The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-04
's3erersf lees TesfimonylThe True
policy TO be Pursued Toward the
From the London Times, April 10.

BGutns - 49,,
From the London Times, April 10.
The utmost that can reasonably DC eX-
pected from people situated Ike the W.
ginians is such political conformity Us
General Lee declared to exist. IL IS barely
twelve months since these men were en-
gagged In one of the most desperate wars Oh
modern times-a war fought out to :" the
bitter endn with every circumstance OF
passion and fury. To expect that they
should now look with positive affection on
their conquerors, condemn their most G :.
nent countrymen as traitors, and repudiate
as abominable the principles Tor "nlci,
they sacrificed their fortunes and s'akea
their lives, is beyond all reason. IL - -
enough if they know themselves beaten, IL
thew accent the results without reserve, II
tbey cherish no idea of deferred rebellion,
and if they are prepared TO return 70 'lion
former position with resolution W pc
form all their duties as citizens, ana 'o'." u
readiness to receiue the ,rdrmer mtpreS %,l
,cbich time and intercourse may br'ag. dhese
are actually the feelings with which Gehe-
raj Lee describes them as now anliha'eu'
More. il must be evident, could not DE eH-
nected Int if more is desired, II Is mani
fest that the result can only be secured oy
Nnt reru policy qchich the President mas
o,,o,red and ,chich the Radicals are SO "a
naficaNu opposing. If something IS SUN 10
be done-as nobody need deny-before a
Tiruinian can look upon the Union as ne
looked ten years ago, it can only be accom-
plished, as General Lee affirmed, oy hCel ~
and corciliatory conduct on the part Of me
Goreyrpent. If passive acquiescence Is TO
be converted into cordial sympathy, II must
he by kind and generous treatment. Inc
policy of the Radicals is stultlhed by their
own professions. They pretend to desire
more sympathizing South than they have
already got, and then, to improve the oou.n1
ern feeling, they propose to lnnic1 Poll'lca'
disgrace on the Southern people. lney pro.
nounce them to be still diSaficcted, or not
sufficiently well affected, and by way OF
conciliating them would condemn them 10
alienation and outlawry. Such polcy
stands self-convicted, for its only result
must be to make bad worse.
1t is not probable that Virglnlan looks
upon the Government of the Union exactly
like New Highlander; no reasonable per
Ron would expect that he should do so. III
is enouqh for the purposes Of prudent recon-
st,wcti0p if the States lately in SeCeSStOnhnr
abandoned all ideas of independence, and are
prepored to make the best Of their position as
members of the Union once more. The rest
must necessarily be work of time; but it
will be accomplished most speedily, as well
as most surely, through such policy as
the President now advocates. He does not
desire to swamp the South with swarm OF
black voters, nor to place the negro IN a
position of invidious and perilous antago-
niSm toward the white man. He asks only
for simple professions Of politlal 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 slaves, and repudiatc the
debt contracted for the purpose OF the
rebellion. To these conditions they are
willing to assent, and the President would
open the doors Of Congress to them, and so
restore the Union. What his opponents
desire, or profess to desire, we may collect
from the examination to which General
Lee was subjected. They demand dmpO$Sj-
biities for it is simply absurd to require
that the South shOuld h'UtJly and hanhJmy
kiss the rod after the cushion they prescribe.
The policy of the President, on the other
hand, is policy not only of moderation,
but of promise. 1t bids fair to bring back
the South to those sentiments of perfect
concord which the Radicals pretend to de
mand. 1t is General Lees opinion that
such policy, aided by the Indispensable
cooperation of time, will really produce
this effect; but it needs no argument to
show that a policy Of prorocatjon and OPP
preston, continued after uictory, must inte"-
Sify and perpetuate that Gerry hoStiHty ,rhich
it is intended to GrtingtiSh.