The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-10
FROM THE SOUTH.
Letter From JEFF. Davis on Ap-
pointing Gen. Lee General
in-Chief. s

| lQ.OlloIs
The GeneraI-in-Chief HIil a Layv-.No
Changes I'm the Cabinet.
From the Richmond Examiner, Jan. e5.
We are happy to learn that the Presi-
dent has signed the bill creating the gen.
eral-in- chief; the bill is now law. No
appointment has yet been made to Eli the
new Office. We hear of no changes in the
cabinet. Mr.. Seddon has certainly and
decisively resigned. 1t is not true that
Benjamin has resigned.
The Appointment of IL. e. Lee Gen.
letter from JEFF. Da-
! Wis ON the Subject.
| From the Richmond Whg, Jan. e5.
The injunction of secrecy having been
removed, we lay before our readers the &C.
ton of the General Assembly of Virginia,
recommending the assignment of Gen.
K. E. Lee TO the command of all the mill
tary forces of the Confederate States, and
the reply of his excellency, the President,
to the letter of the presiding officers ofthe
two Houses, who communicated the reso-
lutions adopted in secret session by the
General Assembly.
TRBF. DAvIs's LETTER.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, }.
RICHMOND, January 1876
Wessrs. James T. Johnson, President pro tenn.
Of the Virginia Senate, and Hugh W. Shelter,
Speaker Of tie Virginia House of Delegates:
GENTLEMEN !: I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your joint letter of the
18th instant, inclosing the resolution of the
General Assembly of Virginia passed on the
18th instant, and communicated to me in con-
fidence as directed by the assembly. This resolu-
ton informs me that in the opinion of the Gen.
eral Assembly OF Virginia the appointment Of
Gen. Robert E. Lee to the command of all the
armies OF the Confederate States, would pro-
mote the efficiency and operate powerfully to
reanimate the spirits Of the armies as well as
of the people of the several States. and to in
splre increased confidence in the final success
OF our cause. In your communication YOU
assure me that tie General Assembly, with
sincere confidence in my patriotic devotion to,
the welfare OF the country, desire in this criti-
cal period of our affairs by such suggestions as.
may occur to them, and by the dedication, if
need be, of the entire resources of the COM
monwealth to the common cause, to strengthen
my hand. and to give success tot this struggle,
for liberty and independence. This assur-
ance is to me the source of the highest gratif--
cation and while conveying to you ny thanks,
for the expression of the confidence of the:
General Assembly in my sincere devotion to.
our county and sacred cause, must beg per-
mission in return to bear witness to the uncal-
culating, unhesitating spirit with, which Vir-I
ginia has, frols the moment when she first
drew the sword, conseerated the blood of her
children, and all her material resources to the
achievement of the object of oEr struggle.
The opinion expressed by the General As
sembly in regard to General K. e Lee has my
full concurrence. Virginia cannot have O.
EiUhpr regard for hiyya n n orr 1tarf,
in bis character and ability than is entertained
by me. When General Lee took command of
the Army of Northern Virginia, he was in CON-
mand of all the armies of the Confederate,
States by my order of assignment. He con-
tiuued in the general command as well as in
the immediate command OF the Army Of North
ern Virginia, as long as could resist his opin-
ION that it was necessary for him TO be relieved
from one of these two duties. Ready as he has
ever shown himself to be 10 perform any seq
vice that hdesred him to render to his coun-
try, he leh it for Lee to choose between his
withdrawal from the command. of the armies in
, the field, and relieving him from the command
of all the armies Of the Confederate States. Ii
was only when satisfied of this necessity that
came to the conclusion to relieve him from the
general command, believing that the safety of
the capital and the success of onr cause de-
pended in great measure on then retaining
him in command in the fieldi OF the Array of
Northern Virginia. ra--'
On several Subsequent occasions the desire
on my part to enlarge the sphere of General
Lees usefulness has led to renewed considera-
ton Of the subject. and he has always ex.
pressed his Inability to assume cGmu1and of
other armies than those now confided to him,
unless relieved Of the immediate command in
the field of that now opposed to Gen. Grant.
In conclusion I assure the General Assembly
that whenever it shall be found practicable by
General Lee to assume command of all the ar
mics of the Confederate States, without with
drawal from the direct command OF the Army
of Northern Virginia, l will deem i! promotive
of the public interests to place him in such
so doing am responding to their expressed
desire. It will afford Inc great pleasure to see
you, gentlemen, as proposed in your letter,
whenever it may be convenient for you to visit
ME. am very respectfully and truly yours
JEFFERSON DAVIS.