Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-25

Inc Lion and the Cad Files.
From the Chicago Tisnes.l
There is.one conclusive roa,on wlx l,e
testimony Of Gen. Lee before tile Comnsithse
on Reconstruction will have great weight
with the public, however Il may affect The
opinions or the action Of Congress. The
people of the United States believe hins 60
be an honest and intelligent witness Hpon
the points on which he gave evidence. His
opportunities for learning the prevailing
public sentiment Of Virginia, and she dispo-
sltion Of her people in relation to the Union,
have probably enabled kias 10 form rs cor
rect judgment herein as Rav citizen OF the
State. The part which ne bore in the late
war brought him in contact with the FROM
inent men Of Virginia end Of all the SCUM
ern States, and az he was the ahlest Of the
Confederate leaders, and, one OF tie last TO
yield, il Is natural and enjnst 10 infer that
he truly reflects the present feelings and pur-
poses of those leaders. His testimony Is ex-
plicit upon the following points
]. That the people Of Virginia had ac-
cepted the result Of the war ia good faith,
and were anxious for n restored anity in the
ka;oD.
2. That Union sentiment in the South had
fn discouraged by the refusal Of Congress
adnit Senators and Representatives lrrin
{ southern Stases WHO had not been iden-
with she war and VINO remained true
s1he Union during is continuance.
). hat the whites entertained friendly
feelings fer the freedmen, and were disposed
to treat them justly end kindly, deemiDg
that the Interests Of both RACES would be pro-
NOTED by such treatment;
4. That he regarded the course OF Presi-
Irs,t I-.hs.-...
the South as liberal and humane
The expression Of his own wish for the
perpetuity Of the Union, though not proof OF
4 similar feeling on the part OF the people Of
the State, was vet, for the reasons ge have
stated, evidence waranting the presumption
that such feeling exists Il was strong cor
roboration Of the testimony gwen bv him in
relation to it. He had most ID hope from
the success Of the Confederate cause. be
did most toward sustaining IL. Defeat has
deprived him of power, property. sent him
into retirement closed 20 him The avenues
by which he mighthope to win distinction
hereafter, and left Virginia--that Vi,rinia
which he did and does love 70 farvently and
shly-humbIed and desolasa. Yet he
accepts the result without anger and withent
regret.
This Is not at all mysterious. He con-
ceives thai in the late war he was simply
performing his duty as a citizen 10 the State
to which he owed a first and paramount al
legiance. It commanded him to make war
against the Union. His heart rebellcd
against the command, yet he obe,'ed II, Be
leving, while yielding obedience, that the
true interests of the State required her con-
necfion with the Union which she was rrost
instrumental in forming, and in whose his
tory her sons had borne the grandest and
most conspicuous part.
The people of the United States believe
this, as truly as they believe that the war de-
termined the fallacy Of the d,1ctrine which
led man 80 noble as Lee inc0 m error 70
grievous. The committee h1bre whom lie
appeared believed it.. No one viii suspect
that its members are wise men, but they are
not altogether fools. They are capable 81
deciding as TO the degree Of eredence which
should be given 10 witness whose character
is known. They know hos Car pure and
illustrious life should seal with the impress
OF truth the utteranee Of hin who affords the
example. They sought 20 humble Lee by
neglect and inattention. Pigmiez--when
compared with him-such as Blow and
Bingham ard Boutwell,, who have uttered
more venemcus imprecations against the
Union than were ever conceived BY Lee, sup
posed they could humiliate him BY a re-
fiisal to acknewledge his presence except az
a witness. If the Union against which he
fought with genius, courage and periinaci-
ty which will reflect honor uron the Ameri-
can name while that name lives, even dis
family approached the dirty end deapicable
hing which they have described Il 10 be.
then did he derive az much honor from the
,ause for which he did battle as from his
conduct Of the contest. II Lee il to be ex.
GUIDED from society as a traitor, let it not be
BY Lilliputs who dared to utter, but were too
'owardly TO act treason He has won re-
Ipect and a name, that viii never die, in the
License of bad esuse, while they are too
nsignsfcant 20 win even infamy through
reason to good one. They immeasurably
themselves in imagining they
IRE gad-fiies who can sting G lion.