The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-06-06
Rubtnlnah 4ispatft,.

Klreenlnan 8lspatft,
WEDNESDAY, MORNING. .JUNE2 is6e.
~~->--'s-s~--S~>
The Alleged Treason Of Gen. Charles Lee.
Some mon tbs ago we alluded 70 paper read
before the New York Historical Society, by
Ono. H. MooRx, Librarian Of said Society,
upon the Treason Of Gen CKAxLn Lun."-.
A very imperfect sketch Of the paper was at
the same time reprinted fro0 some OF tho New
York journals, whose reporters had taken It
down apparently from memory. The title Of
the paper startled everybody, and very many
expressed their decided incretiuiity. Since
that time Mr.. MooRH has published 1t in book
form, and we have u copy now lying before
us. We rerubiish the document upon which
the charge is founded. II its authenticity can
be established, there WILL We think. remain no
doubt upon the mind Of any reasonable per-
son. - - az
II will be recollected that Gen. LEE was
captured at Baskiugridgs on the 18th Dece'n-
Der, 1910, during the retreat Of the Amerieah
army through the Jerseys. He was, At the
time. separated by An interval of several
miles from his command Of three or four
thousand men, and had only very slender
eecort with him. The detachment which took
him was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
u.pcovRr. of the British army. The advanced
~u.rd of this detachment-it may be interest
Ing to Virginia readers TO know-was led BY
their old friend TARLErox, at that time only
a Cornet of Dragons. LEE was treated very
roughly BY his captors, who tied him, both
legs and arms, on q horse behind dragon,
and rode or with him at furious speed to
brunswick. He was greatly alarmed, believ-
ing that he would be tried as a traitor and ex-
ecu;ed. for he had been n Colonel in the Brit
ish service, although be had resigned pre-
yiousiy to accepting the commission Of Con-
press and was, in point OF fact, only half
nav officer at the time Of his resignation, and
therefore not strictly amenable to military
law. 1t was. doubtless, under the influence
of apprehension for his life that LEE submit
ted the paper in question to the HowEs. We
now lay it before our readers:
AS on the ono hand it appears to me that by
the continuance of the War America has chance
sitho by struggling she may put the Mother Coun.
try TO very serious expcnce both in blood and
ia,lon h.vock and slaughter, be reduc to submit
TO terms much harder than might probably lie
Britain tho ultimately victorious. must suffer very
heavily even IN the process OF her victories, eyry
life lost and evry gunea scent being IN TACT worse
property. shedding her own blood and destroyine
her own s'regnth; and as am not only persuaded
from the hige opinion have OF the humanity ana
good sense of Lord and General Howe that the
terms of accommodation will be as moderate AS
their powers will admit, but that their powers are
more am pie than their Successors Ishould any ac-
cident happen) would be vested with. think my
self not only justh,be but bound in conscience to
furnish all the lights. cam to enable 'em to bring
matters to a conclusion IN the most compendious
manner and consequently the least expensive 10
both PaYties-I do this with the more readiness
az know the most generous use will he made ofit
have consideration for individuals who have acted
from Principle and their good sense VIII tell EN-
lions the more sol solid and permanent will he the
union. for if the conditions were extremely repug-
only only the mere me patchwork Of day which the first
breath Of wind will dlscompose and the hrst symp,
Great Britain absolutely. overtnrn-- but really
have no apprehenslons Of THIS KIND whist Lord
and latter myself that under their auspices
accommodation NAV be built on so solid a
In this persuasion and on these principles shall
most sincerely and zealously contribute ali IN my
aecidsuts fall out which no human fofes ht can
guard against Will answer with my lite for the
From my present situation and ignorance of
ing things which. cannot without difficulties he
therefore hope allowances will be made for my
CIRCUMSTANCES will suppose then that texclu.
RSsds Island and General Army
(comprehending every species, British, Hessians
men capable to take the field and act cfsn-
siyey; by which mean to move to any part
will suppose that the Generals design with
this force is s t. clear the Jerseys and take pos
taking possession Of Phlaoelphia will not have
any decisive onseQuences-the Cong and Peo-
up their minds ior the event; already They have
iurn'd their eyes to other places where They can
on sHs ths
event They have deyls'd measures for protIacting
the War IN hopes Of some favorable turn Of affairs
~ Europe-the taking possession therefore OF
Philadelphia or any one or two Towns more which
the General may have in view, wlll not he decisive
10 unh,nge or dissolve, If may express myself,
the whole system or machine OF resistance, or Ia
other terms, Congress GOyernment-this system
or machine. as affairs now stand depends entirely
on the sircrm.tanee: and d,ipo.iton OF the Fec
Province Of Mary land or the greater part Of it is
reduced or submits. and the People Of vlrsinia are
Pennsyivanis Army the whole machine is dissolved
and period pat 70 the War; 70 accom- sa which,
Lordship and the General and II it Is adopted in
STAKE my lie on tho i.sueI have at the same time
the comfort to reflect that in pointing out meas
ures which know to be the most effectual point
out those which will be attended with no bOotlshed
or dssoIatien 20 the Colonies. AS the difficulty, Of
am confident keep the New Eng landers AZ home
the seat OF Government stregnth nor PoIiticks
Ito and Rhode Island against tSs,s
that General Hovss Army tincudins every spe.
clos Of Troops, amounts twenty or even eighteen
Continent; as fourteen thoushand vii 10 more
session Of would p!opo:. that that -Four
thoushand men he lmne ateiy emlar ID in ira ms
ports, one half Of which shou proceed M the Pe
tomac and take post at Alexandria, the other half
napolis They will most probably meet with no
opposition IN taking possession Oh these Posts and
tina, a few hours work and some trifling artillery
Will secure them against the attacks of = much
sranst tha%thsr com oS w M cnwn
Vessels Of very considerable burthen lof five or
SIX hundred tons for lnstancel can he in close to
the shore. and at Annapolis within musket shot
all the necessaries and refreshments for an Army
every part on both banks Of the Potomac that Of
each other, a. 1t is but two easy days march from
to the other, and if occasion requires b, sim
carry on their operations Wherever It sha lie
thought eligible 70 direct 'em; whether to take
SPOT the ar Of
hanna which - q point OF tho utmost Importance
but here must beg leave to observe that there is
adopts will Ire attended with momentaus and the
most happy consequsnces-I mean that from these
u all those who come in at sivsn day, and viii
answer for It with my lifsthat all the Inhabitants
lying betvixt the Potomac ana chssepesk Bsy aud
those on the eastern Shore Of MARY land will I'M
Med.afe'y lay do wn their arms-hut this is not ALL
Hm Mucn mstakenif those potent and pOpuiOus |
German districts. Frederic County in Marsisnd |
sna so!E feG;nsylvana DO mot follow their
and to Man have hitherto been the most Etaunch