Year: 1868




WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-The facts about Gene
raj Rosecrans' visit to the White Sulphur
Springs, Va. and the object of his meeting
here with leading Rebel soldiers and citizens,
are coming to light and beginning to be under
stood. 1t appears that he undertook the
mission at the suggestion of President
Johnson and few prominent Demo-
Gratis here, with the view OF getting the
chief leaders of the late Contederacy to come
out IN a sort of manifesto, which should be laid
before the people North previous to the cleo
tions. This will set forth the pacific character
of the Southern people, their disposition to
accept the results of the war, and to abide by
the Constitution and laws.


1t will also denouuce as false and without
foundation the statements coming from what
are termed the Union men OF the South as to
the condition of that section, and the lawess-
ness which is said to prevail there. The docu-
ment is to be signed by the leading ex-Confede-
rates, civil and military.


1t is intended as reply to the numerous
charges which have appeared in the public
prints as to the condition of affairs at the South.
The whole thing is to be gotten up in the int.
rests of the Democratic party, the main object
being to delude the Northern people into the
belief that no disorder exists in the South, AMI
thai the people there are as warm admirers of
the Union and Constitution as anywhere
else. Although Gen. Rosecrans talked with nearly
all the chief eX.Rebels at the White Sulphur
Springs, his principal interview was with
General Robert E. Lee. In frank manner,
according to the statement of one who is now at
the Springs, General Rosecrans told Lee that
there were many honest and well-meaning men
in the North and ,West who have been led
to believe, by the misrepresentation of
Southern correspondents of the radical press,
as well as by the speeches of the leaders of that
Iarty, that the people of the South are just as
hostile to the Union now as they were during
the war, and as much embittered against the
Northern people as they were when both were
in arms; that they hate the negroes with a
deadly hate, because they have been freed, and
but for the strong arm of the military would
reduce them to state of practical slavery, and
perpetrate all manner of outrages upon them.


General Lee denied that the people of the
South are inimical to the Union. They want
peace, and long for it. This is their universal
sentiment as far as he had been able to ascer-
tain it, and his opportunities have been many
from frequent conversations and extensive cor
respondence with representative persons in all
parts OF the South. AS to their animosity to
the negro, nothing could be farther from the
fact; and why should there be? Said he:-


There is no rivalry between the races.
but reciprocal interests, gro wing out of the fact
that each is dependent upon the other to a great
extent, one needing employment and the other
employees. Apart from this, they had been
reared together, and there is natural affection
and sympathy between them"


General Rosecrans proposed that the general
oNSo 49, tha 70 10
before the Northern people in tangible form,
that cannot be disputed, the true state of feel
ing as he found it everywhere in his travels
South. To this the Rebel General heartily
agreed, and General Rosecrans afterwards
talked with distinguished Southern civilians,
among them Alexander H. Stephens, on the
same subject. General Rosecrans is expected
to return here and report the result of his mis-.
eio IN 10 prpaidpnt