The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-03
FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 3, 1865
GENERAL LEE CONNANDER-LN
CHIEF.

GENERAL LEE COMMANDEK-IN-
CHIEF.
The appointment of General Lee to
the Command-in~Chief Of the Armies n
the Confederacy will give universal sails
faction, and inspire fresh confidence in
every bosom. The President has shown.
in this important act, just appreciation
Of the exigencies of the occasion, and
patriotic sympathy with tAe public SEN
timent, which pointed with entire una
nimity to such step.
We need say nothing of the great
qualities which recommend General Lee
to his present position. They have been
tested in the fiery furnace, seven times
heated, of war which, in it's ferocity,
duration and magnitude. has few parallels
in history. The seven years contest of
the American Revolution was child's
play compared with this struggle. Its
largest armies would have scarcely
formed an advance guard of the giant
hosts which have been marshallcd in this
contest Its most formidable weapons
were pop guns to the huge missiles which
have hurtled through the air in this III
tanic struggle. We do no wrong to the
memory of Washington, nor to the facts
of history, when we say that he never
gave such proof of military ability as
General Lea soldier who, with limited
means, has successfully resisted for four
years the enormous power of the United
States, and kept the Confederate flag
flying defiant on the capitol.
We need say nothing to inspire conf
dcncc in such leader. But perhaps We
ought to say something to prevent that
confidence from becoming idolatry; to
invoke the people of the Confederacy not
to put their trust in man, whose breath
is in his nostrils, but to place their only
reliance upon that Divine hand which
controls the destinies of nations, and
which has hitherto been interposed so
wonderfully in our behalf; that God, who
is jealous God, and who will not permit
his subjects to transfer with impunity
the glory of the Creator to his creatures
and his instruments. All that man can
do is to adopt the best means for the
accomplishment of a purpose, and then
to look to Heaven for its blessing.
Moreover, we have seen 80 much of
popular impatience and fickleness, we
appreciate so strongly the difficulties Of
General Lees position, that we feel con-
strained to invoke the people to econo.
mize their enthusiasm, and invest their
surplus of that article in forbearance and
charity, qualities which may be needed
before this war. is over. General Lee
great man that he is, is neither infallble,
omniscient nor omnipotent. General
Washington often lost battles, and was
often the victim of misconstruction and
Misrepresentation at the hands of his
friends. Let us not waste all our breath
at the beginning Of General Lees new
career, but retain portion of it to sus
tain him at the pinch of the hill. Lei
us show our admiration and confidenc,
by holding up his hands, by strengthen
ing his armies, by refraining from th'
croaking that would paralyze his soldiers
by putting down the spirit Of extortior
and greed, and pouring out cheerful con
tributions of material aid to the cause
The Government has given us Genera
Lee as the COMMANDMENTS Chief-nov
lot the people do their part and Civ
General Lee the public spirit and un
selfish patriotism of 1861. Them will
tho blessing Of Heaven, we may lool
forward ss confidently to the achieve
mcnt of Confederate Independence q
the rising Of to-morrow's sun.
4