The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-06-23
The chiyalrH Of the Rebel Gen. Lee.

"When monkeys are gods, what must the
people be ?" Robert e. Lee, Commander oil
The rebel army, is deemed the paragon ol
Southern chivalry. The rebels have always
oeen vain Of being led by one of such pure
blood, such stainless honor. Justly enough BY
their standard. but let US put him to civi,
ized test
Lee, mad the faint OF treason In him. Writ
ing in 100, on the Federal Constitution, he
said, Nv hen we 1.-THE South attain our natur.
al degree of population, / hatter myself that
we shall have the power to do ourselves JUS
dee, with dissoluing the bond sohich binds us
together" His great uncle, Light Horse
Harry" was stigmatized by Jefferson, who
knew him we'll as ian intriguer,' an Inform.
err" miserable tergiversator.1 ssuie tszA
Msjer-General Charles Lee, of Revolution
ary memory, and kinsman, was, as one may
see by Irving's Washington. mot only calum-
niator OF Washington, but was plotter to su-
persede him; he was tried by court-martial
after the battle of Monmouth, was found gull
ty OF disobedience of orders, misbehaviors be-
fore the enemy and disrespect to the Com
inander-in- Chief; was subsequently dismissed
from the service in disgrace, and soon after.
ward died in BerkleY County, Virginia, leav,
ing in his will these words: Il desire most
earnestly that may not be buried in any
Presbyterian or consecrated meeting house
tor, since Iresided In this country. 4 have Kept
so much bad company, while living, thatI do
not choose to continue it when dead."
The great uncle, Arthur Lee, was the libel
Ter of Franklin and Jay and Jefferson, and is
described by Tucker, in his life of the latter
to have been esingularly impracticable Ia 5his
temper and disposition" The uncle, Henry
Lee, was in Congress at the time Of the Presi
dental struggle between JEFFERSON and Burr
and, according to5Td :ker, advised @desperatf
measures" TO defeat The former; and he was q
man of such bad character that when, iD 1880
Gen. jackson, whose fiery partisan he hae
been, sent his nomination to the Senate lor th,
consulship at Algiers, Mr.. Tazewell, of hi
| own marty and State, Chairman on ForeigI
Relations, reported against 1t, and it was unani
mously rejected. 1t would be difficult to nam'
an old family In this country, of any historical
mark, whose "bloodn has been shown to be o
worse quality than that Of the Lees Of Viz
| ginia. " ses ss.ssas t3s sis, s algmsI b6oa
But it is not family that makes the gentle
men, or the reverse. 1t Is personal honor
Has Robert E. Lee this We say emphatical
| ly that he has not. He Is defcient ID the yer,
| hfst and most essential elefnent-truth. FL
is as mendacious as Beauregard himself. Thi
can be proved inc0ntestibly. fla8 sss 81 alas7
1 #s . "a .aga%4at& #azhnh ~ . a;
The simple truth is that the very fact of
soldier abandoning his flag involves an laban
4 d0nmeHt of character. Lee received his mill
/ tary education from the Government, and haI
been constantly honored and trusted by til
/ Government, and 1t was the extreme OF pref
/ -dy In him to turn traitor againstth Govern
| ment. The soul that could once work itsel
up to a crime like that is capable of any vic
lation Of protest. onal honor or moral duty.