The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-04-23
GRANT Ind LEE.

GRANT AND LEE.
Since General Grant was first regard
ed to be In q critical condition the press
has not only published accounts OF the
progress of the cancerous disease as the
brave old hero faltered and rallied,
weakened and rallied again, bat hum
dreds of interesting items connected with
his private and military life have been
searched out and printed.
The Globe-Democrat recently pub
lished letter written by Gen. Grant on
the 10Th of April. 1851, which indicates
his patriotic spirit and which contrasted
with 9 conversation between General
Scott and Lee on the same day, shows
the diverse opinions of these two re-
markable men; the broad and generous
love Of national government on the part
Of Grant, and the narrow and selfish
motiYe of Lee.
1t also shows the power of General
Grant, who though q prospective slave
holder, was capable Of judging the out
come of the inevitable etruggle-the
"a bay "a I-uhA buO 5CAASAhCo5
of Lee, who though union officer, yet
declared In favor of the south to save his
property, which was largely in slaves.
The letter was written to Mr.. Dent
and is as follows:
GALENA, April 10, 1861 Mr.. F. Dent:
DEAR SIR have but very little time to
write, but as in these exciting tiaes we
are very anxious to hear from you, and
know of no other way but by writing
first to you, must make time. We gel
bat little news by telegraph from St.
Louis, but from all other points of the
country We are hearing all the time. The
times are indeed startling; but now is
the time, particularly In the border slave
states, for men to prove their love of
country. 1 know it is hard for
men to apparently work with the
/ Republican party, but now all
party distinctions should be lost sight
of. and every true patriot be for main
tanning the integrity of the glorious old
stars and stripes, the constitution and
the Union. The north is responding to
the presidents call in such a manner
that the rebels may truly quake. | tell
you there is no mistaking the feelings
of the people. The government can call
into the field $4,000 troops, and ten OF
twenty times rs, 600 if it should be neces-
sary, and fad the means of maintaining
them, too 1t is all mistake about the
northern pocket being so sensitive. In
times like the present no people are
more ready to give their own time or of
their abundant means. No impartial
man can conceal from himself the fact
that in all these troubles the southerners
have been the aggressors, and the adj
ministration has stood purely on the de-
fensiVe-more on the defensive than she
would dared to have done but for her
consciousness of strength and the Ger.
tainty OF right prevailing in the end.
The news to-day is that Virginia has
gone out of the Union. But for the in
fluence she will have on the other border
states this is not much to be regretted
Her position, or rather that of Eastern
Virginia, has been more reprehensiblt
from the beginning than that of South
Carolina. She should be made to beal
heavy portion of the burden of the wal
for her guilt.
In all this can but see the doom o.
slavery. The northCrners do not want
nor will they want, to interfere with the
institution, but they will refuse for al
time TO give it protection unless thu
southerners shall return soon to their al
legiance, and then, too, this disturbance
will give such an impetus to the pro
, duction of their staple-cotton-In othe
parts of the world that they can neYe
recover the control of the market agaiI
for that commodity. This will reduc
; the value of the negroes so much tina
r they will never be worth fighting owe
again.
have just received letter from Free
Frederick Dent, jr). He breathe
forth the most patriotic sentiments. H
| De 70 kha old Aoo Ia 1nnO fhnrn ia
Union of two states fighting under it
f banner, and when they dissolve he viii
go 1t alone. This Is not his Language
but it is the idea not so well expresse
3 as he expresses il. Julia and the child
rem are well and join me in love to 20
r all. forgot to mention that Fred he
:, another heir with some novel name ths
: have forgotten.
j Yours truly, U. s. GRANT.
4 The conversation alluded to betwee
q General Scott and Lee was published 1
: q small work ON Anecdotes of the Civ
:. War;" by Maj. Gen. E. D. Townsend
b The following from that book shows th
. circumstances under which the conve
sation was held and gives the result {
it:
b Robert E. Lee was colonel of the
m (noW 5th) regiment United States cava
~, stationed in Texas. He had con
- manded that military department, al
81 in April, 1861, was on leave of absenc
II Gen. Scott knew that he was at Arlinj
AT ton Heights, at the house OF his fathe
In.law, Mr.. Curtis, and one day aske
- me if had seen or heard of him latel
II replied in the negative, except that
Of was on leave and at Arlington Height
Said the general, ut is time he shoul
show his hand, and if he remains 10y
al command" l then suggeste
Of that / should write a note to Lee ar
c. ask him to call At the generals hea,
N quarters. 81 wish you would" reptile
the general. TIE note was written, an
the next day. April 10, 1861, Col. L,
n came to the office. The generals WI
1T the front room of the second story.
:, The general having invited Ii
" to be seated, the following conversation
u as nearly as can remember, took plac
Gen. Scott You are at present {
leave of absence, Col. Lee?
Col. Lee. Yes, general, am stayIr
{ with my family at Arlington.
l. Gen Scott. These are times whe
le every officer in the United States seIvi
A should fully determine what course
will pursue, and frankly declare it. n
/ Ou6 81
at ploy without being actively engage
< mo response from Lee.)
Gen. Scott latter a pause. Some
of the southern officers are Tesigoin
possibly with the intention of takiI
part with their states. They make
= fatal mistake. The contest may be lol
a. and severe, but eventually the iss
n must be in favor of the Union. "a
- other pause and no reply from Leg
II RGeR. Scott (seeing evidently that I
CO shOtoed no disposition to declare him
10, loyal, or eUeR an dOu6t). I suppose y
sr, will go with the rest. If you propc
BY TO resign it is proper you should do so
ID once. Your present attitude is
be equivocal one.
ID. Col. Lee General, the property /
d. longing to to my children, all they p
of sess, lies in Virginia They will
y, ruined If they do not go with their sta
nd cannot raise my hand against /
e. children.
d. Gen. Scott signified that he /
o. nothing further TO say, and Col. ]
ut. Withdrew. The next day, April 90, 1S
at he rendered his resignation, and it '
raj accepted the 25th.
1sl a COlOred wedding.