Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-14

who remain. They occupy a stylish house OF
Franklin street, and for their protection well dis
ciplined guard is placed at the dwelling, and th'
family are scrupulously protected from annoyance
of any character, the staring gaze Of the passer
by hardly being allowed. This is the second time
that Mrs. Gen. Lee has been in our hands. She was
once captured b. our cavalry near White House,
in 1852, and sent through our lines to Richmond
under flag OF truce, By order Of Gen. Mcclellan.
L. l.. CRouNsE.
UNION SENTIMENT N ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF RE-
CONSTRUCTION.
RIcHMoSD, Friday, April :, 1865.
! can give you news, to-day, which viii crafty
the heart of every loyal American. Virginia will
return to the Union, and that right speedily. De-
string to ascertain the exact truth with reference
to the alleged existence of strong Union senti-
ment in the city, ayliled myself OF an opportunity
to call upon certain gentlemen here whom had
heard alluded to by Secessonists as Union men,
and must say that | spent two of the happiest
hours of my life in full aad free conversation with
some of the most thorough and radical Union men
in the country; men Of wealth and position, whose
faith has never wavered for an instant, and who,
Shareholders, they are demand that Virginia shall
be taken back into the Union "lnda- the En1ncip1-
ton Proclqmdtion'; that 10 ueStigs of the rebellion
shall be tolerated that tie lLSHpdtiOn State and Con-
federqe, Uhicb has lorecked Virginia., shall not be
recognized in q single respect that the State Gov
ernment mast be organized anew, by convention
Of the people as soon as that can De properly ef-
fected and the State and its inhabitants thoroughly
purged Of treason ia every shape.
Union sentiments, in this strong form, exist here
% far greater extent than has vet been cOlCeiy-
81 not alone among the poorer casSes-mechal-
les and la6orerS but IN 'ceUHhy and Influential. cir
clss, irhes nay be found lrt0 hare neusr lost
faith IL tie Union; who have confidently anticipa-
ted its triumph. and who greeted the old flag with
tear, OF iov. They are men of the John Minor
Bolts school. and they are the leaven which shall
leayen the whole lump here in this venerable old
commonwealth Of Virginia. They will delight to
see the mass OF the people treated with magnaniIni-
ty but they have felt too deeply the iron heel Of
desDotsm 10 permit the amnesty Of the prominent
leaders ofthe rebellion. am not at liberty to-day
70 mention the names of the most prominent of
these men but we're I to do so, many OF Your
readers would recognize them Of the most sterling
character.
In addition TO this, there is another element, not
50 thoroughly Union, but ready 10 stop and talk
about the best terms of reconstruction. When the
President was here on Tuesday committee waited
on him, headed by Judge Campbell, Of Ala, and
late Assistant Secretary of War, also late Peace
Commissioner, and asked him what were the best
terms he could offer to Firginia-what plan of ac-
ton must the people adopt to secure reconstruc-
ton on the most favorable terms ? The President
wrote on slip OF paper, without address or sigma
ture 'That the Emancipation Proclamation must
stand; that in all other matters the people would
be treated with libsrality: that passports might
possibly be granted to the Governor, members Of
the lie gislature, or any other public men to come
to Richmond and decide the destiny Of Virginia"
This project contains several impractcable fea-
lures, and does not express the views of the tho
roughly loyal people here, who declare tina: Chilly"
Smith, the present Governor, is 4 far worse Rebel
than JEFF Davis himself aud that he must be repu-
dated, and TIE Legislature ,oh him, for both were
elected, no. by the people, but BY terrible des-
ootism under which no freedom Of choice could be
exercised. But even such signs are vastly encour-
aging though the completeness of our great victory
should never be mar-ed By any compromise, when
here is an absolute majority Of Union men here IL
ne city Of Richmond to-dGy l.. L. CaoCSsE.