The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-10
General Lee's Tcstimony-Tho Truo Policy
- 60 bio Puraued Toward tho South.

General Lee's TcBtimony-Tho Truo Policy
~ 60 be Purnued Toward the South.
from a people situated like the Virginians is such
Q, political conformity as Gen. Lee declared to
e1iat, 1t is barely twelve months since these mon
were engaged in one OF the most desperate wars
Of modern times-a war fought out to 1'the bitter
end" with every circumstances OF passion and fnry.
To expect that they should now look with positive
eminent countrymen IS traitors, and repudiate as
abominable the principles for which they sacrificed
their fortunes and staked their vos, Is beyond all
reason. Il is enough, il they know themselves
beaten IL they accept tho results without reserve,
if they cherish idea of deferred rebelion and
il they prepared to return to their former po-
siton with resolution to perform all their duties
as citizens, and with readiness to receive the
warmer Impressions which time and intercourse
may bring. These are actually the feelings with
which Gen. Lee describes them as now animated.
More, it must be evident, could not bo expected !;
but is desired it is manifest that the result
can only be secured by that very policy which the
be done-as nobody need deny-before virginan
can look upon the Union as he looked ten years
ago, it can only be accomplished, as Con. Lee af-
frmed, by liberal and conciliatory conduct on the
part Of the Government. Ifpassive acquescence
Is to be converted into cordial sympathy, it must
be by kind and generous treatment. The D, .licy
Of the Radicals is stultifed by their own profess
sions. They pretend to desire q moro sympa.
tlhizing South than they have already got, and
then, to improve the Southern feeling, they pro-
people. They pronounce them to be stiii dsaf.
fected, or not sufficiently well affected, and by
way Of conciliating them would condemn them to
Alienation and outlswry. Such . policy stands
sef-convioted, for Its only result must be to make
bad worse. -"'E ..''-I-- -
1t is not probable that vrginian looks upon
the Government Of tho Union exactly like New
Highlander; no reasonable person would expect
that he should do so. It is enough for the pur-
poses of prudent Reconstruction, IL the States,
lately in secession, have abandoned all ideas OF
Independence, and are prepared to make the best
OF their position as members OF the Union once
time; but it will be accomplished most speedily,
as we'll as most surely, through such policy as
the President now advocates. He does not de-
sire to swamp the South with swarm OF black
voters, nor to place the negro in position of in
vidious and perilous antagOnism toward the white
man. He asks only for simple professions Of po-
hticat honesty. He stipulates that the Southern
States shall forego their views of secession, ac-
knowledge and confirm the abolition OF slavery now
and forever, deal fairly with the enfranchised
purpose Of the rebellion. To these conditions
they are willing to assent. and the President would
open the doors OF Congress to them, and 30 re-
store the Union. What his opponents desire, or
profess to desire, We may collect from the exami-
nation to which General Lee was subjected They
demand impossibilities; for it is simply absurd to
require that the South should humbiy aud thank
fully kiss the rod after the fashion they prescribe
The policy OF the President, Oh the other hand, ia
policy not only of moderation, but Of promise
ments Of perfect concord which the Radicals pre-
tend to demand. It is General Lees opinion that
such policy, aided by the Indispensable co-opera-
ton OF tune, i'll really produse this effect but it
cation and oppression, continued after victory,
must intensity and perPetuase that very hostility
which it is intended to extinguish.-London
Times, April 10.