The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-02
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS.

Our last advices from this locality assure
us that the capital Of the United States is not
yet moved to Greenbriar, and the very last
telegram contains no information which Is in
dicatiye OF the fact that Robert Z. Lee il
President of the United States. The repre-
sentatives elected by the people Of the loyal
states are, according to the best information
we can obtain, the real law-maklng powers OF
the land. To be sure, General Rosecrans has
undertaken to have 1t otherwise still, 1t IL
some satisfaction to know that "Old Rosie"
as he is familiarity called, did not succeed In
installing in power certain prisoners OF war,
by the name OF Il. L. Lee, A. II. Stepht ms
90.
We have supposed, up to the time OF this
visit of General Roscerans to the dominlons
Of X. Z. Lee, that certain principles and the
status OF certain men were settled at Appomat.
toX Court House. 1t would appear, however,
that we were mistaken. The terms OF settle
ment are TO come from the pAroled prisoners
at White Sulphur, and General Grant is to
receive his instructions from that quarter.
General Rosecrans, the self-appointed minis.
ter in this business, has taken the liberty to
inform Congress that their legislation is OF
NO account. Mr.. X. L. Lee, henceforth, with
his conferees, will dictate the terms upon
which this Government shall be administered!
General Rosecrans will be the bearer of dis
patches from Mr.. Lees dominions, to the
whilom United States Government.
On taking up one OF our southern exeha nges
we find the following inquiries addressed to
his High Mightiness, Mr.. X. Z. Lee, by this
selfappointed minister, Mr.. Roseorans. He
asks.
"whether We can hope for any permanent
peace and prosperity under the present Con.
gressional plan of reconstruction, which sur
renders to the control of negroes md a few
whites nearly all of the southern Statesl
Whether, If the whites were all enfra nchi sed
and given the control OF the south, they would
treat the negroes justly and kindly, &C. Gen.
Rosecrans requested Gen. Lee to confer with
other leading southern generals and civilians,
and obtain their views In connection with his
own"
To this humble petition from the Federal
General, Mr.. Lee, the august and unrepentani
rebel, is pleased to reply as follows:
That he believes the people OF the South
Union. He did not think 1t possible that tn,
country could prosper while the control am
Of inc t6s S,ns he 81 s
negroes and few whites, and the mass of TIL
men representing herintelligence are disiran
irsrs r,liercd Of an political disdbiiifies an,
thereby girsn dSceHdtnCy they would, II lef
to themselves, treat ne negroes rhh kindHsEs
for6CGrGncs and justice. The southern people
in his opinion, regard the qustions Of slavery
and secession as settled finally by the war
and they have no disposition or inclination to
Te-establish the one or to again try the other,
It is the unanimous wish, says Gen. Lee, Of
the southern people that we shall have lasting
peace. They long for II. The people OF the
good and stable Government that will protect
them In their rights and their property, undei
which they may go to work, that whatever
secure for themselves and children"
There Ia a sort OF frankncss about this re
ply that we rather like. In the first place
General Lee does not lose sight of the notion
so dear to the Southern heart, that he is /,
Southern gentleman OF the patrlcian order
and that he belongs to "the superior race y
He strikes our brother Rosie" right between
the eyes on that question. 1t must be very
comforting reflection to Mr.. RosecTans.
Then he does not think 1t possible for the
country to prosper when In the hands of tn,
negroes and few whites. What a pity tina
such rebels as X. L. Lee, who did all he coull
to destroy the Government, should not be per
mitted to rule
Then, again, We suppose we ought to b.
very much obliged to Mr. Lee for the informa
ton that the South do not intend to fOmen
another rebellion! They have had enough o
secession. They are not going either to re
estsblish slavery. The war has ssttlet al
this. No doubt OF it; and the war has settle,
some other things too. 1t has settled this
that the negro is a man aud citizen, and tina
the loyal black man Ia more entitled to rule II
this country than the rebel white man. Mr.
Lee talks Of treating the negro with "kind
ness, JorbeGrdHer, and Justice" Neither tn
negro nor the negro's friends ask this at tn,
hands OF Lee, or at the hands OF such rs he
All the negro asks is his rights. lie want
nothing more, he will take nothing less. Mr.
Lee brings his "kindncss and (orbsGrdncc" to
wrong market We have no patience with
this sort Of talk from such rebels as Lee. II
Is not the negro who needs "kiHdHcSS and for
hcdraRce," but 1t is Lee and such as he.
We are disgusted with this whole proceed
ing, and can only AS an American citizen fee
degraded that man In Mr. RoseCrans' posi-
ton should have gone upon his knees to thes
lrrant rebels. When will Union men ceas
their follicsl