The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-09-12
''ldVl' 4 AstRe'I' r f OTIS. ysrea sd3

AAo ASVocCiuuS MlSSiUu.-
!. TIE coRnEspoHDENoE. IN FULL,
AWashingtoh dispatch of Friday night to.
the Baltimore Sun says -s
T. Well informed gentlemen, just returned
from the White Sulphur Springs make such
statements concerning the interview of Gen
Rosecrans aud Southern Generals thoro as
put that interview in light in which it has
not boon hitherto exhibited. The distinguish
CD Southern gentlemen there assembled for
health ans pleasure only aud not for any poll
tical purpose, received the General with that
kindness and courtesy due to distinguished
officer, but anticipated no formal conference
upon tho political situation, until Gen. 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 til csc
gentlemen would have preferred to have dis
OuoSSo uiiHuse any nuDJCCt Ihuu tIluC
indicated by General Rosecrans. 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 thor arms and admitted
the conquering power of the North they had
fully accepted tho situation aud determined
to follow path of true allegiance to the Con
titution of the United States; they were con-
tent to be the, passive objects which the people
Of tho North were to control in their efforts TO
organize the government and put it upon an
enduring basis, and they, therefore, were
reluctant to boing drawn from the rct:romont
they had voluntarily sought and placed pro-
mincntly, 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, and 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 noted tic Ipfogfess Of
eychts,' and did not bcli61e that theft Yhdiei-
dual opinions as to Southern sentiment. aud
Southern probable action, s !d'.n ii the loast
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 nm 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 viows and opinions
tp: General Rosecrans gran in his self-imposcd mig,
sion, that what was done would be. digui6ed
by tho name of formal conference, or that
tho interviews would assume the Importance
subsequently givon to them by the press and
people throughout country.
My informant is satisfied that if tho distin.
guished Southern gentleman with whom Con-
Rosccrans conferred, had control of the whole
subject, the result Of the interviews would not
bc made public ut least for the present While
no evil consequences could possibly follow tho
publication, it is not believed it could be pro.
ductivc Of much good
In consequence of the prominence given to
the whole subject however, it was concluded
that something should be said, AID hcnco a
letter was written in reply to one from Gen
eral Rosccrana, embodyins views on certain
points, but, it will be seen, avoiding all par
tisan reference. This letter was signed first
by General lee, and subsequently, the other
signatures were. appended, as heretofore stated.
The following is the correspondence
lel GENERAL nosECRANs' LETTER.
WHITE SULPHUR SpRISos,
II