American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-05-15
The Grant-Lee Conference.

A Washington correspondent gives
the most Ineligible account we have
yet seen of the conference between
Generals Grant and Lee, at the
White House-as follows:
The conversation turned Oh the
condition of the South and present
aspect of affairs III Virginia. Gen.
Lee made several suggestions, at the
request of the President, respecting
the submission of the new C0r=titu-
ton to the vote cf the people, and
thought it 1t important that they
should have the right to a separate
vote on tho DISTINGUISHING clauses,
and there should be separate votes
on clauses affecting the local inter
ests when railroads and other inter
nal improvements are to he made.
General Lee faYors the Fifteenth
Amendment, and approves of the
recent Conservative Convention ut
Richmond. He does not believe that
the reimbursement of the negro
will work such prOdigiOus harm as
has been predicted by leading men
North and South. He holds that it
is of the first importance that not
only Virginia, but all of the South
ern States, should be in practical
accord with the Federal Government,
and have fall representation in both
Houses of Congress. and when that
is effected all collateral and minor
questions will adjust themselves sat
isfactorily.
What the correspondent of the
New York Herald says of it:
About eleven O'Clock General Lee
drove to the Executive Mansion aud
sending in his card, was admitted to
the President without delay. When
he entered the ante-room at the
White House there were many per
sons present waiting to see the Pre- s,
fttent, among them several members
of Congress. Lee was recognized by
some OF them and a general huzz ran
around the room. q" There's General
Lee-wonder what BE wants here ?'
General Dent was assiduous in his
attentions and lost no time in get
ting Lees card before the President
There were some half dozen persons
mostly congressman, in the Prcsi
dents room at the time, on various
sorts of bus. ness. Nearly all of then
were after Office and wanted theil
claims upon the President. As sooI
as he got Lees card, however, he
said to the Congressional osfH,
hunters, Gentlemen, you will have
to excuse me. have an engage
ment with General Lee, who is now
waiting outside to keep it, and
wish our interview to be private.
This was broad hint for the Con
gIessmen to retire. They picked W
THEFT hats and beat a hasty and some
what demoralized retreat toward
the door, uttering curses not lone
but deep at the intrusion of the bi,
guest when they were fixing up thei
little business.
1.-THE President" said one Sena
tor, "sees us in a crowd, and there
by exposes our private business bu
when rebel con es along he is givel
| a private audience"
Eyes" said another. "and we ar
driven out as if we had no buSines
here, when we are looking after til
interests of the country"
"That's the way" SAID membe
of the House resignedly."
" Being rebel is Il good card q
admission here, it appears" observe,
an indignant citizen who had bee
waiting patiently for some time t
> see the President.
The feeling in the crowd was on
of undisguiscf Indignation that lie
should go in ahead of all the res
but this unquestiOnabIy arose rroI
the fact that many of them had bee
) disappointed in getting an into
view. Gen. Lee remained cIosete
= with the Executive nearly half a
hour.