The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-04
The Rodennccranz Mission. .

JULIUS HOppes ANDERSON y. ID.
The Rosencranz Mission dnd
A correspondent of the Richmond
Whig writes as follows, under date
of White Sulphur Springs, August
27:
Well, the conference between Gen.
Rosencranz and Generals Lee and
Beauregard, Mr.. Stephens, of Geor-
gia, Gov. Pickens, of, South Carolina,
Mr.. Conrad, of Louisiana, A. FL. II.
Stuart, Governor Letcher, Tere Nor
ton, Governor Stockdale, of Texas,
General Echols and others, which
has been in progress since Saturday
last, reached conclusion this morn
ing, when statement to be laid be-
fore the, people; of the North was
agreed upon, and signed by the par
ties above mentioned.
The paper consists first of q letter
addressed by Gen. Rosencranzto to Gen.
Lee and others, in which he states
that lie came 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, q
full expression of their views upon
the political questions of the day,
and he hoped and expected it would
be such one, as would materially
aid in the reconstruction of our COM
mon country, upon basis of per-
manent peace and prosperity. In
this letter, which breathed patriotism
in every line, as I am informed, he
propounded sundry inquiries to Gen.
Lee, among which were, whether we
can hope for any permanent peace
and prosperity under the present
Congressional plan Of reconstruction,
which .surrenders to the control of
negroes and few whites, nearly all
of the Southern States? Whether,
If the whites were all enfranchised
and given the control of the South,
they would treat the negroes Justly
and kindly? The whole object of the
letter was to procure such q state
ment OF the feeling and temper of
the Southern people toward the Co.
vernment, the negroes, &C., as fore.
shadowed in my letter, which, though
written on Saturday last, was full
report Of the proceedings of the con-
ference up to the hour the paper was
agreed upon. General Rosencranz
requested General Lee to confer with
other leading Southern Generals and
civilians, and obtain their views in
connection with his own.
A careful, well-digested, I need not
say truthful statement, because Ro-
bert E. Lees sign-manual was to it,
was prepared and addressed to Gen.
Rosencranz, in reply to his letter.
AS 1 have stated above, all the par
ties to the conference signed it, and
others not here will do SO before its
publication.
1t may not be uninteresting to
know that, after Gen. Lees name
came that of Gen. Beauregard, and
that the signature Of Mr.. Stephens,
of Georgia, is the third on the list.
Gen. Les, in his reply, stated that he
believes the people of the South sim
cerely desire peace and restoration
of the Union. He did not think it
possible that the country could
prosper while the control and ma
nagement of the governments of the
States of the South remained in the
hands of negroes and few whites,
and the mass of the men representing
her intelligence are disfranchised.
He believed if the whites of the
South were relieved of all political
disabilities, and thereby given ascen-
dancy, that they would, If left to
themselves, treat the negroes with
kindness, forbearance 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 OF
inclination to re-establish the one OF
to again try the other. It is the
unanimous wish, says Gen. Lee. ol
the Southern people that we shall