Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-02
THE DOCTRINE OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY.
THE SOUTH AND SLAVERY.
The Terms OF Peace,
Mr.. THOMAS NJ COOKS DEsPATcH
RICHMOND, Va, April "a, 1866

NH Auhhlh VI N''Nh y iia't ANU
RICHMOND, Va, April "a 1866.
aEEERN ROBERT ?. LTE
In order IL possible 70 get some clear light Tor the
solution Of the complications growing ont OF the
murder of President Lincoln, Yesterday sought and
obtained an interview with thar distinguished soldier
and leader Of the rebel armies General Robert r. Lee,
ana vas permitted TO draw out his views on the very i'm
portant questions suggested II is proper to say that my
reception was everything that could be expected from
gentleman who has always been considered type OF tue
once famous chyalry and had almost said, nobility
of Virginia Pen aud ink sketches OF General Lee have
bcea SO numerodsy made OF late by newspaper writers
that any attempt at this time by me IN that direction
wouli he o work OF supererogation. may simply say
thar the firm step, the clear voice the bright Desmns
countenance the quick intelligence, the upright form
and the active manner Of the General very strongly belle
the portraitUTes Of him which are so common All the
vg0r and animation and ability Of upe manhood are
prominently con=po Uous in his bearing His venerable
nta hair and beard simply inspire respect for the ma
ture IDEAS aud deliberate expressions that come from
tLs conspicuous rebel leader but in noWise convey an
impression OF decay OF old age.
INTRODUCTION.
Il was certainly embarrassing 10 me on introducing
tie object Of my visit 10 say that intended ley ais
political views before the public as his military career
had already been. His reply am paroed prison
er'-a al once appealed 70 my sympathy. frank, gen
erou- man, how tirmay properly question him with
ont touching upon his views of honor in reference to
h psrolef But when he added Il have never been
poltran aud know but little oil political leaders am
soldier felt easier assured him that had no de.
sire 10 offend his sensiby or tempt him TO violate any
obligation under his parole but that being
prominently identified with the rebellion MS views on
The questions arising out OF that rebellion woud be OF
great interest az the present moment aud doubtless oil
great importance and uHue 10 The settlement OF The
troubles agtatng the country ana WIN TINS View only
called upon him he replied that the prominence he
held was uns0ugt by hun ami di=tastlnl to him That
ha preferred and secluSion. But ready
10 make any sacrifice perform any honorable act that
would tend the rest IratiOn OF peace aud tranquility
10 the country.
r. iIuat be possible TO relate the extended CONVEX
saton thai ensured with sny approach TO exactnes no
notes having been taken, and 10 will not, therefore, he
attempted but will c0nhne myself 10 a record of the
views eypressed by General Lee several prominent
topics as | understood him 10 express himself
GEN LKE, VIRGINIA AND THE REBELLION,
The Generals attention was directed to his written and
spoken determination draw his sword in defence only
oil his native state, and the inquiry raised 10
what he considered the defence OF Virginia and what
degree Of debeaon he had given TO that expression
he stated that firm and honest believer in the doc
ne Of state rights he had considered his allegiance due
Dtnarlv 10 the state in which he born and where
be had always resided And although he was not an ad
yocate Of secession az the outset when Virginia seeded
he honestly believed Il his duty 10 abide her fortune He
opposed secession 20 the last torsesing the ruin 1t
snre 10 entail But when the State withdrew from the
Union he had recourse IN ms views OF honor and pa
triotisn but 10 abide her fortunes he went with her
intending 70 remain merely private citizen. When he
resigned his commission in the United States army he
had intention OF thkluS up Ot1eI ser
vice aud least Of all 10 service antagonlstc 10 the
United states. His State, however called tor him, and
entertaining the fixed principles he did OF State
srnty he had alternative but 10 accept the service
10 which he was called When he made use Of the de.
carsons that have been extensively quoted OF late
he had accepted only commission from Virginia.
Su bseo entity when Virginia attached herself TO the
southern Conrederacy the same political impressions
impelled him 20 follow her aud when he accepted SER
vice under the rebel government he did tie prin.
cpla that be was defending his native State. And
he 81 Of acceptiQC such service he wa
bound in honor 10 serve in any pan of the Conederacy
where he might be called, without reference 10 State
lines and the reconciliation with his former avowa II
onv were necessary, was found in the fact that Vir
yna standing falling with the other Southern States
II defending them all he was defending the TO
which he considered his allegisnce primarily due.
rHg sIGNIFIcASCE OF MS SURRENDER
As TO the effect Of bis surrender he was free 10 say il
was severe blow the South hut not crushing blow.
II was OF military not political sgnifct nee asked
was not that surrender virtual surrender Of the doc
trine Of state Rights. BY means the General re-
pled When the south shall he wholly subdued there
will then undeniaby be surrender of that Doctrine
But the surrender Of single army is simply military
necessity The army OF Northern Virginia was surTen
dared because further resistance it, part would only
entail useless sacrifice Of life But that army
merely part Of the force Of the South When the South
shall be forced surrender all ia forces and returns to
the Union il ndisputably, by that act surenders its
fayorlte doctrine OF secession. That principle will then
he settled by military power
STATE RIGHTS.
On this cue stion OF State sovereignty the General con-
lend, that there exists alegitmae bell in the
convention that formed the organic law Of the anO the
question Of defining the relative powers OF TIE States
and their relation 70 the general government was raised
hut after much discussion was dropped and LETT unset
Tied. IL has remained unsettled until the present
time This war IL destined 10 SCI IL at rest Ii is uDOT
tunsta that was not settled at the outset hut
not tiled then and had to be settled at some time the
war raised this cannot be considered treason
II the South forced Ia submission in this contest it Of
course can only be looked upon the triumph OF iede
raj power state rights and the forced annhston
OF the latter.
THF SOUTH ANXIOUS FOR PEACE TWO YEARs AGO.
With reference 10 war 10 the abstract the General de
ared as his honest belief that peace practicable
two years ago. and has been practicable from that time
10 the present day whenever the general government
shouldsee dt 10 seek il giving any reasonable chance
Tor the Country escape the consequences which the
eXasperated N.rth seemed determined 10 impose. The
South has dng al this time been ready aud anxious
for peace. They have been looking for word or
expression OF compromise Cancellation from the North
upon which they might base a return 10 the Union.
They not prepared nor are they yet to come and
beg Tor terms but were ready 10 accept any fair and
honorable their political views being conSi
dered The question OF slavery dd not Law in the Way
al all The best OF the South have long been any
ous 10 DO away with this institution and were onite
willing to day t abolished The, consider slavery
forever dead Bat with them Ia relation 20 this subject
the question has been, What will ron 40 with the
freed peop " That is the serious question IN d ana
one that cannot be winksd at II must be mel 1rsrt
cally and treated ntsligently The negroes mpst h.
disposed of and If their disposition b. marked ont
the matter OF freeing them is al settled But unless
some humane course adopted based on wisdom snd
Christian principles, you do gross wrong ana injustice
o. the whole negro in setting them free. nd il il
only this consideration that has led the wisdom Hte
gence and Christianity Of the South 10 support and de
end the institution mp 70 tins time
THE GFEERAL NATIONAL NAN.
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 Gen
ersi In speaking OF the probable of the admin
straion towards the South the General remarked that
If We do so and So / Immediately called his atten-