Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-10-15
CITY COUNCIL.
OFFICIAL ROCEEDINGs
CHMMnN CnuNCII.

"
COMMON COUNCIL.
At called meeting of the Common Council,
nsid October 18th, 1870. there were present -
John B: moot, esq, President and Messrs.
Shinn. Wheat, Moore, Nesle, Waterman, Law
son, Wedderburn, Beadle and Parker.
The President stated that in consideration of
the object for which the meeting had been call
ed, the Clerk would omit the reading of the
proceedings of the last meeting. and read the
following Communication, which was done
MAYORS OFFICE,
ALEXANDRIA, October h. 1870.
To the Honorable City Council:
Gentlemen-The sad and mournful duty de-
voives upon me to inform you officially of the
death of the patriot, General Robert E. Lee
He died at his residence, in Lexington Va, on
the 18th instant.
The language of eulogy is mute; the elo-
quence of the orator is vain in sny attempt to
add lustre to the character or fame of that truly
great man.
The peoples of the world, where his name and
deeds are known, with one accord, acknowledge
his virtues and his greatness.
Calm and judicious in council brave, skill
full and energetic in the field nercful and
magnanimous in victory; adversely could not
depress him; success could not make him for.
get that he was christian and soldier.
The world will mourn his death tiis coun
try will grieve, and the South. the chief mourn.
or, will bow with humble submission to tho Di-
vine will and sorrow for this great bereaVe-
ment, but not as those without hope.
TO you, gentlemen, is assigned the duty OF
testifj ing the feelings of this community at this
dispensat;on Of Providence.
HUGH LATHAM, Mayor.
on motion of Mr.. Wedderburn, the Board of
Aldermen was invited into the chamber, the
Chair appointing Mr.. Wedderburn to convey
the invitation.
The Board of Aldermen having entered the
chamber,
The President of the Common Council stated
that the object Of the joint meeting was to pass
such resolutions OF respect for the memory of
the deceased as might be advisable.
Mr.. Shinn offered the following resolution,
which WAS unanimously adopted:
Resolved That q comrcittee Of two from zach
Board be appointed by the Chair to draft reso
lutions expressive Of the feelings Of this COM
munty, occasioned by the sad announcement
of the death Of Gen. Robt. Z. Lee; and under it
Messrs. Wedderburn and Wheat were sp-
pointed on the part of the Common Council,
and Messrs. French and Markell on that Of the
Board of Aldermen.
The committee retired. and the joint meeting
took recess.
The committee having returned, reported ,
through cir chairman, Mr. French, WHO paid
II tribute to the expressions contained in the
Mayors communication, the following pream-
Bile and resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
WHEaE. IS, in the dispensation Of an all-wise
and merctul Providence, we are called upon to
mum the death of General Robert Edward
Lee as his friends and former neighbors, we
have assemble 10 unite in expressing our heart
felt sorrow at the great afti cton which has be-
fallen his family and humanity at large. In
his conduct through life he was al ornament of
the age in which he lived; his memory is en-.
shrineI in the hearts Of mis- countrymen, and
mis- life adorns the pages of our countr9's histo-
~ be it, therefore,
fesolred Jy the Board Of Aldermen and the
Common Council Of the city Of Alexandria,
That we have card with deep and heart felt sor
row of the death of Gen Robert Edward Lee q
christian gentleman, whom we mourn as
friend cndeared to our community by hls resi-
dence near ~ End hs associations with us in
The past
In him we Ceplore the loss of one who, by
p: ecept aud example, has ennobled and adorned
human nature; liberty never had more sim
cere and disinterested votary, nor humanity
truer friend.
The land of his birth sorrows, weeping over
its loss, but it does not bound his fame; for in
the hearts Of the good and great thoroughout
the civilized world, responsive throbs Will
best in unison with our own as the sad lntelll-
gcnce that he has been called away from US.
reaches them.
With his afflicted family we condole and but
unite our sympathies with those Of the country
at large.
Rrsolred, Tha. the public buildings il this
city be drspad in mourning for the period OF
thirty days. :.
Resolved, That the town bell be toled at in
lervals Of three minutes on the day of the fu-
neral ceremonies, and that tho owners of other
alarm bells be requested to cause such an OBJ
seIvance of respect
Resol"ed, That the merchants and business
en- of our city be requested to close their places
Of business on the day of the funeral.
Resolred, That the above pream BILE and reso.
lutions be recorded among the minutes Of the
Common Council and that copy Of them be
forwarded to the family OF the deceased.
On motion of Mr.. Wheat, it was resolved,
that should intelligence be received here to the
effect that the remains of the deceased would be
brought 10 Alexandria, the City Council would
be imm dstey convened.
The joint meeting then dissolved. and the
Board adjourned.
Teste: HAROLD SNOWDEN. Crk