The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence 0, the Richmond Dispatch
WASHINGTON, May 2, 186!

,.r. WASHINGTON, may n, ioos'
By far the greatest event since the al
;ournment Of the Senate-prooaoIy tne
greatest since Grant announced his Caoinet
ar nominated his ministers plenipoten-
tiary-in the public mind was the inter.
v;sy hetvean the President and General
les Yesterday. The news that Lee had
v,sited Grant spread rapidly through the
toVn. and enterprising correspondents OF
afternoon newspapers flashed the fact over
tina wires to the respective Journals as
Quickly as they would announce proois-
nation about Cuba or call for an extra
session Of Congress to consider our relations
to- England. And yet the prominent ON
cisiBs at the Executive mansion as
sers. positively that beyond the osdi-
nary oourtesies which pass between
eentlemen there was nothing that
transpired--particularly, nothing having
any political Significance. Your corre-
spondent was assured by competent autho-
rity that Shere was no private conversation
between the President and his eminent
visitor concerning reconstruction. 1t Is
evident that in the short time during which
General Lee remained at the White House
very little concerning national matters
could have been eaid. The interview did
mot lsst ten minutes. It is true that the
President expected that General Lee would
csi.s rand had given orders that he should
I be admitted to an interview immediately:
He was grati6ed to meet the dlsflDguisneo
General; and really the visit which mas
caused such 8 sensation seemed TO nave put
every one in the White House, from the
shoulder-strsppcd secretaries to the mes .,
sengers at the doors, in the best possible
condition of urbanity and good nature.
Radicals have been silly enough TO ex-
press indignant feelings because Of the in
tersiew,5 particularly as the President
denied audience to some Of the politicians,
but their soreheadedness is Of no avail.
General Lee, with great modesty, has,
and it seems successfully, endesvored to
prevent being made lion Of by those
who would pay homage to his high per
sonal character. 1t is not improbable that
before long there will be another inter-
view.
The President maintains characteristic
reticenee regarding his intentions about
tina vote On the constitution in Virginia. 1t
il safe to believe that he will Do mainly
guided in his action by the opinions and
suggestions Of General Candy. I.
- Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.
GENERAL LEES INTERVIEW WITH THE PRE-
sIpENT-H1s OPINION OF SOUTHERN AZ
FAIRS. Elk.
Washington, May IA gentleman who
called upon General Lee to-day made some
INQUIRIES Of him respecting his interview
with General Grant which took place at the
Executive mansion yesterday, and it sp-
pears that the President had solicited the
visit for the purpose of talking over Viz
ginia affairs and the South in general. In
the matter Of submitting the constitution
to vote Of the people, he General Lee)
thought that separate votes should De
taken on the disfranchisiDg clause and on
several clauses relating to questions of a
local nature, in which the various coun-
ties are largely interested. He was also Of
the opinion that it was Of the utmost i'm
portsnce that the several States should be
brought into practical relation with the
Federal Government at once, IN order to
secure representation in beth branches OF
Congress, and when that was accomplished
he was sure all other questions would rea-
Oily adjust themselves. He said he had in
formed the President that he did not look
upon the adoption Of the fifteenth amend
ment with such fearful forebodings as had
been done by leading men of the North and
South. He said the interview was On ex-
ceedingly pleasant one, and that the Presi-
dent assured him he would always be glad
IN goa him ...