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A Mission To Richmond

A Mission To Richmond image
Parent Issue
Day
29
Month
July
Year
1864
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A special dispatuh to the New York Times dated Washington, July 20th, snys : An individual, fresh from Ricnmond, oot as a releosed risonor, hut an hon ored guest, ent.'i'tumed three days iii the capital of the Öonthern Confederocy, fcasted by Jeff. Dnvis, Benjamin and thcir compeers, huvuig around him the romance a'ud the mystery of an unknown mission,andknoving the pecrets of the rebel prison house, is rara avis enough to make a eersation even amid the laden and huiguid heat of a Washington sumniei's day. Such a personage, biingins v.ith him all the oxperi enees enumerated, arrived bere to-day direct from Eichmond by woy of öeneral Grant's hüadinartcrs. Hi.s name is Colonel James 'F. Jaques, of the Scventy-third llltaoii Volunteers. Colond, butparson afeo, Wein a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Chureh Though neither envoy oor ambassador, Colonel Jaques had a mission of bis own, clotbed wiib Doauthority to speak for either President or government, he appears to have had authoiitv enongh of some kind to command a hewring from the principalities and povvers tbat sit in Richroond ; in fine, without being a plenipotentiary, he seetus to bc endowed with a cuitain species of power behind the throne that caused him to be attentively listened to and kind ly treated by tho chiefe of the iebollion. CIIAUACTF-R OF HIS MISSION. Oí tho real object and end of Cy]; onel Jaques's rfiissión, I am lequêsVèd by bitnuell not now to speak. "Pit is perfectly proper to state, h wever", that il is ia no respect oflicial in its charactér, and that he had no warranty u-hatsoever to enter into any hegotialions betwóec this government and the rebel authoiities. Any statement that would couvey a different irnpression is tetse. Secondlv, it mav be stated that though Cclonel Jaquel mission conternplatea resulta oí the high est hnportance; these resulta are ulterior rathe'r than immediate. Fináíly, it is wnrrantabte tó say that though Lis missiöli was on'e of peace, it was 'nat a peace mission. Colonel Jaques belongs tó the chlITób militant and beliéVes most heartily in dealing tho rebellion wbat Hudibra ealls " apostolic blows and knocks." Yet he has faith that the time will come, aud is rapidly comi.ig, when an agencv of rëeonciliatioü which he belitjves'to bo of immense power, can be used. Animï.ted by thie sentiment, hc succeeded in so impressing his views upon Mr. Lincoln that the President, without according him the smallest official reengnition or uithority, was uilling, beliövtAö his honesty of purpose, that he shouid try the experiment of u visit to Richmond. According, he gave him a personal recommendátion to General Grant to pass him throogh tho lines, or otherwise foi'ward his views. COL. JAQUES GOES TO RICHMOND. Thus aided, C"lonel Jaques, aeeompanied by Mr. Edtnund Kirke, made as way from General Grant's headquarters by the north (?ide of the James River, and passirg the rebol lmes, reached tho Confedérate Capital. Here they remamed for three days- Satur day, Bundiiy and Monday lust. While in "Èiuhmond, Colonsl Jaques, at his own request, was placed under guard; but he liad thu cutiré ireedom of the city, and put up during his visit at the Spottswoocl House, the "crack" hotel of Eichinond. INTERVIEW W1TH EJJBEL fUESIDF.NT. The Colonel, during his three day's stay, visitcd the varioua Confedérate aulhorities, as weü as the piisons ond hcïspitals in which our captivos nnd wounded nre confined. He h;ul two prolongad interviews with President Davis in his office in the Custom House; and although the natura and subject matter of the conversatioE betuien hinWif and the rebel President are not proper for present publication, yet it is understood Ihut Colonul Jaques met vvith considerable fjicpees in impressing Lis views upan Mr. Davis. Wbei) tak ing his leave, Davis took thu Colonel's hand in both of Lis, shooJE it warmly and cordially. and staled that, leavinaout of view th present siruggie, he had the higbesi respect for his chiructer and aims. HOW THE COLOXEL VVA8 ENTERTAINED. The Colonel, wbilo ft 'guest at the Pfottswóod House, [ared suniptuotisly, i beinir ied on chickon, turkey, niuttoii and all the vianda of a wdl appo'n.te.l hot el, and entertained willi fine bian(Jurf and costly vvinns. His bill would have amounted to mmo thau üve liundred dollars in Conledonite menty, bul he ioui-id it impcssilile to indnee his entertainer to accept any return ior tlie I hospitaüty he had received. HE V1SITS VARI3US DIOMXAUIÜS. Cf'lonel Jnques also had interviows with Mr: Benjimin, Seoretarv of Slate, Mr. OiiM, Comniissi(.ner of Exehangc, andollier Conieüerattí dignitaties and authorilies. THE RKDBL PRISONS. TI. o Colonfl was perniitted lo visit, the Libby and Befte Isle Prisma, niu! reporta that ho was asreeably disnp pointed by tlio eomparatively cdiufurtable condition in which he found our Union eantives thert-in confined. The ivonnded, also, thciugh only tho more (iespeiate cases ne retained in the hospitáis of Riohmond, he found as we.ll cared for as could b.e expected. HOW RI0IIJ1OSD LOOK. The streets ot Kiehmond aro almost desertad, íe.w others being seen than Boldióff, ivomn, üegroes and cripplee. Míiny of the stcres, however, retnaia opea, and there is nonio business aetivity. , IHE HEBBL PRESIDENT. Col. Juques describes Joff. Davis as bale aud hearty in íippeamnce, his healih being much botter latterly than it had been, and,though thin in face and pcrson, the tough and wiry conditiop of tho rebel chieftain Örësêtits no likeühoed of his giving out duriíig the natural lifa oí the robellion. CIIAÜACTER OE COL. JAQUHS. Extraordinary though Col. Jaques' story, his mission and all belutiging thereto, may oppear, there can be no doubt vvhatever of his thoi'öugt bonesty; and nith this quality he app&irs to be oredited both by our own afid tho rebel aiitb.or'üies. Of bis wisdom there may pot-sibly be mere queslioa.

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Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus