New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-30
LATE REBEL NEWS.
DAVIS on THE QUESTION OF LEES APPOINTMENT
-rMPoRTAYT LETTER TO THE VIRGINIA

0sssra JANIS =. JOHNSON President Iro tenn Of Virginia
senae and HuaH w. SHEFyRy, Speaker Of Virginia
House OF De'essi.s
GENTLEMEN: have the honor 70 acknowledge
she receipt Of your join: letter Of the 18th inst indors
hg a resolution OF the General Assembly of Virginia
passed on the l7h inst and communicated to LIE in
confidence, as directed by the Assembly
This resolution informs that, Va the opinion OF the
General Assembly Of Virginia, the appointment OF Gen
Robert T.. Lee TO the command Of MI the armies of the
Confederate States would promote taeir efficiency. anu
operate powerfully to reaninate the spirits OF thp
armies as well as the people Of the several Sttes anu
10 inspire increased confidence in the tnnl success o
our cause. In your communication you kindly assure
that the General Assembly. with sincere confidence
IN my patriotic devotion 10 the welfare OF the county
desire in this critical period Of our AFFAIRS Dy such sig
eestions them and by dedication II need be-
Of the entire resources of the commonwealth 10 the
common cause. TO strengthen my hand and TO give sue
cess 10 our struggle for liberty ana iIdpehdenee MS
assurance is the source 81 the highest grdhcat or
and while conveying to you NY thanks for the expires
sion Of the confidence Of the General Assembly IN my
sincere devotion to county and lie sacred cause
beP permission in return to bear witness 10 the un-
calculating unhesitane spirit with which Virginia has
from tic moment when she drew the sword ccnse.
Grated the blood of her children and all her natural
for the achievement o the object OF Onr sug
eles. The opinion expressed by the General Assembly
In regard TO Gen. Il. L. Lee has my iuiI
concurrence Virginia cannot have higher regard
toz him, greater confidence Ia his character
and ability. than is entertained by me. Whcn
Gen Lee took command of the Army of Northern
Virginia he was in command Of all tie armies of the
Confederate States By order OF assignment. He con
Hnued In this general command as well immediate
scnmano of the Army vi Nor ahen Virginia long as
could resist his opinion that II necessary to him
% be relieved from of these dnties Ready ms
he has shown himsnfto be 10 perform any service
that desired him 10 render 10 his country be left 1t
for ire TO choose between his withdrawal from com
msnd OF the army in the field md relieving him ~ the
general command Of all the armies of the Confederate
etates 1t only when satisfied Of the necessity that
caue to the conclusion 10 relieve him from the gen
aral command believing that she safety OF the capital
and the SUCCESS of depended in greet meas
on theietainng him IN command in the Il ld-of
tho Army OF Northern Virginia On several subse'
shaA IN ha
sphere of Gen. Lees usefulness mas led 10 renewed CON
sideraton of the subject and he has always expressed
His inability 10 assume command Of OTHER armies than
those conded to him, unless relieved OF TIE imme-
tiate command in the field OF that now opposed 70 Gen.
Grant. In conclusion, assure the General Assembly
thar whenever IL shall be found practicable by Gen Lee
% command of all the armies OF the COnedei ale
etates without Withdrawing him from direct command
q the army Of Northern Virginia, will deem 1t pro-
motive ~ the public interests 20 place him In such CON-
maud, and will be happy 10 know that by 30 doing am
responding to their expressed desires 1t will afford
De great pleasure to see you gentlemen as proposed ID
your letter. whenever may be convenient for you to
t1ait NE. am very respectfully aud truly yonrs.
JEFFERSON DAyIA
From The Richmond Sentinel, jar. 26.
