The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-09-12
A. Ar R T. 0'UAs. y'req %
. The Roscc,rians Mission. !.
THE CORRESPONDENCE IN FULL.

,str r-'F- f. 81
THE CORRESPONDENCE IN FULL.
"A Washington dispatch of Friday night to
the Baltimore Sun says: '.r
Well informed gentlemen, Just returned
from the White Sulphur Springs mnkc such
statements concerning the interview Of Gen.
Rosccrans and Southern Generals thcro as
put that interview in light in which it has
not bccn hitherto exhibited The distinguish
cd Southern gentlemen there assembled for
health and pleasure only, aud not for any poll
tical purpose, received the General with that
kindness and courtesy due to u distinguished
officer, but anticipated no formal conference
upon the political situation, until G en- Rose
Grams himself began to PROFOUND questions
which the parties questioned were compelled
either to answer, or by their silence to 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 to have dis
cusscd almost any subject rather than that
indicated by General Rosccrans. They were
upon neutral ground for, according to the
legislation of Congress, the State Of Virginia
is not to be permitted to participate in the
presidential election. They felt, too, that
their opinions were already vol enough known.
They had laid down thoir arms and admitted
the conqucring power of the North they had
fully accepted tho situation aud determined
to follow path of true allegiance to the Con-
sttution Of the United States; they were con-
tent to be tho passive objects which the people
of tho North wcrc to contfoi in their efforts to
organize the government and put it upon an
enduring basis, and they, therefore, we're
reluctant to being drawn from the rctiromcnt
they had voluntarily sought and placed pro-
minently, aud us central figures in the contest
now in progress. They had no desire to be
the means, positively or negatively, OF crcating
any new issue in tho campaign, aud were not
ambitious in the present emergency Of being
the authors of any new plank for cithor the
Southern people or the Democratic party Of
the country. They were intelligent gentle
mon, who had carefully notod tile progress Of
cycnts,, and dii hot believe that theiir YndiTi-
'hlal opinions to Southern 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 under
stand the Southern situation and Southern
people could come to IN intelligent conclusion
without their mid, at this time and they also
knew we'll that nothing they could say would
convince that class in tho North who wore
wilfully blind and determined to recognize no
truth from the South unless it emanatel from
Radical sources They had no idea, when
they first freely gave their vicws aud opinions
.tp: General Rosecrans in his selfzimposcd mis-,
sion, that what was done would be dignifcd
by tho name of a formal conference, or that
the interviews would assume the Importance
subsequently given to them by the press and
people throughout country.
My informant is satisfied that if tho distin-
gulshcd Southern gentleman with whom Gen
Rosccrans 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 tho
publication, it is not believed it could be pro.
ductivo Of much good
In consequence of the prominence given to
the whole subject, however, it was concluded
that something should be said, AID hcnco n
letter was written in reply to one from Gen
cral Rosccrans, embodying views on certain
points, but, it will be seen, avoiding all par
tisan reference. This letter wus signed first
by General Ice, and subsequently, the other
signatures were appended, us heretofore stated.
The following is the correspondence:
GENERAL ROsECRANs' LETTER.
WHITE SULPHUR SpRINus,