The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-11-27
Letter from Gen Lee TO Gen
Gfailcck.
D the n. Y. World.
0'''I y y l7''VI' To VIIC ". w OTIu'
WASHINGTON. Noy. O..


WASHINGTON. Noy. g.
y report is current here. and very gen
orally believed, that Gen. Lee, of the rebel
army, has recently addressed formal
communication 20 Gtn. Haleck touching
the proposed is ue Of al emancipation
proclamation on tie first OF January uext.
IL will be- remembered that, after the ex-
citing debate il the rebel Congress, as t.,
the proprieiy Of retaliation the vs. hole mat
Ter was left to the discretion OF the Presi
dent OF the Confederate Sia'cs with instruc-
tons to take such measures rs would com
pei the withdrawal of the proclamation. or
bring home to tie northern troops some of
the evils 1t threatens against the SOU bern
people. 1t i sta ed that Gen. Lees letter
is exceedingly elaborate, and discusses the
question from every point OF View. The
points 1t is sand To contain are "a follows:
First. the unwarranlable nature IF the
proclaim zion, 80 faras IN recognized meas
ures OF military warfare are concerned.
The fact is pointed out tina, in no wo; k on
military law is the ilstisalicn of a scrvile
war recommended, indorsed, or even men
toned that, az Gen. lIallcck himself new
er thought OF it in discus >iny the variou
means that might be used BY belligercnt
enemies. the threat OF s,.rvile war and in
surrection is clearly no, mill airy law pro
cedrre: that, being outside of mi itary law
the southern people are justified in regard
ing it rs coming under the brutal and saw
age expedlentS Of a harbarous people, AMI
re>entInG II as such; that the enemy that
will use it does an act As unj liable a
the poisoning Of wells or of food the mai
ming and numbering of prisoners. and the
outraging Of women. On this ground it is
demanded that the proclamation b. with
drawn.
Second it is further urged by Geu Lee
that, in case the proclamation is not with.
drawn, the Confederate military authori-
ties, sorely against their will but strong
in the justice OF their position. will be com
PEELED TO rctala,e in the sternest manner
upon all the Union prisoners that fall in
to their hands. 1t is not specified what
punishment will be inflicted, but it is dis.
tihctly minated that If, through the insli-
CATION Of the Federal troops, any women
or children are murdered by infuriatei. ne,
groe,' al equal number of Union troops
will he promptly put to death. On this
matter the Conf, derate government wishes
the Federal government to understand that
it is very much in earnest, and will do even
more than it threatens.
Accompanying this document, and adj
dressed To other members # the govern
mcnt, it i, stated that a letter from high
member of The Confederate government is
now in Washington for members Of the
Cabinet. arguing the que 'tion as TO the pro
priety OF resembling the o. jecli 'nabl' proc
lamation. In addition To the mill ary ar
guments urged by General Lee, an argn-
ment drawn from the recent elccricns in
the North Is made use OF by the Coned
crate statesman. Ii the Union shall be re
stored. this docnment urges. 1t will b.
better not To have this gulf of blood be
tween the North and South and even
should the South succeed in their Efforts
there would be fewer unpleasant memories
to rankle.
Notwithstanding these COZ mnnicaions,
il is still asserted here that Mr.. Lincoln Is
determined To- adhere to the proclamation.
aud to carry out the radical programme to
the hi..er end.