The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-13
INTERVIEW WITH GEN. LEE

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INTERVIEW WITH GEN. LEE
HIS Reticence on Political A6airs-H
Position What He Did AdVise---
Hon the Southern People .Shoul'
Vote.
LEXINGTON, Va, March 81, 1867.
After tardy and disagreeabIe ride owe
the most miry road, from the Natural Bridg'
to this place, that it has ever been my mis-
fortune to witness, / arrived here this even
ing, having accomplished distance of four
teen miles in seven hours, which will Civ
a faint idea of the horrible state Of the roads
in this country. ,el.
| Having letter of introduction to Gen
Lee, called at his residence late this even
ing and was received by himself in a kline
but courtly and dignified manner. fount
| him to be all that has been said of him as ,
gentleman, and very shortly felt completed,
at ease in his presence He was affable ant
very agreeable, and seemed to be well in
formed upon matters in his immediate local
ity, and the condition of the State generally
i'm which he takes the deepest interest-tht
welfare of the people being evidently most
at heart. He discussed, without any reserve
whatever, all subjects on this head.
The General said he believed the people In
this section were probably in better con
dition 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 restitution had recently been
brought to ais notice, by letter, in the
southern portion of the State, and he men
toned one family of distinction who were
suffering. He also related, with some feel
- I,,1, hal
written to her son then at his college, to
come home Immediately as she could nc
longer afford to pay his fees, and stating
that Of all the negroes they had had, every
one had deserted hsr 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 attached, their propensities to con.
gregate in towns and cities was to be de-
plored, rather than to work steadily on
farms where their labor was at the present
time so essential, and where they would be
amply remunerated. A great many healthy,
able-bodied men in this town were living on
the earnings of their wives, who washed for
the students at college, while they could OBJ
tain plenty of work in the country. The
General also remarked that letter he had
received from General Hampton had mem
toned that great deal of desritution ex-
listed in both South Carolina and Mssiss-
sippi
His politics are like those of Gen. Grant,
unknown; and, like that officer, he has a
decided objection to be spoken of in connec-
ton with political affairs. / remarked,
General Hampton has been giving some
sensible advice to the negroes in Columbia
NJ I'll, c. I'D
They will soon, doubtless, be able to Judge
for themselves, and should be educated to
such standard" Knowing his reticence
with regard to matters polite, alluded as
delicately as possible to the reports that
have recently been promulgated in the news
papers purporting to give his views as to the
course the Southern people should pursue
under the present circumstances, when he
said, you must excuse me, sir, from ex-
pressing myself upon that subject. My po-
sition is very peculiar one. am paroled
prisoner, and have no right to speak upon
political matters, and anything that l may
have said has only been among my immedi-
ate circle of friends, from whom it doubtless
escaped Internationally, and reached the
newspapers" / then remarked, "The re-
ports alluded to have been published in the
entire press of the country, and in this way
will have decided EFFECT With stb s s sgasrss
Us ,ciH most speedily restore them to their pros
'erityi ,oith that Uiev l toas IN. fduor of con-
ention to accept the terms Of the military bill,
Mt non 1 learn that the supplementary bill
'laces that pocer in the hands Of the military
commander" remarked such was the case,
When he said, Il hope that every citizen
Who can vote, iUiU note so as TO secure the
peedy restoration and ace!fare Of the country"
During our conversation the General said
% disliked being paraded before the public
a newspapers but of such Importance and
eneral interest to the public are his opin-
ms at the present time, feel it duty to
i've them SO far as succeeded in obtaining
lem in a fair and legitimate manner,