The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-01
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EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
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BAY FoR TIE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
General Rosecrans' Virginia Mission.

We have a liking for General Rosecrans. L
his fortune had equalled his ability, he would
now most probably be high ofliser in the
army. We we've glad to have him our Next
can Minister, for we felt he would do the
country service. We do not feel so well salts
fed with his Sulphur Springs mission. Since
the valiant Don QuiXotte went forth TO hight
the windmills, we have known OF no mission
more absurd. General Rosecrans means we'll
and If he could dictate terms of recOncilia-
tion, there would be some hope of their gene
raj acceptability. Unfortunately, we kuow
too well the nature of the terms he will OBJ
tain from the Southern leaders. He rightly
estimates the influence which Lee and his
Generals would have on the Rebels of the
South-but it is folly to suppose that their in
fluence will be materially changed. TAX the
case of Lee. If We believed IN constructive
treason, or admitted the popular doctrine that
rebellion should be punished by hanging, we
should take General Lee as conspicuous ex-
ample. OF all the Rebels, civil aud military,
he was perhaps the most gifted, the most dan-
gerous, and the most wanton. AS soldier,
he carried the confidence OF his chief to the
camp of Rebellion, and aided in swaying Nlr-
ginia into the war, without cause or provoca-
tion. Men rebelled from tanat cism, ignorance,
devotion to slavery. General Lee was a Rebel
from am bition.
Peace brought political and personal duties
to all of us. To Robert L Lee it brought aduty
with the Southern Rebels. He knew how
greatly he had sinned and with what magnan-
Unity he had been protected by General
Grant. We are told that when he saw the
generosity of Grant TO his shattered army, he
was "overcome with emoton"-that he was
profuse with thanks. Since that fearful day,
however he has been silent He knew what
the welfare of the South demanded-that am-
nesty was at haud if suffrage were given
that the North merely wanted justice secured
to the race it had freed-to throw down every
barrier, and unite every interest in the
harmony OF restored Union. He saw the
Cobbs and Hills of the South, the men who
had been warriors in peace and citizens in
war, .fomentiDg dscord and bitterly assailing
every plan of reconstruction. He saw these
cowardly myrmidons OF hatred filling the
South like many evil spirits. Like the
witches in Macbeth, they have worked their
charms-to a dismal fatal end-and infected
the very air with their ''hell- broth, boil and
bubble" Like the Centaurs in DAnte's hell,
their aim seems ever to drive back the race so
long at their mercy into the dark river of
blood. See what they have made the South
Emigration is arrested-capital shrinkS from
her cities and seaports-commerce seeks less
copgenial but more secure climes-credt is
dead-her vast resources are negected-there
is no industry, no enterprise, no national
progress, no public spirt-nothing but pOliti-
cal chaos and social anxiety. the men whose
energy would bless the South are banished,
while those whose industry would make her
fields to blossom as the rose are held in cruel
and dreary subjection. This has come be-
cause her people have listened to prophets as
false as Johnson, and Toombs, ..and Wise, and
because the men whose voices should have
been commanding-men like Lee, and his
generals-have been either silent or sullenly
antagonistic. Lee especially, has had the
happiness ofgreat States at his bidding, and
he has chosen to remain neutral, to shrink
from duty and responsibility behind the groves
of his Lexington Academy. Instead OF acting
the part of Washington, to which he is said to
aspire, he has been merely the Turveydrop-
Grandson of the South. The people he led to
ruin have looked for three years for leadership
and action. He has merely given them de-
pertinent and phrases.
Now, when an enthusiastic and not over
cautious soldier rushes into his presence and
tells him that, he ,can, and must, and shall
speak, the oracle of department opens his
mouth What he has said to our diplomatist
we have not learned. We presume it is, in
the eyes of General Roseorans, a most i'm
portant declaration, for we learn that he has
visited Washington to confer with MIR. John
son. We may have it in "an address" at any
moment. According to one narrative, the
General addressed Lee certain questions, in
substance as follows:-
and prosperity unC er the present Congressional
plan of reconstruction, which surrenders TO The
control of negroes and q lew whites nearly all
were all enfranchised and given the control OF
the South, they would treat tre negroes Justly
and kindly etc. General Rosecrans requested
General Lee TO confer with other leading south
ern Generals and civilians, and obtain their
views in connection with his own"
To this General Lee made a reply, ga care
full and well-digested statement" " in which he
was Joined by General Beauregard, Mr.. Steph-
ems and others. The burden of this Is said
to be as follows:-
general Lee, in his reply, states that he be-
lieves the people OF the South sincerely desire
peace and a restoration OF the Union. He did
not think il poSs BILE that the country could
prosper while the control and management OF
the Governments OF tue > ates of tue south re-
mained In the hands of the negroes and few
whites. and the mass OF the men representing
her intelligence are DISTINGUISHED. He believes
If the whites OF the South were relieved OF all
political disabilities, and thereby given ascend.
ency, they would II left to themselves, treat the
negroes with Kindness iorbearence, and JUS
tice. The Southern people, in his opinion, re-
gard the questions OF, slavery and secession as
settled finally by the war, and they no DISPOSE
tion or inclination to re. establish the one or "a
again Try the other us Is s9e nnanions wlsa
we shall have lasting peace. They long for IT,
The people of the South have the greatest lnte'
rest In having good and stable Gever9men, men
property, under which they may go to work
that whatever th5y may accumulate by then
labor may be secure for themselves and theii
children"
In the first place. by what right has the
white man in the South ls demand a politica
'ascendency?' 1.-THE white men of the South
are superior to the negroes, they need no law
10 make it manifest The superior races viii
always control the inferior To ask for
legal status is to confess weakness. In the