The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1865-01-04


Two letters from the Rebel General koS-
r.r z LEE have lately found their way into /
the newspapers. Both are dated April 9th
issl sisht days aher The attack upon Fort |
suu,er. Eve day. after tho Proclamation OF
,h. President for severy-Aye thoasAnd men,
four DAYS after Governor nlgona, Of hes-
,.ckv. had tslsgr.phed back to the President
.KsusssEy viii furnish no tFooFa ior me
purDsss OF Sustaining her Southern slater;
three days after Governor Letehef' Of ''-
v,n,, had returned similar answer. ard a.
.usd proclamation recognising The south-
sfo confedsracy. and on The same day that
The Esvy Yard at Norfolk vas burned lhs
ar-t Of these letters is TO LleutsnsDt-9enefal
sooxr. IA a.ch Colonel LxE resisns nis eos'r
u,..iou and thanks the General Tor many
l,ndns..ss recsivsd through liis. Ia The
concluding portion Of this spis'ls be sAy'
.s.ve IN defense OF my nstivs State. new
or desire again TO draw my sword The
o,hsr lister IL 70 his sister. snd u eneloses
CODY Of the letter Of resignation TO General
so,r4. In this laitss spistls Coionel LIZ
~ys:
The whole south u In q state OF revolu-
ton. Into which Virginia, AFTER long s"og-
gle. has been drawn. snd though f.eggH'-s
no ser<ssisy for this STATE Of things. and wouia
have forborne aud pleaded 10 ne ena 'or re
drsaa 81 grievances. real OF SUPPOSED. yei
n n "A 4 ftla a.
rA<fksy I should take part sseissf nv naf'Se
Sr.f,, with ali nv devotion 10 the Union,
and the feeling of loyalty snd duty OF an
American olsissn. 1 have not been able TO
n.ks mn nv mind 20 raise nv bard against
nv relatives. my childrep. my home have
therefore. resigned my commission 10 the
.rmv. .nd. cave In defense Of my native
stats. with the sincere hope that my poor
ssrv,ess mar usvsi be needed, | hope may
never be called OF to draw my sword.
Tvods,. aiterwArd Robert h. Lee va'
nominated by The Governor OF Virginia COM
m.nder OF the land and naval forces OF that
State. In the relation OF the causes vhicf
urodue a The Rebellion this letter OF Genera
Lee W. have its significance. IL vii shor
how the cry Of State Rights which has beer
heard for years throughout the South. ha'
psssoned The minds OF s citi-eDs. IL NJ
show hsw tyrsnnicsl IL public opinion evs'
fits Manifestations are wrong. Here va
. soldier. edncatsd stthe expense os IN
Union. supported by the Union, aud raise
70 honor In ito armies. who bad fought 70
she Gag. aud whose very being. by ever
ssntimsn. Of duty and gratitude. ought q
have been devoted to i,s success. He hA'
sworn to support the Consultation and de'en'
the Government. and yet THE sacred oellga-
too. aoubly sacred 10 him as gentlemAl
an5A soldier, vas al sacri6eed upon ih'
theory that h. duty 60 the State 10 which n
vas born Vas superior % he fealty 20 th'
nasion % which be bad pledged his hie'im'
devotion. OF al the political errors whie'
have sosked mischief among men. none hAv'
been more pessilsns ans more destructive Q
ever sentiment OF honor thsn the ulsrs STAT
right notions which were taught ~ Calhoun
They have olostsd the annals Of the aaso
9Th hnsaAr blood. they have been No ssus
OF unhapplrss- ard misery too terrible 70 b
ever told IN az their horrors. They hav
BROKEN up communities. separated families
ssd armed brother against brother 10 iFassi
-esdss strise General Lee. according 20 b
Own declarations, would hare gladly maip
t.iped hs relations to the Goverumsot wtic
had protected him with pasernal care bus .
could not DO 50. he Was surrounded By 10
furists fsnd.. whose madness he bad not a
nanlises-s withsaud. he ~ss coerosd b
tbsn into step which he deepiy regretted
the se.lxns.ion Of his commission hsd b
t.os~f - thu withdrawal ne mighs have sss
Cd ala self resgscs aud We'd through iAe Va
without being compelled % take part wis
sAe Union or against "his State" Bot b
seslgussisa AZ osce made hi@ prey Tor %
Rsb>l iesdsrs The bail u csnnsnder-iu
chief of.vlrx'nia "a. too great zoe be vanity
and aisss that eomni<slon - al o1cer 9
he army OF she Confederate ooveruuer
coalt not be refused.
sadly. Il we may bslieve General Lee
<tpses-ion.. he zen service vh.ch wss Doc
onn,s. We vonder whether bis declsraito
OF attachment 20 The Uaiou i ever shoogs
Of. nsv TIA, al his en-rgses are giveu @ q
dse:rnrton OF tbs Unsoe. Sui IA,
yirxislsc a. .sll - Lee. oas wisA hia De
vosson % the Unioa wss The tsss daty; OF
th> latter 4 hsd become -aeordsnsle . n
sss~~sy hat he nUsl 80 ~Rh rs ssate.
There "a tine Of resrouGioa - eoms % |.
shs>> hssa rsess -hea icy ed despi'
sAens>lves II HAT d.y. u n. lie shoe
be ss~r~a. s1e q - n0ss nls~rs6is ssoo
sss pzisors. cord-uned = nfs Of usavAi
snx rs<rct. -tll ee thls rs'nctsst osaress
The Reoeil,oo. Roe>rs = Lee.