The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-04-03
OH A r L Els T O N
TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL 8, 1865.
GEN. LEE "pUT TO TIE QUESTION:"

mOhNlN0s AI 1tAL " AOoos
GEN. LEE "PUT TO TIE QUESTION"
The Inouisition at Washington, known as the
Committee on Reconstruction, having plenary pow
er ssto send fox persons and papers" have kindly
pstronized General LEE. They sent for the great
ex-rebel-drawing him from his peaceful secluslon
in the mountains of Virginia-to put him through
conrse OF Reconstruction Cateohism. We have
never had the pleasure of seeing any OF the dis-
tinguished gentlemen over which Senator How
ARD presides, but we have very frequently seen
the illusrious catechumen, and can well conceive
the calm dignity that sat upon his noble brow,
and the expression Of surprise, pictured in those
deep, truthful eyes, at the tenor OF some OF the
questions put to him. We can conceive, moreover,
that Senator HowAnp and his fourteen learned
assessors, not unfrequently must have felt rather
sheepish in the course of this catechizing; and
sometimes again, the whole farce must have been
30 apparent, even to themselves, that We are sure
they must have experienced no little difficulty to
maintain sufficient gravity to play their role
They Of course knew perfectly well, beforehand,
what would be the tenor of General LEES replies;
and these replies not being to their liking, they
seemed to take pleasure in putting perplexing
home questions to him. They were not restrained
by motives of deGcacy. Why should theyf Had
they not power "to send for persons and papers =
The Reporters do not tell US how the veteran SOL
dier behaved under this inquisitorial infliction
we feel assured, however, he did not tremble IN
the august presence, but acquitted himself, as he
has often done on more trying occasions.
Many of the questions are commonplace, trivial
and puerile he was asked about the Loyalty
of the ''secessonists;" whether these late rebels
would vote for reputation Of the United States
debt; whether they would not also like to pay the
"so-called" Confederate debt; how Virginians feel
towards freedmen; whether negroes haye any
special capacity for mathematics and the exact
sciences [rather hard question for our old Con
eral, and he very modestly told his interrogators
that he did not knowl. They asked him about
the domestic, social and economic habits OF the
| freedman, and the reasons therefor. What would
the ssecessionists" do in case Of war between
the United States and some foreign power or
powers? Are the poor whites OF Virginia more
fond of work.now than they were formerly? Can
Northern capitalists and laborers come to virgin
ia and go to work there?
We do not deem it necessary to lay the answers
to these questions before our readers. General
LEE is fair representative OF the South; every
Southern man, therefore, can readily answer these
questions for himself, and on comparison he will
find that his ideas on loyalty and reconstruction
perfectly coincide with those of General LEE. But
before we close our brief notice of this lengthy
document, we will give one or two specimens OF
Hrr uou,pp's crucal oupatiOng
lis there not general dislike of Northern men
among Secessionists ?" A. suppose they would
prefer not 70 associate with them; do not know
that they would select them as associates. :,
''Do they avoid and ostracize them socially r.
A. They might avoid them they would not select
do not know that they would associate with
them until they became acquainted; think 1t
probable they would not admit them into their
social circles.
s'Suppose q Jury was impanneled in your own
neighborhood, taken By lot, would it be possible
to convict for instance, Jefferson Davis, for hav-
ing levied war upon the United States, and thus
having committed the crime Of treason ?" A.
think it is very probable that they would not con-
slider he had committed treason.
''Suppose the jury should be clearly and plainly
instructed by the Court that such an act of war
upon the part Of MIR. Davis, or any other leading
man. constituted in itself the crimo of treason
under the Constitution of the United States,
would the Jury be likely to heed that instruction.
aud, if the facts were plainly in proof before
them, convict the ofiender?' A. do not know,
sir, what they would do on that question.
As this Committee has examined great many
very prejudiced witnesses on the state Of loyalty
in the South, and the fitness and capacity OF the
late rebels for return into the bosom Of the
Union, We are glad that the ''other side" has had
a hearing also, and that General LEE was enabled
to record his testimony on the leading topics in
controversy We sincerely hope, though re
scarcely expect, that the quiet dignity, and caln
candor of General LEES replies
may exercise salutary influence on his interroga-
tors, and on the Northern people at large.
And, in conclusion, we would again assure them
that General LEES OPINIONS are those Of every
Southern gentleman.
q S---