The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-12-02

From the Lynch6u1g Neacs, Nor. 8.
JEFFERSON DAVIS ON GEN. R. E. LEE.

MEMORIAL MEETING IN RIcHMoND--THE
CONFEDERATE CHlEFTAIN's TRIBUTE TO
HIS TRUSTED LIEUTENANT.
A meeting of the Confederate soldiers
was held in Richmond Thursday night,
to express their sorrow at the death of
General Lee. Gen. Jubal A. Early presi-
ded. After the organization, the Presi-
dent announced Jefferson Davis as the
first speaker. AS Mr.. Davis arose to walk
to the stand, every person in the house
rose to his feet, and there followed such a
storm of applause rs seemed to shake the
very foundations of the building, while
cheer upon cheer was echoed from the
throats of veterans saluting one whom
they delighted to honor
ADDRESS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Soldiers and Sailors of the Confederacy Y,
Comrades and Friends-Assemble on
this sad occasion, with hearts oppressed
with the grief that follows the loss of him
who was our leader on many bloody
battlefield, pleasing though melancholy
spectacle is presented. Hitherto, and in
all times, men have been honored when
successful, but here is the case of one who,
amid disaster, went down to his grave, and
those who were his companions in misfor-
tune have assembled to honor his memory.
1t is as much an honor to you who give as
to him who receives, for above the vulgar
test OF merit, you show yourselves compe-
tent to discriminate between him who en-
joys and he who deserves success. Rob-
ert e. Lee was my associate and friend in
the military academy, and we were friends
until the hour of his death. We were as
sociates and friends when he was soldier
and l Congressman and associates and
friends when he led the armies of the Con-
federacy and presided in its Cabinet.
We passed through many sad scenes to-
gether, but cannot remember that there
was ever aught but harmony between U.S.
If ever there was difference of opinion
between lis it was dissipated by discus
sion and harmony was the result. l re-
peat that we never disagreed, and may
add that never in my life saw in him the
slightest tendency to self seeking. 1t was
not his to make record; it is not his to
shift blame to other shoulders but it was
his, with an eye fixed upon the welfare of
his country, never faltering, to follow the
line of duty to the end. His was the heart
that braved difficulty; his was the mind
that wrought victory out of defeat. He
has been charged with "want Of DASH"
wish to say that | never knew Lee to
talter to attempt anything ever man could
dare. An attempt has been made to throw
a cloud upon his character because he left
the army of the United States to join in
the struggle for liberty of his State
Without trenching at all upon politics, 1
deem it my duty to say one word in refer
ence to this charge. Virginia born, de-
scended from family illustrious in Vir-
ginia's annals, given by Virginia to the
service of the United States, he represent
cd her in the Military Academy at West
Point. He was not educated by the Fed
eral Government, but by Virginia, for she
paid her full share for the support Of that
institution, and was entitled to demand in
return the services of her sons. Entering
the army Of the United States, he repre-
sented Virginia there also, and nobly.
On many hard fought field Lee. was CON
spicuous, battling for his native State and
for the Union. He came from Mexico
crowned with honors, covered by brevets,
and recognized, young as he was, as one
of the ablest of his country's soldiers
And to prove that he was estimated then
as such, let me tell you that when Lee was
q Captain of Engineers stationed in Balti-
more, the Cuban Junta in New York Sc
lected him to be their leader in the strug-
gle for the independence of their native
country. They were anxious to secure
his services, and offered him every temp
tation ambition could desire, He thought
the matter over, and remember, came to
Washington to consult me as to what he
should do, and when began to discuss
the complications which might arise from
his acceptance of the trust, he gently re-