Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-01

Letter from Gen. Lee to Gen. HalIeck.
a special dispatch to the New York World,
dated Washington. November Dist, saws:

A special dispatch to the New York World,
dated Washington, November Dist, says:
A report is current here, and zery generally
believed, that Gen. Lee, of the reel army, has
recently addressed formal communication TO
Gen. Halleck touching the proposed issue OF an
emancipation proclamation on the LIST of January
next. 1t will be remembered that after the
exciting debates in the rebel Congress as to the
proprlety of retaliation, the whole matter was
lett to the discretion of the President of the
Confederate States, with instructions 10 take
such measures as would compel the withdrawal
OF the proclamation, or bring home to the
Northern troops some of the evils it threatens
against the Southern people. 1t is stated that
Gen, Lees letter is exceedingly elaborate, and
discusses the question from every point of view.
The points il is said 10 contain follows:
First. The unwarrantable nature of the proc
lamation, so far as the recognized measures of
military warfare concerned. The fact IS
pointed out that in no work ON military law is
the instigation of servile war recommended,
Endorsed, even mentioned; that, as General
Halleck himself never thought of itin discussing
the various means that might be used by bel
ligerent enemies, the threat of servile war and
instruction is clearly not military procedure;
that being outside of military law. the Southern
people are justified in regarding il as coming
under the brutal and savage expedients of bar
barous people. and resenting it as such; that the
enemy that will use il does an act as uniusthable
as the poisoning of wells or of food, the MAIN
ing and numbering of prisoners, aud the out
raging of women On this ground it is demanded
that the proclamation be Withdrawn.
Second, il is further urged by Gen. Lee that,
in case the proclamation is not withdrawn, the
Confederate military authorities, much against
their will, but strong in the justice of their posi-
/ ton, will be compelled to retaliate in the sternest
manner upon all Union prisoners that fall into
their hands. 1t is not specified what punishment
will be inflicted, but il is distinctly intimated
that if, through the instigatiOn of the Federal
troops, any women OF children are murdered by
Infatuated negroes. an equal number of Union
troops will be promptly put to death. On this
matter the Confederate Government wishes the
/ Federal Government to understand that il is very
much in earnest, and will do even more than il
/ threatens.
Accompanying this document, and addressed to
other members of the Government, it is stated
that letter from a high member OF the Confed
crate Government is now IN Washington for mem
bers of the Cabinet, arguing question to the
propriety of resembling the Objectionable proc
lamation. In addition to the military argument:
urged by Gen Lee, an argument drawn from the
recent elections in the, North is made use of 10y
the Confederate statesman. 1t the Union shall
be restored this document urges, il will be better
not to have this gulf of blood between the Nortl
and South, and, even should the South succeed il
heir efforts, there would be fewer unpleasant
memories TO rankle
Notwithstanding these communications, it il
still asserted here that Mr.. Lincoln is determined
to adhere to the proclamation, and TO carry GU
the radical programme to the bitter end.