The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-28
General Lee.

In the Dispatch of Saturday appeared
sketch Of conversation with Genera
y GRANT in Washington. The paper from
(which it was copied stated that this con
versation was between the General and the
editor of the Le,ciSto,rn Fails Journal. We
now learn that Mr.. NELSON DINGLEY, edi,
tor Of the Lection (Me.) Journal, was the
man. This Mr.. DINGLEY is said to have
been Speaker of the Maine House of Re-
representatives. in 1865.
General GRANT, as far as we have had
the means of knowing, bears the character
of rcticcnt man, and not given to speech
and pronunciamento making. We can
hardly suppose he unbosomed himself to
this Mr.. DINGLEY with the understanding
that he was to report him in the Lcwton
newspaper and we altogether doubt the
correctness of this report. 1t is little
singular that, having been surrounded by
SO many news-gathcrcrs of the press, so
many senSation-makcrs for many months
men who would esteem u word from him
more precious than diamonds, and would
omit no opportunity and no diligence to
secure it, and to secure ii for the leading
journals of the country-should at last un-
fold himself, to be gazettcd in the Lewton
newspaper.
General GRANT has shown fairness and
occasional magnanimity, in interposing to
rescue from the prosecutions Of such
Judges as UNDERWOOD officers who had
been paroled by him, entirely incompati-
bic with some of the sentiments attributed
to him by this obscure paper. But the
most surprising part of the revelation is
what is put in General GRANTS mouth
concerning General LEE. We cannot be-
lieve that he ever uttered any such OPT
mons. There has certainly been no earthly
ground for such reference TO that distln-
guished officer. There is no reason for a
distinction between him and Generals
JOHNSTON and TAYLOR, to his prejudice,
either in the north or at the south. Gene
raj LEE Was the first to urge upon all Con-
federates to return to the pursuits of do
nestle life with energy and devotion, to
restore the south, particularly Virginia, to
order, comfort, and prosperity. lie i'm
pressed upon them as duty, as good citi-
zens, to be loyal and submissive to the Fee
deral authority and the Constitution; and
he especially demonstrated with the young
: Ifrii, in sort of parental and aficctionate
manner, not to leave their native land, but
to remain and assist in restoring its condi-
tion of happiness and thrift. Never has
this loyal, frank, and truthful gentleman
committed himself to anything inconsistent
with these sentiments and counsels.
How General GRANT can have received
any such impression relative TO General
LEES conduct as that set forth in the Lac
ton Journal we cannot conceive. We have
correctly stated the substance of all his
puoiic, and We may add, private express
SONS on the subject. So far as his acts are
concerned, he has quietly settled himself
oo"h IN pleasant and retired town in the
mountains, as principal of college, endea-
sofiae " 40 what he may i'm training and
teaching the youth Of his native land
whose education was so sadly noo,ected
during the war. He has meaa,e5 with
politics in no sense whatever, and cvery
sentiment he has uttered looks to tho
restoration Of the country to peace and
security. His testimony before the Com.
mittee on Reconstruction was certainly in.
capable Of being tortured into an example
such as General GRANT is made to style
sspernicions." What he said has challenged
the admiration Of the world for its goot
sense, frankness, and truthfulness. Ever
the bitterest northern partisans could not
impugn 1t. If he told the Committee Of
Reconstruction that the people Of the south
were more dissatisfied when he gave his
testimony than they were immediately after
the surrender Of the southern armies and
the restoration Of the Federal authority,
he told that committee truth which &C.
neral LEE regretted, and which his in
genuous spirit could not conceal or per-
Un% Il O.. a. .slA