The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-31
was Lee Ever Before Comma erin.
Chief
JEFF. DAVIS STATEMENT THAT LEE HAD HELD AND

JEFF. DAVIS STATEMENT THAT LEE HAD HELD AND
RESIGNED THE POSITION DENIED By THE RICHMOND
[From tho Richmond whs, Jan n.
Tho ScWtNe appeals TO the letter OF the President 70
the Virginia sesatur to show that he 70 not possessed
Of tha naughty caous disregard for the opinions or
wishes Of hs fellow OF the people which II
Is the fashion Of hi enemies TO allge against HIM" We
hope that this estimate OF the Presidents character
thus trbuted 70 his euemies has spread among the
people that he will ct once demonstrate It's falsity By
hasening 70 conform 70 the well understood views and
wishes OF the public. The letter alluded by the Sc
neI may DO taken - indication that be intended 70
adopt this course, in advance Of the adoption BY
OF General Lee to the chief command Of all the armies Of
the country The subsequent approval Of that bill by the
President may be regarded another proof Of his wish 10
public sentiment which has found an expression
phatc and Ineligible In the representative branch Of
the government 30 far We Soc indeed no evidence of
that naughty and caous Disregard for the opinions and
wishes OF his fellow srvants OF the people, which It IL
the fashion OF bis enemies TO aege against him." On
II his greatest desire 10 place General Lee command OF
all the armies OF the concderacy but that he has always
mountabe obstacle only in the persistent refusal OF Gene
ral Lee himself Or rather the President explains It.
General Lee positively declined to retain the particular
command Of the Army Of Northern Virginia. unless re-
lievcd from the general command OF all the armies 70
which the President had assigned I'm.
Giving the President all due credit for sincerity In this
statement we yet cannot avoid the conclusion that no
10 right the memory Of the public is gross at fault II
Is news OF quite recent date that General Lee ever
In the manner proposed by the bill which has lately
passed CONGRESS- and received tho Executive We
know perfectly well that Congress before passed
Dill providing Tor the appointment Of general 70 COM
mand all the armies Of the country under the direction
Of the Pres dent but that bill vetoed and immed-
aely afterwards General assigned TO the position
referred 70 In the letter to the Legislature We have yet
70 learn that while In discharge OF tho duties Of that
position he ever actually commanded anything until no
was assigned TO tho particular command Of the army Of
Northern Virginia His general command consisted
simply IN reg STEERING and conveying to subordinate ON
cers the military edcts OF the President and this
In no wise an assistance 70 him in his particular COM
mand, he very properly declnedto continue It. We bo-
heve thai the duties OF the place which General Bragg
was subsequently appointed were identical with those
discharged by General Lee when In that chief command
" which the Pres dent declares no had already
signed him. Is the public therefore, 70 be assured that
Tor this long time since his disastrous defeat Missionary
Ridge General Bragg hos been the true Commander
inChief Of the Confederate army and that Generals
Ice and Johnston and Beauegad have only carried out
his plans and executed his ordcrsi And docs Gen
Bragg equally with Gen Lee feel the pressure upon him
Of an rr ss;ble didenco which prevents HIN from dis
charging the extended duties Of his position, and at the
Same time the moro restricted duty Of defending The
town Of Wilmington Are tho capture OF Fort Fisher,
the closing up Cape Fear river and the threatened
loss OF Wilmington owing to this radical incompAbtyY
Or Is Gen Bragg pre- cnincntly NJ for duties which, We
are told Gen. Lee declared himself incapable OF perform
But since the President has signed the bill in question
and has thus exhibited his willingness the will
q Congress- and 20 conform 70 public opinion m Is usc-
lass longer TO argue these any other questions
connected with thspast except in so far as they may
afford lessons fof the future WHILE however we are
glad TO that the readcnt has promptly acccdcd 70
the demands Of public opinion, should b. we'll under
stood that similar surrender Is required nj the hands Of
oil on whom similar demands made. There Is no good
reason that the President should obey the voice Of the
country and that General Lee should revolt against IL
II the President afford 70 suppress his opinions by
signing bill even stringent than the he had
previously vetoed, General Lee can surely afford n
lay aside didence which emily place him In anita
gonism with the pronounced wishes OF the country
Neither President Davis General Lee has any
m ntal right 10 resist h, opinions Of the public. Th
adhesion OF the one important the obedience
the other The people believe that the salvation Of thu
cause depends IN great measure tho acceptance By
General Lee OF the chic command OF all armies and
they believe likewise that he still conduct direct
q least the operations OF the Army Of Northern Virginia
They think that what Grant do Lee do They
think that II Grant has seemingly justified the easy faith
Of tho people u the United States Lee will far moro
emphacaly Justify the reasonable faith Of the people OF
the Confederate States II H. In short useless FOR Cen
Ice 70 say no. when the universal voice Of the country
says yea -''*t'''''*''f'tt