The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-07
The Han They Want to Hang.

In long editorial article calling for a sub
scripdon Of ten thousand pounds to Washing
ton college by the friends and admirers Of
Gen. Lee in England, the London Standard
Of August 17th, speaks Of him as follows:
There is no living hcro-there are few, if
any, among those whose names shine with
purcst lustre in history-whosc character has
commanded 50 high a tribute Of affection and
admiration from their friends, of respect and
honor from their foes, as that Of Gen. Lee
No life more perfectly clear, 10 equation
more untarnished even by the minor bIcmiShcs
which are not uncommonly found in union
with the highest Lcroism, has cvev been con
nccted with a great national struggle. No
shade of vanity or egotlsm, nothing Of the
self will or pctulancc SO often characteristic of
conscious genius, 10 tinge of ad'ectaton, TO
faint even Of thepride almost insep parable from
ordinary greatness Of mind which can endure
everything but humiliation, and regards sub
mission as disgrace, alloy the simple grandeur
Of the Virginia soldiers nature.
A pety without the slightest show Of Phari-
saism a sense Of duty to which tie sacrifice
Of every personal feeling and interest appears
a matter Of course have marked His whole
course and guided his every public act,
whether as a soldier or citizen. A family
connection and the nearest representative oil
tie great champion Of American indepcnd-
ence, Gen. Lee has been the Washington al
tie Confederate war; Ike Washington a
man whom envy dared not hate, but with
out the one dark stain Of doubt, if not Of dis
honor, which the death Of major Andre has
left on his prototype. No more "selfess man
and stainless gentleman ever lived no sol
der ever set a more admirable example tc
the sodierIy virtues Of honor, chivalric gencr-
osity and manly simplicity; 10 great man ever
retired into obscurty, after Witnessing alike
the ruin of bis cause and the destruction o.
his private fortune, with more Of christian
patience and mistaken fortitude.
OF his military achievements We need moi
speak L is enough to say that nearly all his
victories were won against enormous odds
and that his four years defense of Virginia
had but few parallels in history as an example
of great results accomplished with small means
and at fearful disadvantage What is more
interesting TO remember is the personal char
acter Of Tie man. as displayed in the various
cxigencics Of that trying struggle; the simple
honesty and kindly feeling which prompted
from tie cannon crowned mouth at Gettys
burg, with th assurance, it is all my fault;
the unaffected selEdeprecation which wa:
pronounced when Stoncwall jackson fell
could wish for tie sake q our cause, that
had been disabled rather than you The
christian chivalry which no outrage could pro
woke 10 retaliation, which, after Virginia haC
been reduced to a desert, withheld the army
that invaded Pennsylvania from nficting the
most trivial injury on person or property
which when his own estates had been plum
dered, lavaged and confscated, took care tc
protect the houses Of his enemies; tie horror
of useless bloodshed which withstood the cry
i for rctribution excited by the murder Of south
FERN prisoners in cold blood, and supported thu
resolve Of the president that unless the actua
murderers were taken, no blood should be shec
but on the field Of battle the touching unsell
shness Of his last words to bis dlsbandln5
army, on the sorrowful 9th Of April, " | have
done my best for you" But it was when al
was oyer-when the chief Of great and Ions
victorious army was a private man and pa
rolled priSoncr--that The peculiar greatness 0
general Lees nature shines out with unequa
brightness.