Year: 1867




LEXINGTON, Va, March 81. -A After q tardy and
dsagreeable ride over the most miry road, from
the Natural Bridge to TINS place, that it has
ever been my misfortune to witness, arrived
here this evening, having accomplished dis
tance OF fourteen miles in seven hours, which
will give faint idea of She horrible state of the
roads in this country. Having letter OF in-
PRODUCTION to General Lee, | called at his resi-
dence late this evening" and was received by
himself in kind but courtly and dignihed man
ner. found him to be all that has been said of
him as q gentleman, and very shortly ielt CON-
pletely at case in his presence. He was atable
aud very agreeable, and seemed to be well in
formed upon matters in his Immediate locality
and the condition of the State generally, in
which he takes the deepest interest, the welfare
of the people being evidently most at heart He
discussed, without any reserve whatever all
subjects on this head. The General said he be-
lieVed the people in this section were probably
in better condition than those in almost any
other part Of the State, none OF them being IN
actual want of the necessaries of lite. Some
cases of extreme destituton had recently been
bi ought to his notice by letter, in the South
eTn portion of the State, and he mentioned
one family of distinction who we're suffering.
He also related with some feeling the case of
a lady in Alabama, who had written to her son,
then at his college, to come home INN ed1ately,
as she could no longer afford to pay his fees,
and stating that of all the negroes they had had
every one had deserted her save one, even those
whom she before considered most faithful. This
was on the line OF some 1allrOaQ, Dy winch the
negroes in its vicinity had nearly all emigrated
to other States. Speaking OF the colored popu-
lation, to whom he is strongly attached their
propensity to congregate in towns and cities
was to be deplored, rather than 10 work steadily
on farms where their labor was at the present
time so essential, and where they would be
amply Temuuerated. A great many healthy
able-bodied men in this town w4re living on the
earnings OF their wives, who washed for the
students at college, while they could obtain
plenty of work in the country. The General
also remarked that letter he had received from
Gen. Hampton had mentioned that great deal
of destituton existed both IN South Carolina
and Mississippi. His politics are, like those of
General Grant, unknown, and like that officer,
he has decided objection to be spoken of in
connection with political affairs. l remarked
General Hampton has been giving some sensi-
bic advice to the negroes in Columbia" To
which he replied-"So / have heard They
Will soon, doubtless, be able to judge for
themselves, and should be educated to such a
standard" Knowing his reticence with regard
to matters polite, 1 alluded as delicately as
possible 10 the reports that have recently
been promulgated in the newspapers purport-
ing to give his views us to the course the
Southern people should pursue under the pre-
sent circumstances, when he sad:-"You must
excuse me, sir from expressing myself upon
that subject My position is very peculiar
one. l am paroed prisoner, and have no right
to speak upon political matters; and anything
may have said has only been among my imme-
date circle of friends, from whom it doubtless
escaped unintentionally and reached the news
paper" ] then remarked, "lhe reports alluded
to have been published in the entire press of
the country, and in this way will have decided
effect with the Southern people," which elected
the folio wing:-"I wish the Southern people to
take such measures as will most speedily restore
them to their prosperity. With that view ] was
in favor of a convention to accept the terms of
the Military bill, but now learn that the Sup
Elementary bill places that power in the
hands of the military commander" l re.
marked such was the case, when he said,
Nhaf ~ vuhrN xyCkn nxrTf1l
vote so as to secure the speedy restoration
and welfare of the country During our con.
versation the General said he dislked being
paraded before the public in newspapers; but of
such Importance and general interest to the pub
lie are his opinions at the present time, that
feel it duty to give them so far as l succeeded
in obtaining them in fair and legitimate man
ner. He confines himself TO his own sphere Of
duties, and never even reads o newspaper,
so that what he knows of the situation is
heard in conversation with others. He re-
marked that he heard the Legislature
were TO reassemble, but he thought if
the business OF the session was completed they
would be more wise in staying at home-an
opinion in which numerous citizens of Virginia
will concur. 1t is noteworthy fact that while
at all previous sessions of the College and Insti
tute here Quarrels and disturbances between the
students and cadets were OF frequent occurrence
such is the influence of General Lees pre-
sence, and so great is the respect IN which he is
held by all, that they will make any sacrifices
rather than have quarrel that might reach his
ears and now a spirit of emulation for good
behavior is engendered between them.


General Hood.


NEW ORLEANS, March 25.--General j. B. Hood
is now the head of large commercial house In
this city. He received me very cordially, and
expressed his views in a very candid and clear
manner, If / do not mistake the tenor of his
conversation, he is in faYor,of a cheerful and
ready compliance on the part OF the South
with the terms OF the Sherman bill, and the act
sup Elementary thereto. He emphatlcally de-
clares that from the Potomac to the Rio Grand de
the people earnestly desire peace, prosperity
and unity. and that further resistance TO the
Government never enters their thoughts
At the same time he feels that the
the radicals, which is so diametricallY
at variance with the Constitution as interpreted
by those who framed it. He has never con
sidered that the South should surrender any
right under the Constitution excepting slavery
and that having once more become good clti
Zens under the Union, they should be protected
IN their rights of property, and not be asked u
become parties to the disfranchisement o
men they had selected to represent them in thu
forum or the field. While he is very glad tina
the South has not had anything to do will
giving the negro the right OF suffrage, he is II
favor of gracefully yielding 10 the demands o
Congress, and giving the negro the privilege o
voting, convinced as he is that the negro
interests are synonymous with those OF his olt
master and that he will vote the conserVativ
ticket throughout. The only fear that he ex
presses is that Congress may go further an


contscate the property OF parties who partici


belief that the negro will vote with the Souther


people unless Congress, by promises of cor


fiscating the property OF Rebels for the bene6


of negroes, bids higher than the South for th


negro vote. The General believes that his peopl


will generally register and exercise the fraI


chise privilege under the law. and expressed In