The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-29

course only be looked upon as the trumph of fede
raj power over State rights and the forced annhlaton
| OF the latter
TIN SOUTH ANXIOUS FOR PEACE rwo YEARS AGO.
with reference to the in the abstract the General
aecaged IL as his honest belief that peace practical
Ole Two years ago. and has been practicable from that
time 70 the present day whenever the general govern
men' should see ut TO seek IT, giving any reasona-
Die cnance Tor the country TO escape the consequences
which the exasperated North seemed determined to w
pose The South has, during all this time, been ready
ana anxious for peace They have been looking for
WORD or expression Of compromise Cancellation from
the North upon which they might base return to tho
Union They were not prepared nor are they yet, TO
come and beg for terms but ready 10 accept any
fair and honorable terms their political views being
considered The question Of slavery did not lay in the
way at all The best Of the South have long been
anxious to do away with this institution and quite
willing to-day II abolished They consider slavery
forever dead But with Them in relation to this sub
ject, the question has been, "what will you do
with the freed psopes" That is the serious question
to-day, and one that cannot be winked at It
must DO met practically and treated inteigently.
The negroes must be disposed Of and IL their disposition
can be marked out the matter Of freeing them at
settled But unless some humane course is adopted,
based on wisdom and Christian principles you do gross
wrong and injustice to the whole negro race in setting
them Free And is only this consideration that has led
the wisdom intelligence and Christianity Of the South
support and defend the institution up to this time
THE GENERAL NATIONAL MAN.
The conversation then turned into other channels and
finally touched upon the prospects Of peace And here
very noticeable form OF expression used by the Gene
raj In speaking Of the probable OF the admins
tration towards the South the General remarked that
"if we do' 80 and 3d. I Immediately called
his attention 70 the expression, and sought
an explanation Of the sense in which he used the pro-
noun eve" but obtained none other than marked re-
petition Of it, noticeable throughout the entire
interview that in single instance did he speak Of the
Southern confederacy Of the Yankees the rebels
He frequently alluded to the country and expressed
most earnestly his soctude for its restoration peace
and tranquility cautiously avoiding any expression that
would imply the possibility Of its disintegration.
SOUTH CONQUERED.
Throughout the conversation he manifested an ear.
nest desire that such counses should prevail and such
policies be pursued would conduce to an immediate
peace implying in his remarks that peace was now
at our option. But he particular to say
that, should arbitrary vndictive or revengeful
policies be adopted, the end not yet There
yet remained great deal of vitality and strength in the
South. There undeveloped hitherto
unavailable sources Of strength which harsh
on our part would call into action and that the South
might true, destroy all that remained of the coun
try east of the Mississippi river by lavish expenditure
of men and means; but then would be required to
fight the other side of that river and after sutduing
them there, would be compelled follow into
Mexico and thus the struggle would be prolonged until
the whole country would be impoverished and ruined
And this we would be compelled to do IL DETERMINATION
coniscaton and general humiliation and destruction
10 De our polcy For II people are TO be destroyed
they will sell their lives dearly as possible
CONTAMINATION or THE PRESIDENT
LINCOLN
The assassination of the President was thon spoken
OF. The General considered this event in itself one or
the most deplorable that could have occurred Az a
crime 1t uncSamped and beyond exeora,fon II
was crime that good man could approve from
conceivable motive Undoubtedly the effort would I've
made to asen the responsibility Of IL upon tho South
but, from his intimate acquaintance with the leading
men of tho solh no was confident there Of
them who would sanction approve H. The scheme
wholly unknown in the South before its execution
and would have received the slightest encourage
exccraton. called the Generals attention.
this point, TO notice that Ind boen printed the
Northern papers purpor ng To have been taken from
paper published In the interior of the South proposing
for the sum Of million Of dollars undertake the
assassination OF the President and his Cabinet The
General affirmed that he had heard Of
such proposition, did he believe il had be
printed in he South though IL il had IL had been por
mitted Nicely as the within OF crazy person that
could possibly amou-t to ihing: such crime
anomoy in the history of country, and had yet
before s preparation to learn that possible Of
either earnest conception actual execution.
II was most singular and remarkable expression to
escape the lips of snch General Lee that the
South was never more than half in earnest in hswar
cannot attempt to translate this remark or
impression that the South most heartily sick
of the war, and anxious to get back into the Union
and 10 peace The General added that they went or
after political leaders In moment Of passion and under
the excitement Of lancied wrongs, honestly be-
enable right and fundamental principle Of their poiiI
cal creed man should not be judged barshly for
contondng for that which nc honestly believes to be
right Such the position Of the orty Of the
Southern people now. And that they defeated
they consider that they hav Lost everything that is worth
contendng for in the government. They have sacri-
feed home, friends property, health, all on this issue
Men do not make such sacrifices tor nothing They have
made the sacrifice from honest convictions.
ExPATfIArIcy SCHEMES.
And now that they have lost in the issuc they feel that
they have no interests left in this country II the
opinion of General Ice that unless moderation ibe
raty be exercised towards them the coantry will lose
best people Already, he says, they seeking
patriatc Themselves aud numerous schemes started
TO go Mexico, Brazil Canada France or else
where He Is called upon frequently TO discouncnance
and suppress such undertaking. The country needs
these young men They are Its bone and snew, its in
tcig nee and enterprise its hope for the future, and
wisdom demands that effort be spared keep them
Ia the country and pacfy them.
GENERAL LEs's STANDPOINT
IL was most notccabl, feature Of the conversation
that General Lee, strange IL may appear, talked
throughout citizen OF the United States He seemed
10 plan, himself the national platform aud take his
observations from that standpoint He talked calmly.
other different from what might be expected from all
honest believer in his peculiar opinions
THE Trims
The conversation, which had been greatly prorarted,
much that became uneasy for fear Of respassing
on time that had no right 10 claim, terminated with
illusions 10 the terms Of peace Here there was
perbap naturally and properly, reticcnce than
any other topic But 1t was plain from what inspired
that the only question in the way OF immediate peace
was the treatment 20 be accorded the vanqGishcd Every
thing else by implication, TO be surrendered
Sa, cry state rights the trine OF SECESSION and what
ever cle Of political policy he involved In the strife
is abandoned, the only barrier immediate and uni
yersal Suspension Of hostities and return 70 the
Union beng the treatment the national authorities
may promise those who have been resisting lie power
anu paramount authority II is proper TO say that
this was not stated by General Lee, hut Is simply
inference from the conversation that took place that
TOPIC. On the contrary tue General seemed very
uous IN regard 10 terms In order 10 his views
possible, suggested the conservative sentiment Of the
North which proposed general amnesty 10 all soldiers
and military oihcers, but that the political leaders Of tho
south DC held 10 strict accountability. ''wouid that
be justS' he asked. "What has Mr. Davis done more