Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-02

"a TUDCI7IIOn OF
ticcablc throughout The cut interview that in single
instance did lac speak of the Southern Conedcracy nor
Of the Yankees the rebels. He frequently alluded
TO the country and expressed most earnestly his solicit
tude for its restoration TO peace and tranquility eau
,iously avoiding any expression that would imply the
possibility of its disntegration.
THE SOUTH NOT YET CONQUERED.
Throughout all the conversation he manifested an
earnest 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
option But he particular 10 say that should
arbitrary vndictve or revengeul policies be adopt
ed the end was not yet There yet remained great
deal of vitality and strength IN the South There were
undeveoped and hitherto unavailable sources
of strength which harsh measu es on our part would
call into action and that the South could proTact the
struggle for an indefinite period. We might, II was
destroy all the remainder of the country east OF the
Mississippi river by lavish expenditure o. men ana
means; but then would be required TO fight on the
other of that river and after subduing them there
would be compelled 10 follow them into Mexico and
thus the struggle would be prolonged until the whole
country would be impoverished and ruined. And this
would be compelled TO do if determination confs-
cation and general humiliation and destruction are TO
be our policy. For if people to be destroyed they
will sell their lives as dearly as possible.
CONDENSATION or THs ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT
LINCOLN.
The assassination of the President then spoken Of
The General considered this event in itself one of the
most deplOrabe that could have occurred. As crime
il was unexampled and beyond eXecration, IL was
able motive Undoubtedly the effort would be made 10
fasen the responsibility of upon the South but om
his intimate acquaintance with the leading men oil the
South he confident there was not one OF them who
would sanction or approve il. The scheme was wholly
in the South before its execution and would
never have received the slightest encouragement had II
been known but the contrary the most severe exc
Grafton called the Generals attention, at this point
10 notice that had been printed in the Northern papers
purporting TO have been taken from paper published
ia the interior of the South proposing for the sum OF
one million of dollars 10 undertake the assassination OF
the Presid and his Cabinet The General ahrmed
that he had never heard Of such proposition,
nor did he believe it had been printed in the Sanh
though if had had been permitted merely as the
within of crazy person that could possibly amount
10 nothing Such crime an anomaly in the histo-
~ Of our country and had yet before its preparation
10 learn that II was possible OF tnti eai'sl c"'ep'n
or actual execution
THE soUTB NEVER HAIf IN EARNEST IL rHF WAR
twas most singular and remarkable expression to
escape the lips of such man as General Lee Thar the
South more than hali IN earnes IN ihis war
cannot attempt TO translate this remark or eucidate
il It's utterance conveyed 90 me the impression that the
South was most heartily sick OF the war; and anxious
10 get back into the Union aud to peace The General
added that they went of after political leaders ~ mo
mani of passion and under the excitement OF iancied
wrongs honestly believing that they were entering
strnqqle for an nalienahe right and fuDda mental
prjnciple OF their political creed man should not he
n5osd barshiy Tor cOntending for that which he hon
estl believes 10 be tight Such the position of the
yssi majority of tue Southern people now. And now
they defeated they CONSIDER thdt tnC hdNe Vst
everything that IS worth cOntendng for in the govern
ment They have sacrt ced home friends property,
health all oa this issue Men do not make such sacrifices
for nothing They have mace the sacrifice from honest
ExPATRATIoN SCHEMES
And now that they have lost in the Issue they feel that
they have no interests left in this country. 1t IS the opn
ION of General Lee that unless moderation and lberality
no exercised tow ards them the country will lose its best
peope Already he says they seeking to expatriate
themselves and numerous schemes are started - 80 10
hexico 10 Brazil to Canada 10 France or elsewhere
lie is allied upon frequently 10 dsconntenance and sup
Orass such undertakings. The country needs these
vnnnO men They are its bone and sneW, its ntelll'
gence and enterprise, ts hope for he future and wis
dom demands that effort be spared Ia keep them in
the country and paciy them.
GENERAL LES STANDPOINT.
twas most noticeable feature of the conversation
that General Lee strange as il may appear talked
throughout citizen OF the United states. lie seem
Ell 10 plant himself the national platform and take
his obse, yations from that standpoint lie talked
calmly deliberately earnestly, hut with no show OF IN
tsrt other or different from what might be- expected
from an honest believer IN his peculiar opinions
TRF TERMS or PEACE,
The conversations which had been greatly protracted
much so that became uneasy for fear OF trespsssng
on time that had no right to claim, terminated with
some illusions 10 the terms Of peace. Here there was
perhaps naturally and properly more retcence than on
any other topic Bat II was pam from what transpired
that the only question in the way OF immediate peace
was the treatment TO be accorded the vanquished Ev
ervthing else by implication, TO be surrendered
Slavery State rights, the doctrine Of secession, and
whatever else Of political policy may be involved In the
strife il abandoned the only barrier TO an immediate and
universal suspension Of hostites and return 10 the
MON being the treatment the national authorities may
promise those who have been resisting IT'S power and
paramount authority. 10 is proper TO say that this
not SO ated by General Lee. but simply an inference
from the conversation that took place on that topic On
the contrary the General seemed very cautious in
gard TO terms In order TO get at his views If possible
/ suggested the conservative sentiment OF the North
which proposed general amnesty TO all soldiers and
military officers, but that the political leaders OF the
South be held TO strict INABILITY. Would that
be lust ?" he asked What has Mr.. Davis done more
than any other Southener that he should be punished
Il Is true he has occupied prominent postlon as the
agent OF a whole people but thai has made him no more
nor less rebel than the rest His acts were the acts OF
the whole people and the acts OF the whole people were
his acts He was not accountable for the commence
ment of the struggle, On the contrary he was one Of
the last to give his adherence TO the secession move
ment having senuousy opposed from the outset and
portrayed its runons consequences in his speeches and
by his writings Why, therefore, should he suher more
than Others q" OF course il was not my province TO
discuss these questions and as this illustration disclosed
the bent of the general mind was all that desired
10 know.
CTS. LESS PERSONAL WISHES FOR rHE FUTURE.
In taking leave the General took occasion 10 say
that he was greatly respected by very large body of
good men at the North, aud that as soldier he was
admired, and that il earnestly hoped
that he would vet lead army Of United States troops
in the enforcement OF the Monroe doctrine He thanked
me for the expression Of Northern sentiment toward
himself but as for fighting he felt that he
getting too old his only desire being to be permit
ted to retire private life and end his days in secuson
IL was, thought an evidence OF painful sadness at
heart that prompted the added expression that he would
have been pleased had his life been taken in any of the
numerous battle fields which he had fought ring
this war.
THE GUSTS SLAVES
While talking on the subject Of the abolition OF
slavery remarked that il had lately been charged in
some of the newspapers OF the North that the Gusts
slaves some two hundred in number, who had been
left in General Lees custody for Emancipation had not
been emancipaied The General said this was mis-
take As executor of the will he was required to eman
cipate these slaves az certain time. That time had
not arrived when the war broke cut II did arrive
or two years afterwards. Al that time he could not
get the courts of the county In which Arlington is
located TO take ont the emancipation papers as pre-
seribed by law But he did take out papers from the
Supreme Court of the state in this city, lbersng them
ALL and they recorded in the records Of that
court He sent word Of their freedom 10 the negroes
at Arlington, and the necessary papers were sent to
those at the White House and to all Others that could
he reached and they all thus liberated together