After giving summary OF the points In this
correspondence The Stntinei says:
In view Of this plain statement il Is seen low unkind
have been the canors and how unnecessary has been
Che pressu which have been bIough, TO bear upon the
President in order 10 secure Gen. Lees appointment
90 the supreme command The only red point for criti
cism upon tie action Of the President is hs Did he de-
eide wisely unwisely In retaining Gen Lee in The
particular commend OF the Army OF Northern Virginia
n preference 10 relieving him of that duty and s-ning
Kim 10 ibe general ,ommandf That Is the sole questions
and we presume when all the circumstances are con
eidered there is aydity for censpre that would
venture to raise any grave point against the Iresi
dent The real obstacle was the Dodesty OF Gen: Lee
which prompted him TO decline the jOnt dntes Of gen.
sral and pa ticular command We ardentiy trust ne
will consent TO yield his wishes md even his oEvctions
b that respecto the universal wsh both OF the anihor
81 duIy shah stii forbid and we know that nothing
else could so influence him. then 1t would remain for u.s.
has remained for the President TO choose between
the two positions for both Of which his services are
% much desired, and indeed the expressions Of op4n.
DO should in that event indicate which one Of
Che two positions 1t Is most desired that he should
1u TO the exclusion of the other; for the prac-
Zeal question would be- as it has been TO the Pies;
Gent choice between them. w Y TINS time she cal
Cor his removal from the command Of his army which
has grown iliustrious under bis leadership. Now that
shis clearly understood let II be as frankly recognized
The solution pleasing % the country and most adj
vHptageous the public interests as We fully believe,
would consist in the Withdrawal of tie objection sng
rested on the part OF Gen. Lee by modesiy equalIed
Snly b, his merit The of the correspondence on
which we remarking are highly creditable Tn the
officials both SIDES and such as become the relations
Ghey respectively maintain 10 the people and the reader
viii look vain the letter of tie President for the
,s Of that naughty and Gallons disregard for the
anions or wishes of his fellow wants Of the people
witch is the fashion OF his enemies TO ege against
him. On the cogiraly there Is conspicuous evidence OF
ssDpers and sympates precisely the reverse and such
y clearly conceived by the people how much the
President has been misunderstood and msreprcsented
both In bis acts and his sentiments.
DAVIS URGED TO ACT WITH THR PRoPLR.
lFrou the Richmond Wing JAN IS
mo d.res talk Of Orbns the people o. Of Re,
sns their united shes Tns Stmost tLs' Is s;d u ,ha'
made inform them as TO their Zeal eres,
na ,nighten public opn on but every Allows ita,
On this point all agreed, and tins new power wlcn -
ssaay upTsedins every other now obeyed by ,h9.s very
IN. 10 d-uy
md II possible, e1tngush IT. liberty. -Buekses Hsory q
CsciiizGtOn IN EHgla"d-rsa j. Pp ooi-AJy3es0"' ed
Nm
The above lines, emanating from one OF the
mat profound aud judciOus thinkers OF this or any
ether age involve great truth which, In It's peculiar
applicability TO the SITUATION OF rms CVniedeiaey'
skoud commend itself Ia authorities both az les
con and warning IL is essOD the force OF which Is
emphacsy corroborated by the events OF the present
and especially by the events Of the last SIX month";
nnd warning " the disastrous effects which may re-
lut from disregard Of its teachings. Even
4 superficial view Of tho present aspect OF
Of our affairs will show that there Is no Jesistne
these conclusions; and a moments reflection VIII con
irce even hdhefent " power OF the
terrible consv queuces which must flow from persistent
attempt ~ nu.Dy that fundamental truth IN modern
p.lty which is coDcisey and so f0ciDy stated IN
She extract above quoted Witbout assuming mat the
S,s,sters which our has suffered during the Last
few months are attributable In any measure either "a
maIadmIuistration in Richmond or 70 bad generashp
a. the field without asserting that those disasters could
have been ayerted by different policy we DO most VA
fesitanrly affirm that the effect vi our nsfOtunes on
She uubic IS directly traceabe 10 TIC lfe'Dng op1oh
Of acknowledgement and ncOIpe,ency On lhc pat VI the
Executive authorities. We DO assert That mere ~
ct this moment unequlvocal manifestation o want
sophdeuce 10 the ssgGciy, discretion aud capacity VI
fhe government; and that to tits want OF confidence
aud 10 the slightest expectations OF removal OF aus
causes owing the indsputabe oespondency which
fbe most alarming feature Of our condition In otDer
The mihforiue with which we NAV have