Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-17
The Alleged Indictment OF General
Lee.

From the Petersburg News, June 10.
John q. Underwood. an tinerant schoolmaster
from q Northern State, settled many years ago
in the county of Fairfax, Virginia took charge
of country school, and began in q modest way
to correct the ignorance of this benghted State.
In the course OF time he married very worthy
lady of that county, and obtained, through her
connections, large and useful acquaintanc eship
in that region, which be improved financially
and otherwise His sentiments on the subject of
slavery were obnoxious to the people, and
therefore, modestly concealed, until an opportu-
nifty OF their safe exposition was afforded, as he
thought, At the time of the Fremont campaign,
we believe, when, in the midst of few fisher
men, be raised pole at Occoquan, bearing "a
flag inscribed with the name oil the Abolition
candidate for the Presidency This was more
than his neighbors felt like enduring, and Under
wood was forced TO leave. to avoid sharper casti-
CATION than be had been wont to nfict on the
rising heirs OF Fairfax.
During the war he was appointed TO a indge
ship-why, we cannot conceive; prob ably on the
ground that as there was nothing to be done. he
could do no harm; but the conclusion Of peace
leaves him the highest judicial officer in the
Eastern District of Virginia. and the first official
function of public nature which he discharges,
on the return of peace, is to launch against cit
zen of this State. the latchets of whose shoes he
unworthy to loose, proclamation which, for
violence, basphemy and unfounded asperslon of
a brave and chivalrous people, beggsrs imagery
and defes comparison.
No sooner had this charge been issued than
its object was unfolded III The summoDing of a
cloud OF witnesses before the Grand Jury, in
order to base on their evidence an indict ment
against General Lee.
General Grant could afford, not only to pardon
General Lee, but 70 exhaust the etiquette of con
ventonal respect in all bis intercourse with him
The great army of the Potomac could doff their
hats with the involuntary homage Of the soldier
to genius, courage and chivalry, the old leader
of the Army of Northern Virginia passed their
lines after his surrender The Northern visitors
could vie with the residents and natives OF Rich
mond in paying him the most touching marks Of
respect as he wendell his way to his home through
the streets of our capital.
The stalwsrt heroes Of Sherman could break
out into cheers not of insult but of appreciation
as they passed bis door in their triumphant
march. The Government at Washington which
has thought proper to arrest Governors and Elk
governors, Commissioners and Congressman
bureau chiefs and blockade runners, Presidents
and preachers has not laid the weight of finger
or a threat on the man to whom General Grant
has given his soldier word for safeguard. No,
the foul deed was left for the congenial perfor-
mances of an imported Judge, who, after malig
ming the State. whose people gave him bread in
his poverty, and consequence in his obscurity
summons these people to aid him in bunting TO
his death their most eminent fellow citizen
We are glad to say. for the honor of the
American people of all States and sections, that
no word has been heard in any quarter OF sym
patty in the persecution, and we learn from pri-
vate sources that great is the indignation
among all classes in Norfolk at this attempt to
stain their city with foul crime that the friends
of General Lee have no apprehension of any un-
pleasant results from this bulletin of persecution
from the poleraiser of Occoquan.