Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-27
GENERAL LEE TO Mr.. DAVIS



The Herald publishes the following
letter, which explains itself;
Hpos ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
June 10, 1868. J
His ErceHency Jefferson Dapis, Rich
mond:
Mr.. President, IL beg leave to bring
to your attention a subject with refer
cnce 10 which have thought that The
course pursued by writers and speak
crs among us has had a tendency to IN
terfere with our success. refer TO
the manner in which the demonstra-
ton of desire for peace at the North
has been received in our country.
think there can be no doubt that
journalists and others at the South, to
whom the northern people naturally
look for reflection Of our opinions,
have me. these indications in such wise
as to weaken the hands of the advocates
of a pacific policy on the part of the
Federal Government, and give much en-
enlargement to those who urge con-
tinuance Of the war.
Recent political movements In the
United States and the comments OF IN
fluential newspapers upon them have
attracted my attention particularly to
this subject. which deem not unwor-
thy of the consideration Of your Excel
lency, nor inappropriate to be adverted
to by me. in view of its connection with
the situation of military affairs.
HOW TO DIVIDE THE ENEMY.
Conceding to our enemies the superb
ority claimed by them in numbers, re-
sources, and all the means and APP
pliances for carrying on the war, we
have no right to look for exemption from
the. military consequences of the vigor-
Gus use Of these advantages, except by
such delyerance as the mercy of Heaven
may accord to the courage of our SOL
diers. the Justice of our cause, and the
constancy and prayers Of our people.
While making the most we can OF the
means of resistance we possess, and
gratefully accepting the measure OF sue
cess with which God has blessed our eff
fors as an earnest Of his approval and
favor, it is nevertheless the part Of wis
dom TO carefully measure and husband
our strength, and not to expect from 1t
more than in the ordinary course of al
fairs it is capable of accomplishing. We
should not. therefore, conceal from our
selves that our resources in men are
constantly diminishing, and the dispro-
poi ton in this respect between us and
our enemies. if they continue united in
their efforts to subjugate us. steadily
augmenting. The decrease of the aggre-
gate of this army, as disclosed by the
returns. affords an illustration of this
fact. Its effective strength varies from
time to time, but the falling off in its
aggregate shows that its RAJ ks are grow
ing weaker and that its losses are not
supplied by recruits.
Under these circumstances We should
neglect no honorable means of dividing
and weakening our enemies, that they
may feel some Of the difficulties expe-
rienccd by ourselves. it seems to me
that the most eiiectual mode of accom-
plishing this object, now within our
reach, is to give all the encouragement
we can, consistently with truth, to the
rising peace party of the North. Nor
do | think we should in this connec-
ton make nice distinction between
those who declare for peace uncondi-
tionally and those who advocate it as a
means of restoring the Union, however
much we may prefer the former.
THE FRIENDS OF PEACE.
We should bear in mind that the
friends of peace at the North must
make concessions to the earnest desire
that exists in the minds of their eOun-
trymen for a restoration Of the Union.
and that to hold out such result as an
inducement is essential to the success
of their party. Should the belief that
peace will bring back the Union be-
come general the war would no longer
he supported. and that, after all. is
what we are interested in bring
ing about. When peace is pro-
posed to us it will be time
enough to discuss its terms, and it is
not the part of prudence to spurn the
proposition in advance merely because
those who wish to Lake it believe, or
affect to believe. that it will result in
bringing us back to the Union. We
entertain no such apprehensions, nor
doubt that the desire of our people for
a distinct and independent national ex-
istence will prove as steadfast under the
influence of peaceful measures as it has
shown itself in the midst Of war.
If the views i have indicated
meet the approval of your Excellency
you will best know how to give effect
to them. Should you deem them mex
pedient or impracticable. | think you
will, nevertheless, agree with me that we
should at least carefully abstain from
measures or expressions that tend to
discourage any party whose purpose is
peace.
With the statement of my own
opinion on the subject, the length of
which you will excuse. leave to your
better judgment to de termine the
higher course to be pursued.
am, with great respect, your ODE
dent servant, II. +. LEE, General.
To Arouse the EsracIites.
New York Times.
A number Of prominent Hebrews