Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-05
THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS COR.
kESPONDENCE

The Letter of General RoSecrans-Reply of
General Lee and other Confederate Lead
The following letters have Just been made
public:
WHITE SULrHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA,
Aug. %, le6S-GkNERAL: Full of sOlIcitude for
The future OF our country, L come, with nv
heart in ny hand, TO learn the condition, wishes,
and intentions of the people OF the Southern
St3tes-especIally TO ascertain the sentiments
of that BODY OF grave, energetic, seli-sacrificng
men who after sustaining the COnfederacy for
four years, laid down their arms and swore
allegiance TO the Government OF the United
States, whose trusted and beloved leader you
have been.
1 see that interpreting States rights" to
Dfiict with national unity has produ uced a
violent rsacuon against hem, which ls DRIFT
ing us towards consolidation; and: also, that so
great a country as ours even now is, certainly
II 10 be, must have State governments 10 attend
10 local details, or go iarther and fare worse.
1t Is plain To US at the West and North thai
the continuance of serni-anarChy. such as has
existed for the last three years IN ten States of
our Unlon' largely increases the danger OF CEN
trailZauon, swellS our national expenditures.
diminishes our productions and our revenue
lnsp res doubts OF our political and financial
staoillty' deprecIates the value OF our national
BONDS ana currency. and places the credit OF
the richest below that OF the poorest nation in
Christendom.
We know that our currency must be depre
ciated so long as our bonds are below par: and
that, therefore, the vast business and commerce
OF our country must suffer the terrible evil OF
elduCaTO OF value, until
10Y the EVIL condition OF things at the South.
We also see other mischief quite possible If not
proDdDie 10 arise such as from failure of
crops, local inS direction. and many otner
unforeseen contingencies, which NAV stIIl
more depreciate our credit and currency. pro-
woke dlsCOnte II and disorder among our reo-
PIE, and bring demagogicsl agitation, revolu-
tion, repudlailon. and thousand unnamed
evils and vlllanies upon Us. We know that
the interests OF the people of the South are for
law and order, and that they must share our
fate OF good ana ILL.,
/ believe-every one, I know. who reflects
belieVes-that If the people of the Southern
States could be at peace, and their energy and
goodwill heartily applied 10 repair the wastes
of war, reOrganIxe their business. set the freed
men peacefully. rosperOusly and contentedly
a. work. invite capital, enterprise. and labor
from elsewhere TO come freely amongst thera
they " ould rebuild their ruined fortunes, null
tiply manifold the value of their lands. estab.
hsh public confidence IL our political stabiIi-
~, bring our Government bonds to premium
our currency TO a gold standard, aud assure
for themselves and the whole nation a most
happy and prosperous future. Seeing this,
and how all Just interests concur IN the work
i ask the officers and soldiers who fought for
me Union-every thinking man of the great
West and North aSks-why IL cannot be 0one
We are told by those whO have controlled the
Government for the last four years that the
people Of the South Will not do il; that If ever
done at all, il must be done by the DOOR, simple
unedpcated, landless freedmen and the few
whites who. against the public opinion and
sentiment of the intelligent white people. are
10 10 lcdu ana make their "
ing of OF the ignorant, inexperienced colored
people, mostly men who must be needy adyen-
turers or without any OF those attributes on
which reliance for good guidance or govern.
ment can be placed We are told that this kind
OF government must be continued az the South
until six or eight millions Of Intelligent, ener-
gete white people give into IL, or move out Of
he country.
Now, i think, the Union army thinks and
the people Of the North and West, dare saw,
believe, there must be, or there ought to be,
at
for all al the South.
We know that they who organized aud sus.
tanned the Southern Confederacy for four yesrs
against gigantic efforts, ought TO be able TO give
peace, law, order, and protection TO the whole
people of the South.
They have the interest and the power to en-
ploy, protect, educate, and elevate the poor
freedmen, and 20 restore themselves and our
country 10 all the blessings of which / have
Is-.sAre they willing to do iti'
came down 10 find out what the people of
the South think OF this, and TO ask you what
The officers and soldiers who served In the Con-
federaIe army, and the leading people who
sustained IL, think OF these things.
i came to ask more. i want TO ask you, in
qualified confidence, and so many good men As
you can conveniently consult, TO say what you
think of il, and also what yeu are willing 70 do
aboutlt i want a written expression of views
that can be followed by concurrence of ac-
ton. want 10 know If you and the GENTLE
men who will join you in that written express
sion are Wiling 10 plcOke the people OF the
South TO q chIvalrous and magnanimous de-
yotion TO restoring peace and prosperity TO our
common country. i want 10 carry that pledge
lac ofiosrs and soldiers of the Union armv,
and the people of the North and West, and 70
ash them 10 consider II, and 70 take the neces-
sary action, confident that IL Will meet with a
response so warm, so generous, and cenhding
that we shall see In its sunshine the rainbow
OF peace in our political sky, now black with
clouds and impending storm.
II know representative
reverence and regard for the Union, the Con-
stit0tion, and the welfare of the country. and
nIne-tenths Of the whole people Of the South;
but should like TO have the signatures Of al
the representative Southern men here who
would concur IN your views, and expressions
OF their concurrence from the principal officers
and representative men throughout the South
when they can be procured.
This concurrence of opinions and wills all
tending 70 peace, order, and stability will as
sure our Union soldiers and business men
wso want substantial and solid peace-and
cause them to rise above the level of party pol.
itIcs, and take such steps to meet yours as will
insure lasting peace, with all its countless
blessings
Very truly, your friend.
w. 5. RosscRANs
Gen R. E. LEE,
White sulphur Springs, West Virginia
The following Is the reply Of General Lee
and others.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGIN
IA. august &c, los. GENERAL: have had
tne honor 70 receive your letter Of this date,
ana IN accordance with your suggestion have
CONSUMED with number Of gentlemen from
the south, IN whose Judgment have confded.
and VINO are well acquainted with the public
sentiments OF their respective States. They
have Kindly consented 10 unite with me in re.
plying 10 your eommu nication. and their names
will be found with my own appended to thh
answer.
With this explanation we proceed to give
you canold statement Of what we believe to
gard 20 the subject 10 which you refer
Whatever opinion may have prevailed In
right Of q State TO secede from the Union. ne
believe that we express the almost nanimous
iudgment Of the Southern people when ne
were decided by The war, and thaiit y tner in