The semi-weekly mountain Democrat. (Placerville, El Dorado Co. [Calif.]) 1860-1860, 1860-09-01

the important command held at Mon
mouth and in the light of this document
posterity will never hereafter have any
difficulty in understanding the retreat
which took Washington by such surprise.
The traitor was but manTuvcring to en-
barrass and discredt the Commandcr-in-
Chief, and let his friends in the British
army see that he was still true to their
trust
We cannot here follow this thrilling
subject further. Our object has been to
draw attention to this volume of the New
York Historical Society. We hope every
one will read it. We have read it with
an interest intense and painful. In clos
ing the volume, We breathe more freely /;
and with an eye sunuscd with the tear of
gratitude to God, turn with a vcneration
greater, if possible, than even before. TO
that greatest and best Of men, Washing
ton. In the light here revealed his mag
nanimity towers in proportions still more
colossal. The baSeness Of the spirit here
laid open Of his arch enemy, sets in
brighter light the splendor and purity Of
his own glory. For poor Lee we can
cherish no feeling of animosity. We pity
him from the bottom Of our heart. lie
has at last reapcd his reward. y mere
military adycnturcr: without one throb
Of love for liberty in his heart, and espous-
ing our cause only because it opened u
tAeater for his ambition; Il pugald- -Dal-
getty without Dalgctty's good points Of
character; morosc, cynical, one of those
slitieeied- beings iR-whese- nature every
good and genial principle and feeling
have been steamed off by the violence Of
their passions, and nothing but the gall
left behind; he ospOuscd the holicst of
causes from motives selfish and hypocrit-
ical, and when he could no longer make
that cause the means of his aggrandizc-
ment, sought to crush it to the dust. OF
such may it be said, "Veriy they have
their reward" Attic period Of his death,
such was the shattered Stale Of his Tor
tunes, so full had his history been Of
blighted prospects and blasted hopes, that
even then his worst enemy, if possessing
any magnanimity, could drop the tear of
compassionate pity into his grave. What
must be the feelings of such could they
view him now that time and truth have
drawn aside the veil from this guilt.
1" 1t is impossible to avoid the con.
stantty recurring contrast Of Lee s career,
with that of his great chief. Low we love
to turn and linger in contemplation Of the
character Of Washington, which We al
ways recognize with sense of affection
ate admiration, not unmingled with an
awe like that felt as in the presence OF
some great Spiritual Power. lie who
Tin WEAKNESS and painfulness, in watch
ings often, in hunger and thirst, in fast
ings often, in cold and nakcdncss, in per-
ills among false brethren" still bent all the
force of his understandings, md directed
all his thoughts and actions, to the good
of his country. In him were united the
purity of the most disinterested patriot
ism, and all the energy of the most stir
ring ambition; the utmost reluctance to
engage in the contest, with the firmcst
will never to abandon it when begun. Oi
him it might be said with greater truth
than it was said of the famous Spanish
Cardinal, "He was like a city on the
margin of deep waters, where no reccding
tide reveals anything that is mean, squalid
or unbecoming."
- So let his great example stand
Colossal, seen of every land,
And keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure,
Till in all lands, and through all human story,
TnR FAITH OF DUTY BIZ THE WAY TO GLORY"
[G. b., IN Lacifc Expositor.