Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-08-07
IBIG&CG GUJIWD~
OF THEDECLARATION
INDEPENDENCE.
RICHARD HENRY LEE OF VIRGINIA.

Richard Henry Lee was a scion of the no.
blest stock of Virginia gentlemen. Could
ancestral dignity and renown add aught to the
coronal that unwreaths the urn of his memory,
it is fully entitled to it, for his relations for
several generatione were distinguished for
wealth. intellect and virtue.
Richard Henry Lee was born in the county
of WestmUreland, Virginia, on the twentieth
day of January, 1892, within a month of
time, and within a few miles space of the
great and good Washington. According to
the fashion of the time in the . Old Domin-
ion,' his father sent him to England, at an
early age to be educated. He was placed in
a school at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, where
ne soon became marked as thoughtful and
industrious student. Ancient history, es-
peciaIly that part which treats Of the repub-
lies of the old world, engaged his close at
tention and he read with avidity, every
scrap of history of that character. which fell
in his way. Thus he was early Underlined
with the ideas of republCanism, and before
the season of adolescence had passed, he was
warmly attached to those principles of civil
liberty, which he afterwards so manfully con-
tended for.
Young Lee returned to Virginia when near
ly nineteen years of age, and there applied
himself zealously to literary pursuits. He
was active in all the athletic exercises of the
day and when about twenty years of age,
his love Of activity led him to the formation
of a military corps. TO the command ot which
he was elected, and he first appeared in pub
lie life in 1855, when Braddock arrived from
England, and summond the COLONEL Gov
ernor to meet him In council, previous to his
starting on an expedition against the French
and Indians upon the Ohio. Mr.. Lee pre-
sented himself there, and rendered the servi-
ces Of himself and his volunteers. to the
British General. The naughty Braddock
proudly refused to accept the services ofthose
plain volunteers, deemipg the disciplined
troops whom he brought WHY him quite sufii-
cient to drive the invading Frenchmen from
the English domain. Lee, deeply mortified,
and Disguised with the insolent bearing OF
the British General, returned home with his
troops.
In 1857 he was appointed, by the royal
governor, 4 Justice of the peace for the coun-
tv in which he resided and such confidence
had the other magistrates in his fitness to
preside at the court, that they petitioned the
Governor so to date Mr.. Lees commission,
that he might be legally appointed the Presi-
dent. About the same time he was elected a
member of the House of Burgesses of Fir-
0inia. although then only twenty-five years
Old He was TOO dItfident 70 engage in the
debates, and ii was not until some time after
wards that he displayed those powers of ora
tory, which distinguished him IN the general
Congress.
Mr.. Lee fearless expressed his sentiments
of reprobation of the course pursued by the
British Government toward the colones, and
he oreanized the first association in Virginia
for opposing British oppression in that colo
nv. when 1t came in the form of the $ Stamp
Act" He was the first man in Virginia, who
stood publicly forth in opposition TO the exc