New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-01
NkRhH f.G.l..

II has been stated that Robert T.. Lee, now
a paroled prisoner Of war in Richmond, was re
cciycd on entering that city with cheers Dysom'
officers and soldier of the Union army. Whel
he walks it, streets caps arc lii,cd to him
There IS @ good deal Of very weak and foolisl
talk aboul the magnanimiiy" which this MAJ
he's exhibited. aud in,mations appear in loya
journals that be- Is somehow deserving a more
encnt Judgment than other traitors. On Tho
apex Of these stories, We iud The following,
credited 20 a correspondent OF TIE Uoreesie,
>Pg
T.. in- aa,ued tbaiav.it 20 Gen Lcc.yould be Wi
received d.laehmcrt - The I. =. Christian 'OmLis
,.on. ding of seven. c'0d ~ Lis doof AL hi.
spn. Con. cu.tis Ice appeared. when ] slil T. him
" ~ v - - e., ,, ','pfh' 70 - CSD y. ~
lry cover Ga an o1fen-on dirAg.iahie. tiN General
soon uas gshorcd in ~ bis s0u mad ANNOUNCED. prose
by prrflol. ran el tnt aut ral 10 hm tbat bad
oceh .'li.or ard called 10 pny al ~ pete o. him a'
soldier ana ldNlG .od o. tnkc Dbl band. hut IL made
go rc.pon.c and then introduced d. Parker 81 los
Ion nnd 40 thr party IN succession.
" gil fooA arse, and d.. Fal.cr slf - hin tl1'
500 were on humane mission. nud Spctl .up.tllcd
With l lie said Tint De- li, and continued ilit THESE
associations Lad done much good. nud De .oped itry
would continue ilcir efforts. lie then gave us ai IS
hand very cordially Cilllg a. al bY name ,f 81 lart-
leo. with tle bet OF wishes. He ana BIS tiah we've
dressed la Conf dcraic grly
All this seems 10 MS IN the worst possible
taste; and there is something more tina. a que.
ton Of taste underlying il. The homage to
Lee l. sd evidence how readily the convictions
Of wel-memiug people yield TO sentimental
notions on subjects they hayi specifically con-
i.dercd. We aie not about 10 advocate that
Lee or anybody else ought to be hanged-lhat
matter rests. to a great extent with President
Johnson--mt there is wide difference be-
tween not hanging Il traitor and taxing him
into your confidence and affections, or shower
ing honoos mon han as 0pon one Who had de-
served well Of his colLtry. i Lees admirer,
ure asked To justify thcig adhlaiion, they viii
PIT :, Oh the ground tlAt ho is an able soldier
perhaps with the additional assurancc that BE +,
a gentleman But iorout part the feeling ez-
cited ly tho Use of military talent Tor tho de-
struChon OF the country which educated IL, j.,
uo, admiration, and wc fll 60 see how the pos
.cs ion a. polished manners can cAcU c treason.
And these arc con dcra,ions sill more to the
point.
Robert L. Lee is one O.. the men who
d,H5eui,lg determined to bc,r0y bis country.
Formny of his Gonzales there s. The excuse
such as 10 ii--of passion or excitement. They
were carried away by a popular lfcrzy-werc
victims, II You please, Of The process known as
" ii.us The Southern heart But Lee can
plcsd no such apology. lie saw and felt the
cuormity OF The crime be- was about to commit.
Aitcr long reflection it was, that he decided to
become traitor. While mcdtating treason.
be retained hi. commission, and his close sCla
ton 10 the Commanding General of the United
States armies. When hc made the plunge hc
made 70 with his eyes open. Such man is
more guilty than any other.
During BIZ. lour years OF warfare on the. Union
be was responsible for the WORST crimes com
mittel in the name of Rebellion. During the
last three years he was the most trusted ANA in
fncnlial of The Rebel military leaders. Daring
the laat two, be might N any time have made
his will law on any military question. Yet
there is not in existence q syllable OF protest
from Lee against any Of the barbarities which
have been practiccd by the South in the con.
duet of the war; The massacre at Fort Pillow
evoked no expression of disapprovol from him.
The systematised starvation Of Union PriSQpers