The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-09-12

ttlat the delegates 10 the senatorial DIS
irict Convention would be selected this
Tuesday, evening, instead of saying
by the County Convention to-day.
II is striking illustration of the for
bearance which characterizes our Gov
yernment, that the man who did rs
much Us any other to organize the
armed resistance to the national autho-
rites, and to maiutain that organiza-
ton in persistent and desperate array,
has been allowed, not only to return
uumolested to private life and pursuits,
bat to assume position in which he
will exert an important influence on
the minds and character of the young
men OF Virginia, and of the entire
South. Washington College, the Presi-
dency OF which Lee has recently ac-
cepted, is situated in Lexington, Va.
1t was established, as an Academy, in
l7I6. 1t received its first regular en-
dowment from Washington, in l7TG,
and was afterwards called Washington
Academy. Ii became a college in 1872,
and has since taken an important and
aIonal Institutions of that State. Its
faculty has not been larg.. The num-
Der Of its students has been limited. Its
endownments and its libraries and APP
paratus are comparatively meager 1t
would be regarded as small affair in
the North.
Robt. Z. Lee is unquestionably one
NFF F,s.V
He is regarded as the embodiment OF
chivalry and gentility. He realizes the
Southern idea OF hero. His intiu-
ence can but be positive and large. It
would be so were he to remain a strictly
private citizen But it will be particu-
larry large and emphatically positive
when he becomes the head of we'll
known and popular institution where
young men of n leading class are sent
for liberal education. His installa-
tion, as the President of Washington
College, will attract crowd of candi-
dates from every State in the South.
From the lips of the President-General
they will imbibe the principles which
viii become the foundation of social and
civil character. His words and his man
ner will be carefully watched, their real
meaning caught; and they will become
part of their belief, their rule and model
ofconduct. But, not only this; they will
receive Interpretation and emphasis
from the past history of the President.
Indeed, Lees past conduct as citi.
zen of the Union, and the perniciou.
principles he exemplitied by that con
duct, cannot Tail to be all the time
prominent before thesusceptible mind.
OF his students. His history for the
past five years, VIII by their imagina
ton, be made a potent auxiliary in hi.
daily instruction, and that, too, in spit,
of any efforts he might be inclined tc
put forth to contradict that history. A.
heacted treacherously toward the Gene
raj on whose staff he was at the break
ing out of the rebellion, and traitorous
lytoward the government he was bounC
TO defend, and as he became one of tn,
supreme leaders of rebellion and seces
sion, SO will he teach treachery, trea
son, rebellion and secession. Thes
doctrines, under other and plausibl,
names, will be the basis of his system
OF political ethics, no matter what text
books he may use, no matter what hi
oral instructions may be.
In his letter of acceptance Lee truly
observes: at is the duty OF every citi
zen in the present condition of the coun
try TO do all in his power to aid in tn,
restoration of peace and harmony, ant
in no way to oppose the policy of tn,
State or general Government directed
to that object" Let us hope that as fai
as his influence goes, the declared duty
of the new college President will be
done thoroughly and well. His fellow.
countrymen will be reioiced if in some
small way he can atone for his sh.fie in
one of the most criminal and monstrous
movements of history.