The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-07
A Washington dispatch of Friday night t

A Washington dispatch of Friday night to
the Baltimore Sun says:
Well informed gentlemen, just returned
from the White Sulphur Springs, mako SUCH
statements concerning the interview OF Gen.
Rosecrans and Southern Generals there as
put that interview in light IN which 1t has
ed Southern gentlemen there assembled for
health and pleasure only. and not for any po-
litical purpose. received the General with that
kindness and courtesy duo to distinguished
officer. but anticipated no formal conference
upon the political situahonS until Gen. Rose
clans himself began to PROFOUND questions
which the parties questioned we're compelled
either to answer, or by thelr slience 70 cause,
perhaps, an erroneous impression as to their
views to get abroad. From the best sources Of
information it appears, however, that these
gentlemen would have preferred tt have dis
cussed almost any subject rather than that
indicated by General Rosecrans. They were
upon neutral ground for, according to the
legislation Of Congress, the State or V1ginla
is not to be permitted to par; - IN tne
presidential election. Tnsy- 90, that their
opinions we're alrealy -, enough know1
They had laid doEL tIeir arms aud '!'
the conquering power Of the No.- 'ad
fully accepted the situ,tiJ .crmlned
to follow path, h,of tr:-. ace to the Con-
stitution Of the UuAtc, :.,tcs; they we're con-
tent to be the PASSIVE objects which the peo-
pls of the North were to control in their
efforts to organize the government and put
fore were reluctant to being drawn from
the retirement they had voluntarily sought
and placed prominently, and as central
figures in the contest now in progress. They
had no desire to be tho means, positively or
negatively, of creating any new issue in the
campai IN, and were not ambitious in the pre-
sent emergency of being the authors OF any
new plank for either the Southern people or
the Democratic party OF the country. They
were intelligent gentlemen, who had carefully
noted the progress OF events, and did not be-
lieye that their individual opinions as to South
ern sentiment and Southern probable action,
would in the least affect the general result,
for they knew that all in the North who
desired to fully understand the South.
ern situation and Southern people could
come to an intelligent conclusion with
out their aid, at this time; and they also knew
well that nothing they could say woul1 con-
vince that class in the North who we're wilfully
blind and determined 10 recognize no truth
from the South unless 1t emanated from Radi-
cal sources. They had no idea, when they first
freely gave their viows and opinions to General
Rosecrans in his selfimposed mission, that
what was done would be digniied by tue name
of formal conference, or that the interviews
would assume the Importance subsequently
given to them by the press and people through
out the country.
NV informant is satisfied that if tho distin-
gushed Southern gentleman with whom Gen.
Rosecrans conferred, had control of the whole
subject, the result OF the interviews would not
be made public at least for the present. While
no evil consequences could possibly follow the
publication, 1t is not believed 1t could be pro-
ductiye of much GOOD,
In consequence of the prominence given to
the whole subject, however, it was concluded
that something should be said, and hence Q
letter was written in reply to one from General
Rosecrans, enbodyln2 views on certain points,
but, it will be seen, avoiding all partisan refer,
ence. This letter was signed first by General
Lee, and subsequently the other signatures
were appended, as heretofore stated. The fol-
lowing is the correspondence: