The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-11 00:00:00

We have now before us the text of President
DAVIS'S letter to the Southern Congress with refer-
ence to the proposed appointment of a Commander-
in-Chief of the Confederate Armies, and it fully
bears out the impression of magnanimity and
patriotism which the summary of its contents made
upon all who read it. So far from being in any
degree jealous of the popularity of LEE, or from re-
senting the dignity which it is designed to confer
upon him. JEEFERSON DAVIS takes some pains to
demonstrate to the representatives that he has from
the first shared their opinion that LEE is the proper
person to have the general direction of their forces.
He reminds them that when General LEE assumed
the command of the army of Northern Virginia he
was likewise the head of all the Confede-
rate armies, but that he declared the incompa-
tability of retaining the two offices. Either
he said he must be relieved of the active
duties of command in the field or of the general
direction of the other armies. For some time the
President, who has never failed to do justice to the
merits and abilities of those in concert with him,
resisted this request, but at length he says he be-
came satisfied of the necessity, and therefore, since
the choice was left to him, he decided upon reliev-
ing LEE of the general command, believing, he says, '
that the safety of the capital and the success of the
cause depended in a great measure upon LEE'S
opposing GRANT at the head of the Virginian army.
Since that change, however, DAVIS has frequently
wished LEE to reconsider his resolution, but the
General has unhesitatingly declared that the double
duty was more than he could properly discharge.
From this it appears that LEE will not even
now immediately assume the office of general
commander unless indeed the prolonged in-
action in Virginia induce him to change his mind
and to endeavour by a concentration of purpose and
skilful strategy to turn the tide of Confederate
disaster in the South. LEE is too shrewd a man,
and too clever a tactician, not to appreciate the
importance of checking SHERMAN'S further advance,
and of saving Wilmington, if possible, so that he
may be tempted by consideration of the importance
of these objects to accept the direction of the mili-
tary affairs of the Confederacy. He may, perhaps,
be influenced by the evident desire of the Virginians
themselves that he should leave their State to other
ea
urec
and
de
d eb:t. Therebetake
hi
m
is evidently mh, self:henertely no g
his
rpreaestenalcearmis
in
the Old Donlon respecting the immediate move-
ments of GRANT's redoubtable army. According to
the terms of the s Presiden t' letter, the appointment
only waits LEE'S own pleasure, for he says in express
terms that " whenever it shall be found practicable
by General LEE to assume command of all the
armies of the Confederate States, with • out withdraw-
ing from the direct command of the army of Northern
Virginia, I will deem it promotive of public inte-
rests to place him in such command." DAVIS seems
to consider the direction of the Virginian force as
more important than the command of the other
armies of the Confederacy, a conclusion which may
ted since promptness, vigour,
very much be doub ,
and concentration have been sadly wanting in op-
posing SHERMAN'S march. The manner in which the
President speaks of LEE affords a striking contrast
to LINCOLN'S conduct towards any one whom, he
suspects of being a " rival near the throne." He does
not forget in his letter, which is ostensibly addressed
to the President of the Virginia Senate, and the
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, to pay
tribute to the unflinching devotion and untiring
energies of that State in the national cause. To
prove the sincerity of his promises Mr. DAVIS has
signed the bill •
creating a General-in-Chief, and,
of course, there •is but one opinion as to the man
who is to fill the post.
It is now confessed •
in Washington that BLAM'S
much talked of mission has been an utter failure,
and that he has returned from •
Richmond convinced
that then is no present hope of a peaceful settlement