Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-12
Is ossassu,s;z " sEArs e5sssHa==N
ToaE-S'Ha sRca FIRST PAGE.

%AS -
ststes in reference to its army might, IN sofAss
vay, possibly result in placing him IN q posi-
ton which his feelings as G soldier might ret-
der it disagreeable for him to accept. salG
that as, being 3 civilian, l knew nothing OF
these punc:ilios Of military rank; but desired
to know whether there was any contingency
ina. might arise ID which that sentiment could
in any way 30 offended.
lie said st onoe, I trust you will not think
OF rae one moment in any arrangement which
YOU .rsy desire to make for the public welfare.
Do moi, | oeg you, permit yourselves tor an
ins.an. to De embarrassed by any consideration
personal to inc.
repiied, in substance, that is an answer,
sir, such as l anticipated from you; but, in
my Judgment, it makes it more incumbent upon
Us to take care that your feelings as a soldier
should in every way be respected.
asked him whether there was any contln'
ceacy in which he could be under any otner
command than under the regulations OF Tue
army Of the Confederate States ana l was
Informed ey him that the only pcsS;o'e con.u'
cency thas could arise would Do inc appo'nt.
,aeat Of 9 Majer General of their regular "rh!
bv the Confederate States lhey nave ~"
oa!Y Br!cadier Generals, and OF course oen.
Lee would not he under their il
,hev appoint . Msjor General OF lhelr regular
army. / have an idea that the choice "ouia
fall upon him. ] went to the Commissioner OF
.he confederate States, and he SAID that II was
not q mater which, constitutionally, CT in &C.
nor,lancs with their laws, could he regulated
bv treaty: but tia. l may be perfectly salts
fed that every arrangement woa:d &c mace IN
conformity with the wishes and feelings Of this
gentleman. and every regard paid to them !;
sShst thew appreciated, in the highest degree,
his s~eryices, sna he had 40 doubt that con-
nsn6 would be rendered 70 him, if ne chose
to secept it from these States. He said that
there was TO man in their service, unless Gen.
Tyigss desired command, who was before him
in comnand, that would outrauh lin.
In reference to the Governor Of the Common
Yaal:h, re had no conference with him. We
had supposed that there would DO no question
of military feeling on his part; and whether
We shall byco:ue members Of this provisional
government or enter into a treaty for the time
haiug. in either event, il seems to me that the
President of the Confederate Statesshould have
the direction of the military affairs OF the State
and o. the Confederacy.
Mr. CONRAD, Of Frcderick.-Thc difficulty,
IN uay mind, is only removed in part BY the
reply OF the gentleman.
gee in tins compact no provision whatever
ior the army OF Virginia when We come Under
the control of the Confederate States. General
Lyc, i he has any command at all. rs it seems
10 ma. it must be under a commission from the
Confederate States. Tae forces OF Virginia are
70, ,,rovi.ied for at all. The rank Of the OIL
GERS is not determined, and they may be lower.
e! below their appropriate rank ut the pleasure
ai n. Confederate States authorities.
IL regard to the Governor Of the Common
wealth., the difficulty mentioned vas not upon
the suggestion that the Governor would under
t:ke the uctus! command Of the forces, and that
il :,ac way the question Of military etiquette
nigh: arise; but ke is, By the Constitution,
Colnnender in. Chief OF ali the forces OF Viz
einis, aud Gen. Lee is next under him n COM
Inand. According to this compact, the orders
20 Gen. Lee would be issued no! by tile Cover
nor oi Virginia, bu: by the President Of the
Coufeds7aie STATES, and that only altora recog-
milton Of Gen. Lee rs. holding rank under the
Confederate States.
It does seem to me, thst in this particular,
thc cou,pact requires some revision; and Il Is
1i;h q view Of removing this difficulty, that |
proooss ira. the sama committee shall take it !;
consui, tho governor and Major General Lee ;
procure their approval Of this arrangement,
ard insert such provision in regard 10 tine pre-
gen: forces and commanding cticsrs 10 Virginia
as sha:: ba provided for N any compact that
mzy be .uado. Otherwise, ] would persist that
.here should be no commanding officer at all
G: tho forces Of Virginia.
1t gli events, it would be we'll to consult
beth these officers on the subject.
NJ. TwLgg-I desire to say tast the gentle
man will not accomplish his object by an Or
d:asace. You could only do it by stipulation
ensaa;ing from the President Of the Confed'
crate States. 1t could not come from the Vice
President. nor could any Minister from the
Confederate States enter into 3 treaty st!puls-
ton wi;hou: express command from tho PresI-
Ger, o; tbs GcaIsderacy.
il relation - this matter Of rank, soT in
stance, II. order 10 present the command Of
General les, ae must act under 4 regular coul-
mission iro:n tie President Of the Confeder-
a:e S;a.cs- liz can only get BY virtue Of a
commission HHea be cones 10 command Con-
fsde-a;c forces in the ti=li. When Virginia is
acting a?aHc General Lee is urquestionably the
CoulnaaGoS,i in. Chief, but wten he engages in
the Confederate States service, ne takes rank
with General THiggs, who is his senior in COM
lnaa3.
There is no command in the Confederate
army beyond 3 Bcigadier. &enerafLee is cur
Major. General; and If you throw the com.
iosaae: OF . regular corps in the army of the
Ua;:ed States into service ~ith the commander
q; your militia, tho latter being en- elder COM
mission, POSSESSES 3 higher grade lbsa tue Off
Ger o. The regular army, and the commander
VI tie militia commands him. So it ia with
General Lee.
Bat sr, I die not rise 10 mako 8 speech. |
will meraiy say that all ths ordinances IN the
world cab accomplish nothing, for there is no
party To settle this question of rank but the
President CT The Confederate States.
Ny oWn humble impression IS, that II ever it
becoG,es necessary, De will be rendered q CON-
mission III behalf Of the Confederate States.-
I have 4 sor: OF conviction that the result will
follow from the great confidence which, | m
,~:crs,.uG. the Confederate States authorities
":pcSe ia the military skill and ability OF Gen.
LIE.
Mr. CoSnAD, OF Frederick AS this is to go
f.: ratification 10 the Congress OF the Conlede-
rlse States, :; sccus to me that it would in no
way smtarrass this negotiation if a provision
sas inserted that Gen. Lee should be ranked
rs M is nov. and that the officers now ranked
in ,he Virginia forces should BIZ held in the
s:Gne rank.
Mr.. WicEuAM, Of IIenrico.-I desire to say
thar any stipulation in this treaty made with a
view to tho personal advancement of General
Lee, would DC unacceptable to him. I am au-
.horized 70 say that be has rendered his SER
vices t. linz State of Virginia without any re.
gard TO the position he was to occupy, and
iIss it would be by no means agreeable to him
that his position should be made any consid-
.rat;on In the agreements TO be entered into
between Virginia and the Confederate States.
Mr.. TYLEA-I should most cordially unite
with the gentleman from Frederick, (Mr. Cox.
SAoj and l am sura this Convention weuld
unanimously unite with him in the strongest
drciar.ticn ef our desire to have things remain
under the command OF General Lee, to secure
TO him the command which we hs7s attempted