Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-12-17
CONGRESS.

bilities imposed upon persons lately 10 rebel
lion against the government of the United
States were dictated by imperative public ne
cessities and not by spirit Of hatred or vim
dictiveness, and that as soon as such public
necessities cease, due regard for the fundament-
al principles of our system of government as
well as every consideration Of sound states
manship demand the removal OF those dis
qualifications and disabilities.
Mr.. Morton introduced joint resolution au-
thorizing appointment by the President of
three commissioners, to proceed to Dominica
to inquire into the moral and political cond-
ton Of said republic, the wealth and industrial
resources. the desire of the inhabitants for an
nexation to the United States, its relations
with other powers, and the terms upon which
said people desire to be annexed to the United
States as Territory, and appropriating $780,
900 to defray the expenses of the commission.
The report Of the commission to be laid before
Congress Ordered to be printed and laid on
the table.
Mr.. McCreery introduced joint resolution
appointing joint committee of two from the
Senate and three of the House to inquire
whether the late Gen r. Z. Lee had any rightor
title to the Arlington estate which made 1t
liable to forfeiture by his participation in the
rebellion, and whether it was not the property
of Mrs. Lee aud her children, and if so to
adopt measures as will restore the estate to
Mrs Lee, with compensation for the damage
done the property, and to inquire into the ex-
pediency Of removing the remains of those who
are buried on the estate, aud also tn consider
the propriety Of restoring the Washington rel
les to Mrs. Lee.
Mr.. McCreery desired to make some re-
marks on the subject, but Mr.. EdmundS OBJ
iected until the resolution had been printed.
In the Senate, ON Tuesday Mr.. McCrcery
asked leave t. introduce she resolution lacking
to the restoration of the Arlington estate IL
MIS-. Lee of which notice was given yesterday.
Mr.. McCreery took the floor and said that
he hoped the courtesy aud justice of the Seu-
ate would give him few minutes tn make the
remarks he desired He then drew rapid
sketch of Generals Thomas aud Lee, both ma
tive VirginiauS, friends, aud servnI Gd the
same tlag up To- the commencement OF the re-
bellion. when Thomas followed the strong eih-
blem of the Union, aud Lee cast in his for
tunes with the State that had given him birth.
Suth died within a short time of eacn other,
and beth were honored with unusual mauics-
tations of sorrow aud respect.
Gen. Lee was man above all vices; his IN
flexible virtue, his genius, his valor, his rare
abilities were universally acknowledged, and
the American people would never relinGuiSh
their inheritance in his deathless fame. He
would not dwell upon his military history,
but his campaigns in Western Virginia, and
from the Potomac to the james, the Kappa
hammock aud the Rapidan, were monuments
% him such As no other man with the same
means Mt his command could have accomplish
ed. With all his great ability he was entirely
devoid of vanity his life was that OF a hero, a
christian aud gentleman. Some there were
who might take pleasure in casting aSperSinus
upon the fame and name Of Gen. Lee, but
that would not shake the hold his memory has
upon the country. The partner of his bosom
survives him, aud in her behalf he implored
Justice She belon sei to race fond OF b st wv
ing charity but poverty cpuld-nat isrce her IL
accept it. Tie asked the Senate to remove the
bar that kept her from Arlington, the home
of her ancestors.
Then ensued the following which forcibly
remind us of .Esop's fable Of the dead Lion
and the Ass:
Mr.. Edmunds said General Lee had been
educated and nurtured at the expense of the
government; he was net the child of Virginia,
but of the people He lived at the capital
and when he was called upon to defend that
capital he left it and turned his cannon on it.
But he mr.. e. would not dignity this propo-
sition by discussing it. Gen. Lee was now
dead. and he had never wished him any ILL
He only regretted, as he conceived all right
minded men would that General Lee, had not
died in youth or in lis patriotic manhood,
or even that he had died earlier than he did
6y The hand Of the lac, lchich penalty ,routd IN
some measure hare atoned tOr has crime.
Mr.. Trumbull denied any sympathy with
the object of the resolution but he did not
think it was proper to refuse TO receive re-
spectfu resolution. The precedent would be
a bad one to set.
Mr.. Carpenter did not know Of PROPOSE
ton which could he more tiagrautly insulting
than tits.
Mr. Morton protested against the reception
of this resolution. The treason of this man
Lee was not to be atoned 10y strcwing the flow
ers Of rhetoric over his grave. lie had never
expected to listen 40 a eulogy IN this chamber
on the character of Gen. Lee. Thomas had
been dismissed with a few words, aud Lee
favored with grand eulogy almost within
sight Of the graves Of his victims. Lee wa,
above all others the great siuuer; SHINING
against light and knowledge. his revolution
airy ancestry, his nath rs an officer 81 tie army,
his education aud his high abilities. at 90
which added 10 the cnurmity "i h. crime
Now IL Is prop. sci o. grave.y CONSIDER prnp-
ositiun g. degrade tie memories ol The Isirl-
utic dead who sheep AZ Arlington hy rcnI"y-
jug their homes O. les, lallrwrl ground, cut
of tender consideration % the widow IT the
arrh-rebel OF tue must wicked rebellion Il
history.
Mr.. Sco,; ,ail older Senators might DO it,
but 10 was impossible flr bin, 70 restrain h.,
ferliug, be Lul MT the Patience o. keep siii
after listening 90 such proposition.
Mr. salisbury held that tire resolution
should he received lie warned the republic
cans not 20 set the precedent If refusal To re-
crive a resolution. because ia the not distant
day. when the democrats would have the ma
nrjty in this chamber, their act might recoil
upnu them