Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-05-31
The scheme was wholly unknown in he

The scheme was wholly unknown IN ID
South, before its execution, and would ieye
have received ihe slightest encouragement
had it been known but, on the contrary, III
most severe execrnion.' | called the Gene
rails attention, at this point, 10 notice, tha
had been printed in the Northern papers
purporting 10 have been taken from n pape
published in the interior South, proposing
for the sum of one million dollars, to under
take the assassination OF the President ant
his Cabinet The General affirmed that ht
had never seen nor heard of a such propo
sition, nor did he believe it had ever beer
printed in the South though if it had, it had
been permitted merely as the whim of some
crazy person that could possibly amount to
nothing. Such crime was an anomaly IL
the history Of our country, and we had YET
| to learn that it was possible of either ear
nest conception, or actual execution.
THE SOUTH NEVER HALF IN EARNEST N THE
WAR.
1t was most singular and emarkablo ex'
preston to escape the lips OF such man as
General Lee, that the South was, never half
in earnest in this war; | cannot attempt to
translate this remark or elucidate it. Its
utterauce conveyed to me the impression that
the South was most heartily sick of war, and
anxious to got back into the Union and to
peace. The General added that they went
of after political leaders in moment of pas.
sion and nnder the excitement of fancied
wrongs, honestly believing that they were en-
!er:cg struggle for an inalienable right and
q fundamental principle of their political
creed. A man should not be judged harsnly
for contending for that which he honestly be-
lievcs to be right. Such was the position Of
the vast majority of the people now. And
now tLat they are defeated, they consider that
they have lost everything that is worth con-
tending for in the Government. They have
sacrificed home, friends, property, health /;
all on this issue. Men do not make such
sacrifices for nothing. They have made the
sacrifice from honest convictions:
EXPECTATION SCHEMES.
And now thatthey have lost in the issue
they feel that they have no interest lett IN this
country. il is the opinion of General Lee
that unless moderation ndliberality be exer-
els. i towards them, the country will lose its
best people. Already, be says, they are seek
ing to expatriate themselves, and numerous
schemes are started to go to Mexico, Brazil,
Canada, France. or elsewhere. lie is called
upon frequently to discountenancc and sup
press sucn undertaking. The country needs
these Young men. They are its bone and
sinew, its intelligence and enterprise, its
hope for the future, and wisdom demands
that no effort be spared 10 keep them id the
country and pacify them.
GEN. LEES STANDPOINT.
p It was q most noticeable feature Of the con-
versation that General Lee, strange y may
appear. talked throughout as a citizer oI t'r
United States. He scene.! 70 plant hiuiSeli
.oa the nationa! platform, and take his obser
vst;ons from that standpoint. He a kea
calmly and deliberately, ear'.S'ly, bni w II
no show uf interest otncr or different ir"n
what might be expected from an hon st.Ue!;eg
er in his peculiar Opinions
THE rEgMs OF PEACE.
The conversation wh;c. '!aa been greatly
proiracted, so much so l:a' became uifeasy
lor isar of lrcspassine IN tiln, thai had 40
rich: TO claim. Terminated with some ai'uSlons
to the terms oipcacy. Here tnsro was, per
haps naturally and prop"riy, NOS reficcnce
than Or any other t0plc. bat Ii was plain
from what transpircd that tie only question
in the way of i:nm adaic peace was the treat
ment TO b. accorded the vanquiShed. Eve
rythipp else, by implication. seems 10 be
surrendered. Slavery. State rights, the doc
trine Of Secession, anu whatever else OF polit-
iecal policy may be involved in the strife, IS
abandoned, tue only barrier 10 IN immediate
and universal suspension OF tostillt1eS and
return to the onion being the treatment the
II tionsl authorities may promise those who
haze been resisting its power and paramount
authority.
1t is proper to say that this was not so sta
ted by General Lee, but is simply an inter.
encc from tic conversation that took place
or that topic. On the contrary, that Gener-
ral.seemed very cautions in regard to terms.
In order to get at his views, ii possible, l
suggested the conservative sentiment OF the
NSr;h, which proposed Il general amnesty 10
all soldiers and military officers, but that the
noltical leaders OF the South be held to a
Strict accountability. ':.Would that he just 2"
he asked. "What has Mr.. Davis donc more
than any other Soutnerner, that he should
b., nunisncd? 1t is true he has occupied Il
prominent position as the agent oI waole
people, bat that made him no more nor less
rebal taat the rest.
"Ilis acts were the acts of the whole peo-
ple. ard the acts of tic whole were his acts.
lie va, not accountable for tho commence
ment OF !he struggle. On the contrary he
WAS o,ic of the last to give in his adherence
to the secession movement. having strenuous
ly opposed Ii from the outset, and portrayed
its ruinous consequences in his speeches and
by hi, writings Why, therefore, should be
suffer more than others?" Of course 1t was
not my province to discuss these questions,
and as this illustration disclosed the bent OF
the Generals mind, it was all that l desired
to know.
GEN. LEES PERSONAL WISHES FOR TIE ru-
TuRE.
In taking leave Of the General took occa,
sion to say that he was greatly respected by
a very largo body of good men at the North
and that,as soldier he was universally ad-
mircd, and that it was earnestly hoped that
he would vet lead an army of United States
troops in the enforcement Of the Monroe doc,
NaOR ~