The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-09-09
The Rosecrans Mission.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, :
Ar4 OF 1000
August 27, 1868.

Well, luo conference DSIWeell UeleFdl
Rosecrans and Generals Lee and Beaure-
gard, Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia. Governor
Picllens, Of South Carolina, Mr. Conrad,
Of Louisiana, A. IL. II. Stuart, Governor
Letcher, Jere Morton, Governor Stock
dale, of Texas, General Echols, and 9TH
ers, which has beon IN progress since
Saturday last, reached conclusion this
morning, when statement to be laid be.
fore the people of the North was agreed
upon and signod by the parties above
mentioned. 1t was not deemed advisable
by General Rosecrans to allow the press
to have copies of it in advance of its for
NAL publication by him, though cores
pondendents were importunato as the
widow Of the Scripture He left with it
by the eleven o'clock stage. and will pro-
ceed at once Northward. l havo been
able to gather an outline, however, of its
contents.
LETTER FROM GENERAL RosECRANs TO
GENERAL LEE.
The paper consists first of letter nd
dressed By General Rosecrans to General
Leo and Others in which he states that
he came here of his own accord, in the
interest of his country, to get from the
Confederate leaders in the late war. in
whom the North knows the South has
perfect confidence, q full expression of
their views upon the political questions OF
the day, and he hoped and expected it
would bo such one as would materially
aid in the reconstruction of our common
coantry upon basis of permanent peace
and prosperity. In this letter, which
breathed patriotism in every line, rs am
informed, he propounded sundry inquiries
to General Lee, among which were,
whether we can hope for any permanent
peace and prosperity undor the present
Congressional plan of reconstruction,
which surrenders to the control of ne.
groes and few whites nearly all of the
Southern States? Whether, if the whites
were all enfranchised and given the con-
troll of the South, they, would treat the
negroes justly and kindly? Tho whole
object OF the letter was to procure such a
statement.of the feeling and temper of
the Southern people toward the govern
ment the negroes, &C., as foreshadowed
in my letter, which, though written on
Saturday last, was full report of the
proceedings of the conference up to the
hour the paper was agreed upon.
General Rosecrans requested General
Leo to confer with other leading South
ern generals and civilians, and obtain
their views in connection with his own.
GENERAL LEES REPLY.
A careful, well-digested, l need not say
truthful statement, because Robert E.
Lees sign-manual was to it, was prepared
and addressed to General Rosecrans in
reply to his letter AS 1 have stated
above, all the parties to the conference
signed it, and others not here will do SO
before it's publication.
1t may not be uninteresting TO know
that after General Lees name came that Of
General Beauregard, and that the sigma
ture of Mr.. Stephens, e Georgia, is the
third on the list.
General Lee, in his roply: stated that
he believes the people of the South sim
cere!y desire peace and restoration of
tho Union. He did not think it possible
that the country could prosper while the
control and management OF the govern
ments of the States of the South remain
ed in the hands of negroes and a few
whites, and the mass of the mon repre-
senting her intelligence are disfranchised.
He believed if the whites of the South
were relieved of all political disabilities,
and thereby given ascendancy, that they
would, if left to themselves, treat the ne
groes with kindness, forbearance ard jus
tice The Southern people, in his opin-
ion, regard the questions of slavery and
secession as settled finally by the war,
and they have no disposition or inclina-
ton to re-estabish the one or to again
try the other 1t is the unanimous wish,
says Gen. Lee, of the Southern people
that we shall have lasting peace. They
long for it. The people of the South
have the greatest interest in having a
good and stable government, that will
protect them in their rights and their
property under which they may 60 to
work properly, and with confidence that
whatever they may accumulate by their
labor may be secure for themselves and
children.
The reply covers FIVE pages, and reas-
ecrts substantially the declarations of the
Conservative conventions Of the South.
The. gentlemen here like Judge Gholson,
who have watched the progress of this
conference from it's inception to its graft
tying conclusion, are very hopeful that
much good will result from its action.
General Rosecrans was particularly ju-
bilant, and, though anxious to go North
with paper in which he may ever feel
a patriotic pride, ho still fingered TO bid
adieu to the many friends of both sexes
he made during his soiourn here-CorreS-
pondence Richmond Wing.
The ED1roR.-A school-boy's compost
tion on "Thc Editor" ran as follows, in a