Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-19
8radfortl geporter.
Towanda, Thursday, April 10, 1866.
GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON RECONSTRUCTION.

1t is well known that General Lee was
recently examined before the Re-construc-
ton Committee of Congress, and if those
people who have heretofore regarded this
rebel chieftain as the personifcation of open,
candid manliness, as far above subterfuge,
evasion deceit and craftiness, as he is above
the other rebel generals in supposed ability,
could have heard his testimony, they would
have agreed with one accord, that if Lee
was such man, he has fallen from very
high to a very low estate. For more weak
evasions and silly preteXtsswere never re-
sorted to by a one-sided witness, who al
ways had poor memory for one side, and
good one for the other. He was subject
ed to a searching examination, and nothing
but persevering scrutiny, and the skillful
varying and shaping of questions brought
out the little truth of Importance that was
admitted by the witness.
We never had any confidence in this arch
traitor The reputation the copperheads
have given him is drawn from borrowed
lustre. Lee is really a scion of old Virgin
ia chivalry, his father having distinguished
himself as Col of Cavalry under Washing
ton, in the War Of the Revolution and it
is with the fathers noble antecedents, that
the simple worshipers of this degenerate
son, clothe their idol He satisfied the men,
bers of the Committee on Reconstruction,
and all others who heard his testimony,
that he has not only degenerated sadly in
principle, in stern integrity and lofty bear
ing, but has sunken in intellect as well. 1t
was hoped that through him a fair and
thorough view Of the social and political
condition of the South would be obtained,
and that the great influence he has, not
withstanding the enormity of his crime in
drawing his sword against his country,
would be given to effect lasting reconcile
alton between the North and the South !;
but it would seem that for the one he lacks
the requisite ability, and for the other the
| disposition.
The Southern people, says Gen. Lee, re-
gard their cause as lost, and although con-
tent to abide by the arbitrament to which
they appealed, they cherish no kindly feel
| ing toward the Union, and are now engag-
| ed mainly III making the best of their con-
dition He asserts that they approve OF
President Johnson's policy, and '.look for
ward to it as hope Of restoration )" but it
is possible, he says, that in the event Of a
| foreign war, they might side with the enc
mics Of the country, though they contem-
plate nothing of the kind now. He also
says " ii is rery possible they mjghf' secede
again if a second Buchanan should afford
them an opportunity. This is avery frank,
but not a very creditable confession to
come from the lips of the late rebel chief.
| tain
But Gen. Lees testimony was chiefly re-
markable for what it didn't reveal When
closely pressed, his ready answer was that
he didn't remember" or he "didn't know
Thus he positively affirms that he never
knew that any cruelty was practiced upon
Union prisoners, or that they were dying
in Southern prison-pens Of cold and starva
ton If this be a true answer, Gen. Lee
must have been ignorant of what every,
| body else in the country knew perfectly
well but he afterwards states that he did
everything III his power to 'relieve" the
prisoners, and urged the establishment OF
the cartel on the basis of which a partial
exchange was effected. 1t seems, then, he
lcaS cognizant of some suffering among the
prisoners and as he could not have been
unaware of the charges made, month after
month, in Northern papers, and constantly
referred to III those Of the South it was his
duty, as commander in-chief of the chieI
army of the Confederacy, to make himself
acquainted with the truth or falsity Of those
charges That he suffered these things tc
pass upheeded is little to his credit as a
soldier and man. There is the same sin
gular want of frankncss in most of his state
ments respecting Southern feeling and Oh
lLllS dCCOuuI tHcy ohOuIu NC ICCcINtu Will
many grains Of allowance.
But with regard to the negro, his mem.
Dry and his knowledge were never at fault
Gen. Lee says that personally he has al
ways been in favor of gradual emancipa
ton yet he is quite sure that the two
races can never live together in peace, and
that Virginia world be better off if she
rid herself of her negro population and he
would in any case prefer white to black la
borers In regard to colored suffrage, he
says Virginia would prefer a smaller rep
resentation in Congress, rather than put
ballots in the hands Of the blacks Were
the right to vote now to be given to the
blacks by law, it would excite unlriendly
/ feelings between the two races 1t is as
tonishing that gentleman who knows so
little about popular sentiment in the South
with regard to the Union, and so little about
the treatment of Union prisoners of war
during the continuance Of hostiities, should
be 50 intimately acquainted with Southern
feeling toward the negro. One would sup
Al. I -. !: