The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-09-12
ao'iev' Art ( OTIS. J, ',,! v,'ss ID
'.l Tho 'Rosccrans Mission.
/. c;;94f-. 5
THE coRnEsPoNDENcE IN FULL,

..35 5J.ff~ =. 81 \
TIE Correspondence IN FULL.
"a A'Washington dispatch of Friday night to;
the Baltimore Sun says: NJ
+, Well informed gcntlcmcn, Just returned
from the White Sulphur Springs make such
statements concerning the interview Of Gen.
Rosecrans and Southern Generals thoro as
put that interview in light in which it has
not bccn hithcrt2 exhibited. Thc distinguish
cd Southern gentlemen there assembled for
health and pleasure ohly'ss aud not for any poll
tical purpose received the General with that
kindness and courtesy due to distinguished
officer, but anticipated no formal conference
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 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 woll enough known.
Thoy had laid down thor arms and admitted
the conqueing power of the North; they had
fully accepted tho situation aud determined
to follow path of true allegiance to the Con-
stitution 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 being drawn from tho rctiromont
they had voluntarily sought and placed pro-
mincntly, aud as central figures in the contest
now in progress They had no desire to be
the means, positively or negatively, of creating
any new issue in tho campaign, and were not
ambitious in the present emergency Of being
the authors Of aRy new plank for cithor the
Southern people or the Democratic party of
the country They were intelligent gentle
ien, who had carefully noted the poe pfogtess of
events, and dfd not bcli6te bliat theiifr gudiSi
kdnal opinions as to Southern sentiment aud
Southern probable action would inf 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 an 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 cmsnatel from
Radical sources. They had no idea, when
they first freely gave their viows and opinions
ltp; General Rosccrans,in cran his aelf.imposcd mis-,
7 sion, that what was done would be, diguified
by tho name Of o 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-
guishcd Southern gentleman with whom ion
Rosecrans conferred had control of the whole
subject, the result Of the interviews would not
be made public ut least for the present While
no OWL 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 honco a
letter was written i'll reply to one from Gen
cral Rosccrans. cmbodying 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:
GENERAL RosHCRANs' LETTER,
WHITE SULPHUR SpRISus,
West Virginia, August &c, 1868.