion." Davis answered: "Yes, or
independence or subjugation." The "envoys" suggested that the two
governments should go to the people with two propositions: (1)
"Peace with disunion and Southern independence," (2) "Peace with
Union, emancipation, no confiscation, and universal amnesty." A
vote to be taken on these propositions within sixty days, in which
the citizens of the whole United States should participate; the
proposition prevailing to be abided by. Pending the vote there
should be an armistice. Mr. Davis promptly said:

"The plan is wholly impracticable. If the South were only one
State it might work; but as it is, if only one State objected to
emancipation, it would nullify the whole thing: for you are aware
the people of Virginia cannot vote slavery out of South Carolina,
nor the people of South Carolina vote it out of Virginia."

The interview proceeded on these lines without approaching agreement.
It is evident that the "envoys" were overmatched by Davis and
Benjamin, and were subjected to a charge of ignorance of the form
of their own government. Davis indulged in some _bluff_ about
caring nothing for slavery, as his slaves were already freed by
the war; and he declared the Southern people "will be free"--will
govern themselves, if they "have to see every Southern plantation
sacked and every Southern city in flames." Davis also announced
that he would be pleased, at any time, to receive proposals "for
peace on the basis of independence. It will be needless to approach
me on any other."

The interview being over, Jacquess and Gilmore got quickly back
into the Union lines, and North. The latter published an account
of the interview in the _Atlantic Monthly_ for September, 1864.
His account does not materially differ from Benjamin's sent to the
Confederate diplomatic agents in Europe, or Davis' in his _Rise
and Fall of the Confederacy_.( 7)

On the whole the publication of the story of this visit to Richmond
did much good to the Union cause in the pending Presidential
campaign. The story closed the mouths of the peace factionists,
though a few of Mr. Lincoln's party friends, fearing the result of
the election, continued to demand more tangible testimony of his
disposition to negotiate a peace; th