Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-23
INTERVIEW WITH GEN. LEE.

LEXINGTON, March 81, lS67-After
a tardy and disagreeable ride over the
most miry road, from the Natural bridge
to this place, that it has ever been my
misfortune to witness, / arrived here this
evening, having accomplished distance
of fourteen miles in seven hours, which
will give a faint idea of the horrible state
of the roads in this country.
Having letter of introduction to Gen.
Lee, | called at his residence late this
evening, and was received by himself in
kind but courtly and dignified manner.
| found him to be all that has been said
of him as a gentleman, and very shortly
felt completely at ease in his presence.
He was affable and very agreeable, and
seemed to be we'll informed upon matters
in his immediate locality, and the con-
dition of the State generally, in which he
takes the deepest interest-the welfare
of the people being evidently most at
heart. He discussed, without any re-
serve whatever, all subjects on this head.
The General said he believed the peo-
ple in this section were probably in a
better condition than those in almost any
other part of the State, none of them
being in actual want Of the necessaries
of life. Some cases of extreme destitu-
ton had recently been brought to his
notice, by letter, in the southern portion
of the State, and he mentioned one
family of distinction who were suffering.
He also related, with some feeling, the
case of lady in Alabama, who had
written to her son, then at his college, to
come home Immediately, as she could no
longer afford to pay his fees, and stating
that of all the negroes they had, every
one had deserted her, save one, even
those whom she before considered most
faithful This was on the line of some
railroad, by which the negroes in its
vicinity had nearly all emigrated to
other States Speaking of the colored
population, to whom he is strongly at
tached, their propensities to congregate
in towns and cities was to be deplored,
rather to work steadily on farms where
their labor was at the present time so
essential, and where they weuld be
amply remunerated A great many
healthy, ableb bodied men in this town
were living on the earnings of their
wives, who washed for the students at
college, while they could obtain plenty
of work in the country. The General
alss remarked that letter be had re-
ceived from General Hampton had men
toned that a great deal Of destitution
existed in both South Carolina and Mis-
sissippi. :,
His politics are like those of General
Grant, unknown; and, like that officer,
he has a decided objection to be spoken
of in connection with political affairs.
| remarked, General Hampton has
been giving some sensible advice to the
negroes in Columbia. To which be re-
piled. " So l have heard. They will soon,
doubtless, be able to judge for themselves,
and should be educated to such stand
ard" Knowing him reticent with regard
10 matters polite, | alluded IS delieately
as possible to the reports that have re-
Gently been promulgating in the news
papers purporting to give bis views as to
The course the Southern people should
pursue under the present circumstances,
when he said, You must excuse me,
sir. from expressing myself upon that
subject Ny position is q very peculiar
one. an a parolsd prisoner, and have
no right to speak upon political matters,
and anything that l may have sand has
enly been among my immediate circle
Of friends. from whom il doubtless es-
capped enthusiastically, and reached the
newspapers" ! then remarked, The
reports alluied Y have been published