The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-02-05
a LErrER FROM GEN. LEE.

No Writes to the Confederate President,
Eavoringa Union with the Peace Party of
the North. .....
The following letter purporting to
have been written by Gen. Robert e.
Lee to the Hon. Jefferson Davis, and
dated "IIcadquartes Army of Northern
Virginia, juno 10, 1893" is published
nthc New York He,ald of Sunday:
"Mr. President: L beg leave to
bring to your attention q subject with
reference to which have thought that
the course pursued by writer's and
speakers among us has had tendency
to Interfere with our success. L refer
10 the manner in which the dcmonstra-
tiou of q desire for peace at the North
has been received in our country"
"l think that there can be no doubt
that Journalists and others at the
South, to whom the Northern people
naturally look for q reflection of our
opinions, have met these indications i'm
such wise as to weaken the hands of
the advocates of pacific policy on The
parteof the Federal government and
glvc much encouragement to those
who urge q continuance Of the war.
'Recent political movements in the
United States and the comments Of
influential newspapers upon them have
attracted my attention particularly to
this subject, which I7dcenl not un-
worthy of the consideration of your
EXcellcncy nor inappropriate to pc ad-
vcrted to me in view of its connection
with the situation Of military affairs.
."Conccding to our enemies the supc-
riority claimed by them i'm numbers,
resources and all the means and ap-
pllanccs for carrying on the war, we
have no right to look for exemption
rom tue military consequences Of the
vigorous use of these advantages, jcx-
ccpt by such deliverancc as the mercy
OF Heaven may accord to the courage
OF our soldiers, the justice Of our cause
ana the c0nStancy and prayers Of our
people. While making the most we
can or INC means Of resistance we
possess and gratefully accepting the
measure or success with winch God
has blessed our efforts as ali earnest of
his approval and favor, It is ncvcrthc-
less tho part Of wisdom to carefully
measure and husband our strength,
and not to expect from it more than
in the ordinary course of affairs, il is
capable of accomplishing. We should
that our resources in men are con-
stantly diminishing, and the dispro-
portion in this respect between us and
our enemies, if they continued i'm their
efforts to subiugate us, steadily aug
mcnting. The decrease of the aggrc
gate in this army, as disclosed bv thc
returns, affords an illustration Of the
fact. It's effective strength varies
from time to time, but the falling off
IN It's aggregate shows that its ranks
arc growing weaker and that its losses
aro.not supplied by recruits.
'Undcr these circumstances VIC
shonld neglect no honorable means of
dividing and weakening our enemies,
iEat they may feel some. Of tho difficult
ties experienced by ourselves. 1t seems
to me that the most cflectual mode of
accomplishing this object, now within
our reach, is to give all, the encourage
mcnt we can, consistently with truth,
10 the rising peace party of the North.
Nor do think we should, in this con-
ncctlon, make nice distinctions between
those who declare for peace uncondi-
tlonallv and those who advocate il as
u means of restoring tho Union, how
ever much we may prefer to the form
cr.i ., -. ".
"Wc should bear in mind that the
1rends Of peace at the North must
make concessions TO the earnest desire
that exists i'll the minds of their coun-
try Tor restoration oflhc Union, and
that to hold out such result as an in
duccmcnt is essential TO the success of
their party. Should tho belief that
peace will bring back tho Union be-
come general the war would no longer
be supported and that, after all, is what
we arc interested in bringing about.
when peace is proposed to us it will
be time enough to discuss its terms.
and ii is not the part Of prudence to
spurn the proposition in advance mere
~ because those who wish to make il
believe, or affect to believe. that il
will result in bringing us back to the
Union. We entertain no such apprc
henslons, nor doubt that the de-
sire of our people for distinct and
independent national existence will
prove rs steadfast under The influence
OF peaceful times as it has shown itself
in the midst Of war.
"lf the views / have indicated nee (
the approval of your Exccllcncv, Won
will best know how to give effect to
thom. Should you deem them mex
pcdlent or impracticablc, | think YOU
will ncvorthclcss agree with me that
we should at least carefully abstain
from measures or expressions that
tend to discourage any party whose
purpose is peace.
"Wlth tho statement of my own
opinion on the subject, the length of
winch you will excuse, | leave to your
octter Judgment to determine the,
higher course to be pursued.
u am, with great respect, your
obedicnt servant,
~. II, T.. LEE, General"
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