The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-05-26

execratlon. | called the Generals at
tention, at this point, 10 notice, that
had been printed in the Northern
papers, purporting to have been take,,
from q paper published in the. inte'ior
South, proposing, for the sum Of one
million dollars, to undertake the aseas-
sination of the President and his
Cabinet. The General affirmed that
he had pever seen nor heard Of such
a proposition, nor did he believe it had.
ever been 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 in the
history of our county, and we had
yet to learn that it was possible Of
either earnest conception or actual
execution.
1t was most singular and remark
able expression to escape the lips Of
such a man as General Lee, that the
South was never half in earnest in this
val. l cannot attempt to translate
this remark or elucidateit. Its utter
ance conveyed to me the impression
that the South was most heartily sick
of war, and anxious to get back into
thu Union and to peace. The General
added that they went off after political
leaders In moment of passion and
under the excitement Of fancied wrongs,
honestly believing that they we're en-
tering a struggle for an inalienable
right and Fundamental principle of
their political creed. A man should
not be Judged harshly for contending
for that which he honestly believes to
be right. Such was the position Of the
vast majority Of the people now. And
now that they are defeated, they con
slider that they have lost everything
that is worth conteuding for in the
Government. They have sacrificed
home, friends, property, health, all on
this issue. Men do rot make such
sacrifices fNr nothing. They have
made the sacrifice from honest con.
victions.
And now that they have lost in the
issue they feel that they have no
interest left in this country. 1t is the
opinion Of Gen. Lee that unless mode
ration and libera!ity be exercised to
wards them, the country will lose its
best people. Already, he says, they
are seeking to expatriate themselves,
and numerous s"hemes are started to
go to Mexico, Brazil, Canada, France
OR elsewhere. He is called upon
frequently to discountenance and sup
press such undertakings. 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 to keep them in the country
and pacify them.
1t was most noticeable feature of
the conversation .tha, Gen. Lee, strange
as may appear, talked throughout as
a citizen Of the United States. He
seemed TO plant himself on the ma
tional platform, and take his cbser-
vations from that stapd point. He an
swered calmly and deliberately, earnest
iy but with no show Of interest, other
or different from what might be
from an honest believer in
his peculiar opinions.
The conversation, which had been
greatly protractea, 50 much 80 that
became uneasy for fear Of trespassing
on time that had no right to claim,
Terminated with some illusions to tie
terms of peace. Here there was,
perhaps naturally and properly, more
retlcence tina. on any other topic. But
it was plain from what tranepired that