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A full reading of the letter immediately reveals that you neglected the remainder of its contents, especially this sentence:

"Whatever may be the effect of our employing negro troops, it cannot be as mischievous as this. If it end in subverting slavery it will be accomplished by ourselves, and we can devise the means of alleviating the evil consequences to both races."

To accomplish this he then suggests "Such an interest we can give our negroes by giving immediate freedom to all who enlist, and freedom at the end of the war to the families of those who discharge their duties faithfully (whether they survive or not), together with the privilege of residing at the South. To this might be added a bounty for faithful service."

Over and over and over again in the letter, Lee talks about the need for emancipation by way of military service. He remarks that the south can do this freely on its own and that this is the better course than having the yankees invade and do it by force.

In sum it seems that the letter you claimed to be a ringing endorsement for the preservation of slavery was in fact a letter recognizing the inevitability of its end and a call to achieve that by voluntary means rather than at the end of a yankee sword. Try again, Walt.

Thank you for finally posting it. It would seem that this letter of Lee's is consistent with the previous. Notice he does not say that slavery is the best that can exist, but rather he extends that opinion to only conditions non-existant at the time. A full reading of the letter immediately reveals that you neglected the remainder of its contents, especially this sentence:
"Whatever may be the effect of our employing negro troops, it cannot be as mischievous as this. If it end in subverting slavery it will be accomplished by ourselves, and we can devise the means of alleviating the evil consequences to both races."
To accomplish this he then suggests "Such an interest we can give our negroes by giving immediate freedom to all who enlist, and freedom at the end of the war to the families of those who discharge their duties faithfully (whether they survive or not), together with the privilege of residing at the South. To this might be added a bounty for faithful service."
Over and over and over again in the letter, Lee talks about the need for emancipation by way of military service. He remarks that the south can do this freely on its own and that this is the better course than having the yankees invade and do it by force.

"I knew a man Bojangles,
and he'd dance for you--
the old soft shoe..."

Oh wait. You're tap dancing.

Walt