Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-11-11
had he not breathed it in nay ear only at

had he not breathed il in nav ear ONLY at
my earnest request, and begging that moth
| ing be said about it. The clamor which
| then arose followed him when he went to
South Carolina, 50 that it became neces-l
sary on lis going 20 South Carolina to
write letter to the Governor of that State
telling him what manner of man he was
Yet, through all this, with a magnanimity
rarely eGualled, he stood Ia silence, with
out defending himself or allowing Others
to defend him, for be was unwilling to
offend any one who wearing q sword
and striking Flows for the Confederacy.
Mr.. Davis then spoke of the straights to
which the Confederacy was reduced, and
| of the danger to which her capital was ex-
posed just after the battle of Seven Pines,
and told how General Lee had conceived
| and executed the desperate plan to turn
| their flank and rear, which, after seven
| days of bloody battle, was crowned with
| the protection Of Richmond, while the
enemy was driven far from the city. The
speaker referred also to the circumstances
attending General Lees GRO sing the Poto-
mac aud the march into Pepnsy lvania He
| mir. Davis assumed the responsibility for
that movement. The enemy had long
been concentrating his force, and it was
| evident that If they continued their steady
| progress the COnfedefacy would be over
whelmed. Oar only hope was to drive
| him TO the defence Of his own capital, we
| being enabled in the meantime to rein
force our shattered army. How we'll Gen.
Lee carried oat that dangerous experiment
need not be told. Richmond was relieved,
| the Confederacy was relieved, and time
| was obtained. If other things had favored
to reinforce the army.
But, says Mr.. Davis, [ shall not attempt
10 reviow the military career OF our fallen
Chief ain. OF the man, how shall [ speak !?
He YVES my friend and IN that word Is in
Guided aiI that could say of any man.
HIS moral character rose to the height of
his genlps. tlf-denying-always intent
upon the idea Of doing his duty-self-
controlled to an extent that many thought
him cold. Ills feelings were really warm,
and his heart melted freely at the sight of
a wounded soldier or the story OF the sui
feriugs of the widow and orphan. Daring
the war he was ever conscious of the in
equality Of the means at his control but
It was never his 10 complain or utter q
Doubt was always his to do. When in
the last campaign he Was beleaguered It
Petersburg, and painfully aware of the
straits to which sc were reduced, he said !:
"Wlth Fay army III the mountains of Vir-
GINA 1 could carry on this war for twenty
years longer" His men exhausted and
his supplies failing. he was unable to carry
out his plans. An untoward event caused
Army CT Northern Virginia was over
.wbemed. But il the surrender be an
ticiDatel conditions that have not been
fuihlled-he expected his army to be he
spected and his p4roled soldiers to be al
lowed the eDjoyments Of life and property.
Whether these conditions have been full
filed, Let others say.
ueIe lie no~ Sleep in the laud he loved
so well, and that land Is not Virginia only,
Il L.,
fought only tor Virginia. He Was ready
to go anywhere, on az service for the
good Of HIs country, az Iis hart was as
broad rs the fifteen sat struggling for
the principles that our f9refathers iongut
for III the Revolution Of 1776. He is
sleeping 70 the same soil with the thou
sands no fought under the same ii sg, but
frs. offered up theirlises Here tie living
are assembled 40 honor his memory, and
there the Skelo on Seutinels keep watch
over his grave. This citizen this soldier
THIS great general this true patriot lef
DedluI him le cruWling glory Of q true
Christian. His Christianity euuobled him
in life, and at1yrds os grounds for the
) belief lhat he is happy beyond the grave.
But, while We mourn the loss Of the
great AID th8 true, drop we also tears of
sym p@thy with her who was his helpmeet
n Ifc--the noble woman who, while her
husband vas IL the field leading the Army
# the CODte'cEacy, though an invalid her
self, passed The time IN knitting socks for
, the marching soldiers. A woman lit TO be
the mother of he-OeS--aud heroes are de-
? scendeG from her. Mourning with her, we
can only offer the consolation of @ Chris
tltn. Oar !0ss Is not his, but he now en-
) joys the reward Of lie well spent and a
never waVerlng trust Ill n risen Savior.
This day we unite our words of sorrow
with those of the good and great through
out Cnristend0m, for his fame has gone
J over the watcr-his deeds will be remem-
bered and when the monuments we
: build shall have crumb!ed into dust, his
virtues will stili live, high model for the
imitation Of generations yet unborn.
We ave given but faint idea of the
eloquent thoughts and chaste oratory oil
the speaker. His words were heard with
profound ate n.ion, ard received with fire.
qaeLt applause.
MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.
Col. c. S. Venable then presented the
following report of the Committee on Reso.
lutiOns
whereas il is nigh and holy duty, as well as
3 noble privilege. to perpetu4,e the honors Of
those who have displayed eminent virtues and
performed great achievements, that they may
serve as incentives and examples to the Isteet
generation OF their country men, and attest the
rIVeI enE2l admin alton ana atfectouate regard O
7 their compatriots. And whereas, this duty eDd
: privilege devolgos on all who love and admire
Cenera! ltObett Z. Lee throughout this country
AID the World. aid IN an erpecial manner upon
those who followed Liu7 in the field who tonight
5 il this came cause, who shared IN his glorles
; partCOk Of his trials, and were united with him
, n the same soTi Ows and adversely, who were de-
voted 20 him il war by tho baptism Of fire and
3n IN i'm I rloz