The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-03 00:00:00

General Lee before the War.

A correspondent in the limes writes :
" Perhaps the two following letters, evincing as
they do the deep conviction of one of the most able
of the Southern leaders, may be deemed worthy of
insertion in your widely spread paper. As many
friends have expressed the wish of having copies
of them, it has occurred to me that their publication
may form a striking and not unfavourable contrast
with what emanates from Northern sources. It
must have been a deep-seated feeling of wrings
endured that drove such men as the writers of these
letters into taking such a step es throwing up their
commissions.

Most of your readers have no doubt forgotten the
hitherto unexplained conduct of Mr Seward at
the eventful period of American history which these
letters refer to. War had not yet broken out. Fort
Sumter was still held by a Not ';hern garrison. Fresh
provisions were daily supplied to it by the authori-

ties of Charleston. Southern Commissioners were
in Washington. Mr Seward, though not receiving
them officially, held communication with them
through Judge Campbell, one of the judges of the
Supreme Court. Mr Seward had promised that no
attempt should be made to relieve Fort Sumter
while negotiations were going on. What was the
surprise and consternation of Judge Campbell when
he heard that the attempt had been made, that ho
had been deceived, and that all hopes of a peaceable
settlement were at an end ? To Mr reward's con-
duct in this instance must be mainly attributed the
attack on Fort Sumter which immediately followed
and let loose the fierce passions of two excited
peoples. The cause of eight millions of men, of
purely English descent, struggling nobly for their
independence, is based upon foundations too strong
to I''.3 shaken by Mr Cobden's unhistorical come
parisons, or Mr Bright's ill-timed and injudicious
letter, in which the " man of peace," purporting to
represent England's feeling, excites on to deeds
of blood a people already too thirsty for war and
con quest. . .

Arlington, Virginia, April 20, 1861.

General,—Since my interview w:th:you on the 18th inst.
I have felt that I ought not longer to retain my commission
in the army. I therefore t -Alder my resignation, which I
request you veil recommend for acceptance. It would have
been presented at once but for the struggle it has cost me
to separate myself from a service to which I have devoted
all the best years of my life cud ail the ability I possessed,
Dui ing the whole of that time, more then a quarter of a
century, I have experienced nothing but kindness from my
superiors and the most cordial friendship from my comrades.
To no one, General, have I been so much indebted as to
yourself for uniform kindness and consideration, and it has
always been my ardent desire to merit your approbation.
I shall carry to the grave the most grateful recollections of
your kind consideration, and your name end femo will
always be dear to me. _ . _

Save in defence of my native State I never desire agein
to draw my sword. Be pleascd to accept my most earnest
wishes for the continuance of your happiness and pros-
perity, cud believe me most truly yours,
R, E, LEE,

Lieut.-Gen, Winfield Scott, commanding
United States Army.
A copy of the preceding letter Ives enclosed in
the following letter to a sister of the General, Mrs
A. M. :

Arlington, Virg*nia, April 20, 1861.

"My dear Sister,—l am grieved at my inability to see
you, . • , . I have been waiting " for a more convenient
season," which hes brought to many before me deep and
lasting regret. Now we are in a state of war which will
yield to nothing. The whole South is in a state of revolu-
tion, into which Virginia, after a long straggle, has been
drawn, and though I recognise no necessity for this state
of things, and would have forbotae and pleaded to the end
for redress of uievances, real or supposed, yet in my own
person I had to meet the question whether I should take
part against my native State. With all my devotion to the
Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American
citinn, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise
my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I
have therefore resigned my commission in the army, end,
save in defence of my native S'ab, with the einnre hope
that my poor services may never be needed, I hope I may
never be called on to draw my sword.
I know you will blame me, but you must think as kindly
of me as you can, and believe that I have endeavoured to do
what I thought right. To show you the feeling and struggle
it has cost me, I send a copy of my letter to General Scott,
which accompanied my letter of resignation. I have no
time for more May God guard and protect you and
yours, and shower upon you every blessing, is the prayer
of your devoted brother, R. E. Lau.