The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-11
[Signedl

THADDEUs STEVENS,
JUSTIN >. MORRILL,,
JOHN a. BINGHA0I,
Roscoe CoSKLISa,
GEORGE 5. BoUTwE ELL.
The dissentients are Senator johnson
and Representatives Grider and Rod
gers.
A Significant Conversation that Oc-
CURED down Mt Nashville Between
n Rebel and u Union Man.
Fsor1 a Letter in the Ci,cinn I'll Gazetts.
The conversation took place last
evening, at my own rooms on Cherry
street. The company consisted ofyour
an eX-rebel officer, and
three other gentlemen, who had all, L
believe, been officers i'll the Union army.
Two of the latter, as we'll as the rebel
officer, had been strangers to me until
that evening. e.
/ do not give the name of the ex-rebel
officer. II is sufficient to state that he
held prominent position in the rebel
army, serving first as a line officer,
afterwards as Il member of Joe Johns
toms staff, of 5. D. Lees, and finally of
the unlucky Hoods. He is a tall, we'll
proportioned, handsome gentleman, OF
more than ordinary intelligence; easy
and polished in address, and thorough
He resides in Nashville, and still wears
the Confederate" gray, although he
has exchanged his braSS military but
tons for the more sober black horn.
1 was iavorabIy impressed with him
from the beginning, and the company
conversed pleasantly for an hour, upon
topics disconnected with public affairs.
AT last my friend, Judge NJ, who is
a great admirer of ladies, turned the
conversation upon that most interest
ing of all subjects, and produced, in
illustration of some remark, u photo
graph, which it is not too much TO say
all present admired. As it was taken
recently in Lexington, Kentucky, at
least one person who reads this VIII
know whose picture it was
Now, your correspondent "keePs" a
small album, which, us pictures were
under discussion, he brought out and
handed for inspection to his rebel
friend. The first photograph in 1t Is
that of a Union officer, Major General
K; and mingled with those of indiv1d-
uals of not quite so stern mould, lOl-
low pictures of many other prominent
Union Generals.
WHAT AN ALBUM SHOULD CONTAIN.
The ex-rebel examined the collection
attentively to the end, listening with
interest while told him the names OF
such persons represented AS he did not
know, and added u brief word of expla-
nation concerning each.
81 see," he remarked, "that your pic
lures of soldiers include prominent
men from only one army"
Iquietly Assented, trusting that the
COW little bark of our conversation
mig hit pass this breaker unharmed.
.sIt would have a more impartial
look" he continued, "if your album
contained pictures of the prominent,
Confederate as well as Union generals"
1 eudeavored TO stear out to sea by
remarking that my preference was for
Union generals; but1 had no objection
10 any one who liked the others better
filling his album with them.
sTRASoE IDEA OF HONOR.
MY friend appeared resolved to press
the point. "Tnere are plenty of nice
portraits of General Lee aud others to
be Obtained" said he; "wouldn't you
ike TO have some of them?"
''I would not"
..Wny notT Don't you think they
are great generals too?" -
Even ii thought So" replied, 81
should hope that, as generals, they
would as speedily as possible be for
@Why, don't you think there were as
good men as those whose pictures you
have?
"As private gentlemen, said I, they
NAV once have been 50. As private
citizens, as presidents of colleges, as
railway superIutendentS, can, If they
conduct themselves properly, respect
them even now. But iii That which
brought them prominently before the
public regard them as bad men, and
think that for their sakes, the sooner
it is forgotten the better"
swell, am sure don't see wbyI
the rebel officer persistedi "certainly
they fought honorably, and came out
of the contest with honor at its close.
and il seems to me that in order to pro-
duce harmony, the same respect should
be shown to Lee and his subordinates,
that is shown 10 Grant and his"
'.Whether people act hOnOrably or
not" said Judge NJ. at this point, "de-
pends upon the nature of the action IN
which they are engaged. We cannot
regard an effort 10 overthrow the gov
ernment of our common country as an
honorable one,a nnd we would not feel
justified in lending our countenance
thereto, by hanging the pictures oi
our parlors, or even by putting them IL
our albums"
1t would have been refreshing to oul
northern friends 10 see the look of sur
prise which overspread the rebel gen.
ileman's countenance- He turned tC
me: Then you 90 lOL lulnk LueSe LneL
were engagedsin an honorable work?'
'.On the contrary" replied, moth
ing could have been more mischieVous
dishonorable and wicked"
EtWhy, how in the world" said he
tscan il be Cishonorahle for man tC
| fight for his country?" --s1.
ItThere, my friend" I answered, II
the very error into which SO many o
you southern people have fallen. for
| have lost the distinction between pa
| triotisn and treason. What in every
age oEthe world, and according 10 every
| code of morals and of laws, Is regarded
as the highest OF crimes, you consider
laudable enterprise, and you speak o
| that as lighting for your country,
which was In reality an unholy attemP
! TO take the life of your country, by cut
ting it in twain" d l--su-
OUR COUNTRY.
"welI., said he, Il consider the Soutl
] as nv country; and If we are ever re
4 concfled to the North, she will have Z
meet us as equals. 1t can be done Il
~ q And And do Won not consider the Unite
| States your country uow3" :,