Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-31
THE ROsECRANS MISSION.

Conclus10m OF the ROsecrans C0nference-
Correspondence on the State Of the South
General Lees Views The Letters
withheld for the Present-Their Sub.
stance.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, August ~
Well, the conference between General Rose
Grams and Generals Lee and Beauregard, Mr..
Stephens, Of Georgia, Governor Pickens of
south Carolina, Mr.. Conrad, OF Louisiana, A.
Governor Stockdale. Of Texas, General Echols,
and others, which has been in progress sine
Saturday last, reached q conclusion this mort. .
ing, when a statement to be laid before the
people OF the North was agreed upon and
signed by the parties above mentioned. 1t was
not deemed advisable by General Rosecraus
10 allow the press to have copies Of it In ad-
vance of its formal publication by him, thon Oh
correspondents were importunate as the widow
of the Scriptures. He left with it by the eleven
o'clock stage, and will proceed at once north
ward. i have been able to gather an outline
however, of it's contents.
LETTER PROM GENERAL RosECRANs TO GEN.
ERAL LEE
Inc paper consists first OF letter addressed
oy Gen; Rosecrans to Gen. Lee and others, in
which he states that he has come 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, full expression Of their
views upon the political questions of the day,
ne hoped and expected il would be such a one
as would materially aid in the reconstruction
OF our common country upon q basis Of perma-
which breathed patriotism in every line, as l
am informed, be propounded sundry inquiries
70 Gen Lee, among which were, whether we
can nope for any permanent peace aad pros
perlty under the present Congressional plan of
reconstruction, which surrenders TO the control
SI negroes and few whites nearly all of the
Southern Staiesi Whether, If the whites were
enfranchised and given the contr oil of the
SCUM, they would treat the negroes Justly and
kindiyl The whole object OF the letter was to
procure such q statement Of the feeling and
fnvu ard
Government, the negroes, &c, as foreshad-
owed in my letter, which, though written on
Saturday last, was a full report OF the proceed.
ings Of the conference up to the hour the paper
was agreed upon.
General Rosecrans requested General Lee to
confer with other leading Southern generals
and civilians and obtain their views in con.
nection with his own. .....-
GENERAL LEES REPLY. -
I A careful, well-digested. I need not say
truthful statement, because Robert E. Lees
sign.Enanual was to 1t, was prepared and ad-
dressed to General Rosecrans in reply TO his
letter. As have stated above, all the parties
TO the conference signed it. and others not here
will do SO before its publication.
1t may not be uninteresiing to know that
after General Lees name came that of General
Beauregard, and that the signature Of Mr..
Stephens, Of Georgia, is the third on the list.
General Lee. in his reply, stated that he De-
lie eves the people Of the South sincerely desire
peace and a restoration Of the Union. He did
not think it possible that the country could
the governments OF the States Of the South re.
mained In the hands Of negroes and a few
whites, and the mass Of the men representing
her intelligence are disfranc hised.
He believed II the whites Of the South were
relieved Of all political disabilities and thereby
given ascendency, that they would, il LETT to
themselves, treat the negroes with kindness,
1orbearance and justice. The Southern people,
In his opinion, regard the questions of slavery
and secession as settled finally by the war,
and they have no disposition or inclination to
re.establish the one or to again try the other.
1t h the unanimous wish, says General Lee,
Of the Southern people that We shall have
lasting peace. They long for 1t. The people
ofthe South have the greatest interest IN having
good and staple government, that will pro-
tect 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 NAV be secure for
themselves and children.
The reply covers five pages. and reasserts
substantially the declarations OF the Conserva-
dive conventions OF the South. The gentlemen
here like Judge Gholson, who have watched
the progress Of this conference from it's incep.
uon to its gratifying conclusion, are very hope.
ful that much good will result from its action.
General ROsecrans was particularly jubi-
liant, and, though an xious TO 20 North with q
paper In which he may ever feel patriotic
pride, he still fingered to bid adieu TO the
many friends Of both sexes he made during
his sojourn here.-COrrespondence Of the Rich
.oud HAao p .