Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-05-31

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State withdrew from the Union he had no re
course in his views cf honor and patriotism
but 10 abide her fortunes. He went with
her, intending to remain merely private
citizen.
/ When he resigned his commission in the
United States army, he had no intention o.
taking up arms in any other service antagon-
,slic TO the United States. His State, how
ever called for biul, and, entertaining the fix.
u principles he did of State sovereignty, he
ha6 40 ..icrn.'ive but to accept the service to
vilicn he waS called. When he made use Of
ilc declaration that has been SO extensively
quoted eflate. he bad accepted only a com
mission from Virginia. Subsequently, when
Virginia attached herself to theSouthern Con
iei!cracr, shc same palitical impressions I'M
pclied him to .olow her, and when he accep-
ted service under the rebel Government, he
lii1 50 On the principle thai he was defending
Lis native State. Aad yet, b. The act OF ac-
t5p'ing such service, he Sas bnnnd in honor
10 sorsc in any part oi the Contederacy where
he laight be called without reference iotState
,iues: and tine reconciliation with hir former
arowal, if any were necessary, were found IN
tie fac. thal Virginia, staniing or failing with
the Other Southern States, in defending them
al. he was defending the one to which he con-
s;derea his allegiance primarily due.
TIE siGy1FlcAEcE OF HIS SURRENDER.
As to the effect oc lis surrender, be vas
free 20 sav it was a severe blow to the South,
but not i. crushing blow. 1t was Of military,
rot political significance. asked, was not
that surrender virtual surrender of the doc.
trinc of State rights BY no means, the Cen
eral replied. When the South shall be who'll
" subducd there will then undenisbly be a
surrender of that doctrine. But the surren-
der of single army is simply military ne.
ccssity. The army of Northern Virginia was
surrendered because further resistance onitS
part would only entail a useless sacrifice of
life. But that army was merely a. part of the
force of the South. When the South shall
be forcedto surrender all its forces and re-
turns to the Union, it indisputably by that
act, surrenders its favorite doctrine of seces-
sion. That principle will then he settled by
military power.
STATE RIGHTS.
On this question of State sovereignty, the
General contends that there exists legiti.
mate casus beli. In the convention that
formed the organic law of the land, the ques-
ton of defining the relative powers of the
States, and their relation to the general gov
ernment was raised, but much discussion was
dropped and left unsettled. 1t has remained
SO unsettled until the present time. This war
is destined to set it at rest. 1t was unfor-
tunste that it was not settled at the outset
but as it was not settled then, and had TO be
settled at some time, the war raised on this
issue cannot be considered treason. ii the
South is forced 10 submission in this contest:
it of course car only be looked uIon as the
triumph Of Federal power over State rights,
and the forced arDihilation 0fthe latter.
Tue SOUTH ANXIOUS For rEacE TWO YEAEs.
With reference IL the war in the abstract,
the General declared it as his honest belief
that psace was practicable two years ego, and
has been practicable from that time to the
present day, whenever the general govern
mcnt should see iit TO see!: it, giving any rea-
.sonah:e chance for. the country to escape the
con SEQUENCES which the exasperated North
seemed determined 10 imlcse. The South
has, during this time, been ready and anx-
ious Tor peace. They have been looking for
some word or expression of compromise or
might base return to the Union. They
were not prepared, nor are they yet, TO come
aut! beg FOR terms but were ready to accept
any i-ir and honorable terms, their owu po
llt;cai views being considered. The question
oc slavery did not lay in the way at all. The
best .uen ui the South have long been aux
iors To do away with this institution, aad
.gsra pu.te Wiling to-day 10 see II abolished.
Tbay Goa 81 sluvecy f2re"e" ,:ead. But
w.. ,llau. ~ .ctltiul: t. tGi> subject, the
a.,e.,;yi: LIS es-r ,.ev What will you do
wi,a loe f:osd iooii, 2 j hat is the serious
,.....,...,.r to-daY, al orr ';.a: cannot be
6.i........ nj ii p.us. 1e let ir.;e!eai!y ami
f.;t.,.,.. inie,ligcn,y. 'ine ri.- roea must be
Jisooscli *, arti il tueir desperation can he
r..., .2i on;. 'h:: natlcr '.i !ree'. ZEN Is q;
cnc. settled. 3 Al naie>s SOM" !llin.'ne course
: 10. qtSCi, pssc.i % wisdom ard Christian
..,,.tt.es goa 40 i @r.5s aru,'g :.IG injustice
tY l.c y:ncic ur5,J rnct IN ,ct Ing !he'n free.
Ap. ii Is 0aiy this c i,lrrai on lha-; has led
the n,;!oui Intelligence and Christianity oil
the Sout', t. support ai:.' defend tnc inSJtu-
ton up to this time.
TKEG1H.:VaL A NATIONAL MAN.
The conversation t5eu turned into other
channels. uad finally touched upon the pros
pcct fo o.acs. Aad here very noticeable
form OF expression was used by the General.
In spa,klng OF the probable course Of the Nd,
n1nistra.ion Yards the Sonlh, the General
remarked that "if We do 50 and So | I'M
mcdately called his attention to the expres-
siou, and sought an explanation OF The sense
in which he used the pronoun We" but OBJ
ta;ncd none other taan marked repetition
/ Off 1t was noticeable throughout the en-
tire interview that in no single instance did he
speak of the Southern Confederacy, nor Of
the Yankees nor the rebels. He frequently
alluded to the country, and expressed most
earnestly his solicitude for its restoration to
peace and tranquility, cautiously avoiding
any expression that would imply the posi-
bility of its disintegration.
THE SOUTH NOT YET CONQUERED.
Throughout all the conversation, he mani
Tested an earnest desire that such counsels
should prevail and such policies be pursued
as would conduce to an immediate peace, I'M
IL hot, ,oooo ,yo, notp ot