The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-04-10

pay for. We have yet the Moo York
Custom House, and more NV the perke-
sits must be yoosed for politikle pur-
poses. PETROLEUM V. NAsBY, p. NJ.
(Which Is Postmaster), and likewise Pro-
fessor of Biblikle Politicks in the
Southern Classikle s. Military Insti-
toot.
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL LEE.
His RetIcenee ON Political A Anairs.-Hfs
POsItiOn---what He Did Advise
How the Southern People should
VOte---The Generals Popularity.
LEXINGTON, VA, March 81, 1857.
After tardy and disagreeab!e ride
over the most miry road, from the Nat
ural Bridge to this place, that it has
ever been my misfortune to witness, I
arrived here this evening, having ac-
complished a 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
General Lee, called at his residence
late this evening and was received by
himself in kind, but cUurtly and Dig
nified manner. found him to be all
that has been said of him as a gentle-
man, and very shortly felt completely
at ease in his presence. he was affa-
BILE and very agreeable, and seemed to
be well informed upon matters in his
immediate locality and the condition
ofthe State generally, in which he takes
the deepest Interest, the welfare of the
people being evidently most at heart.
He discussed, without any reserve what
ever all subjects on this head.
The General said he believed the peo-
pie in this section We're probably in a
any other part of the State, none of
them being in actual want of the neces-
saries of life. Some cases of extreme
destitution 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 suE-
fering. He also related, with some
feeling, the case of a 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 had every one had deserted
her sSve one, even those whom she be-
fore considered most faithful. This
WAS on the line of some raiIroadF-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
propensity to congregate in towns and
to work steadily on farms where their
labor was at the present time so essen
tial, and where they would be amply
remunerated. A great many healthy,
able-bodied men in this town were liv-
ing 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 also re-
marked that a letter he had received
from General Wade Hampton had mem.
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 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 he
replied, $50 have heard. They will
soon, doubtless, be able to Judge for
themselves, and should be educated to
such standard" Knowing his reti-
cence with regard to matters polite, /
alluded as delicately as possible to the
reports that have recently been promul-
gated in the newspapers 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
expressing myself upon that subject.
My position is very peculiar one. /
am paroled prisoner, and have no
1f
and any thing may have said has only
been among my immediate circle of
friends, from whom it doubtless es-
capped uuintentionally and reached the
newspapers" then remarked, "The
reports alluded to have been published
in the entire press of the country, aud
in this way will have decided effect
with the Southern people," which elici-
ted The following: "I wish the South
ern people TO take such measures as
will most speedily restore them to their
prosperity; with that view was in IA
vor of a convention 10 accept the terms
of the Military Bill, but now I learn
that the supplementary bill places that
power in the hands of the military COM
mander-" remarked such was the
case, when he said, "I hope that every
citizen who can vote, will vote SO as to
secure the speedy restoration and well
fare of the country." a1a1i 11H- a1
During our conversation the General
said he dislked being paraded before
the public in newspapers; but of such
Importance and general interest to the
public are his opinions at the present
time, feel it my duty to give them SO
far as succeeded in obtaining them in
a fair and legitimate manner. He con-
hneS himself to his own sphere OF
duties and never even reads a news
pager, so that what he knows of the
situation Is heard in conversation with
others. He remarked that he heard the
Legislature were 10 reassemble, but he
thought If the business of the session
was completed they would be more
wise in staying at home-an opinion in
which numerous citizens of Virginia
will coucuF, 81 ~
Its a noteworthy fact that while at
all previous sessions Of the college and
institute here, quarTels and distur-
Dances between the students and cadets
were OF frequent occurrence, such Is
the influence OF GeneralIee's presence,
and 50 great Is the respect in which he
Is held by all, that they will make any
sacrihces rather than have a quarrel
that might reach his ears, and now a
spirit OF emulation for good behavior is
engendered between them. $40 ---l-z-.