The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-04


was driven far from the city. The speaker
referred also to the circumstances attend
Ing General Lees crossing the Potomac ant
the march, into Pennsylvania. He (fr
Davis assumed the responsibility for that
movement. The enemy had long beer
| concentrating his force, and it was evident
that II they continued their steady pro.
gress the Confederacy would be overwhelm
ed. Our only hope was to drive him to the
defence of his own capital, we being ena.
bied III the meantime to reinforce our shat.
tered army. How we'll Gen. Lee carried
out that dangerous experiment need not be
told. Richmond was relieved, the Confed-
eracy was relieved, and time was obtained
II other things had favored, 70 reinforce the
army.
But, said Mr.. Davis, l shall not attempt
, to review the military career of our fallen
Chiettain. OF the man, how shall / speak
He was my friend, and in that word Is in-
cluded all that could say of any man. His
moral qualities rose TO the height of his
genius. Self observation-disclosures intent upon
the one idea Of uty-self-controlled to an
extent that many thought him cold. His
| feelings were really warm, and his heart
melted freely ut the sight Of wounded SOL
| der or The story of the sufferings Of the
widow and orphan. During the war he
| was ever conscious Of tue inequality of the
means at his control but it was never his to
his to do. When in the last campaign he was
| beleaguered at Petersburg, and painfully
| aware of the straights to which we were
reduced, he said i" With my army in the
mountains OF Virginia 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 unto
ward event caused him to anticipate the
movement, aud the Army of Northern
Virginia was overwhelmed. But In the
surrender he anticipated conditions that
have not been fulfilled-he expected his
army to be respected and his paroled sol
diers to be allowed the enjoyments Of life
and property. Whether these conditions
have been fulfilled, let others say.
Here he now sleeps i'll the land he loved
so we'll, and that land is not Virginia only,
for they do injustice to Lee who believe he
fought only for Virginia He was ready to
go anywhere, on any service for the good
Of his country, and has heart ardS as broad
as the fifteen States Struggling for the pria-
ciples that our ,torefathers fought far 10 the
Recolution Of 1l!G. He is sleeping in the
same soil with the thousands who fought
under the same flag, but first offered up
their lives. Here the living are assembled
30 honor his memory, and there the skele-
ion srntinels keep watch over his grave.
This citizen. this soldier this great gem
eral this true patriot left behind him
the browning glory of a true Christian.
His hristianity ennobled him in life, and
affords US grounds for the belief thut he is
HAPPY beyond the grave.
But, while we mourn the loss CT tie
great and the true, drop we also tears Of
sympathy with her who was his hclp-mect
in lie---the noble woman who, while her
husband was in the field leading the Army
of the Confedcracy, though All invalid her.
self, passed the time in knitting socks for
the marching soldiers A woman fit to be
the mother Of heroes-and heroes are de-
scendcd from her. Mourning win her, we
can only offer the consolation of Christian.
Our loss is not his, but he now enjoys the
rewards of life well spent and II never WA
vcring trust in risen saviour. This day
we unite our words Of sorrow with those Of
the good ana great TIL ougnout ChriStcn-
dom. for his fame is gone oyer the water
his deeds will be remembered /; and when
the monument we build shall have crum-
blcd into dust, his virtues will still live, &
nigh model for the imitation Of generations
yet unborn.
We have given but faint idea of the elo-
Quent thoughts and chaste oratory of the
speaker. His words were heard with pro-
found attention, and received with frequent
applause.
MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.
Col. c. S. Nenable then presented the
following report of the Committee on Res
olutOns:
Whereas it is high and holy duty, as
well rs \ noble privilege, TO pcrpctUate The
hounrs OF those who have displayed emil
nent virtues and performed great achieve
mcnts, that they may serve rs incentives
and examples TO the latest generation Of
their countrylnen, and attest the rcveren-
tial admiration and affectionate regard
Of their compatriots. and whereas, thi,
duty and privilege devolre on AL who
love and admire General Robert L. Lee
throughout this country and tie world,
and in an especial manner upon those who
followed him in the field or who fought III
the same cause. who shared in his gl0ries,
purtuok Of his trials, and were u4tcd with
him in the same sorrows and advtrSitiY,
who were devoted to INN in war by the
BAPTISM of fire and blood, and bound 10
him in peace by the still higher homage
due to the rare and grand exhibition Of
character pure, and lofty, and gentle, ana
true, under all changes OF fortune. and
serene amid the greatest disasters. There
fore he it
]. RcsoIued, That we favor an ASSOCIATION
to erect ii monument at Richmond to the
memory Of Robert f. Lee, as an enduring
testimonial OF our love and respect and de-
yotion TO his fame.
9. Kesolpe0, That while donations will be
cladi, received tro,1 all VINO recognize in
lie uycclencics Of General Lees character
an honor and an encouragement to our
common humanity, and IN abiding hone
that coming generations may he found to
initiate his virtues, il ia desirable that every
Confederate soldier and sailor should make
some contribution, however small, to the
proposed monument.
3. RESOLVED, That for the purpose OF Sc
curing the efficiency and dispatch in the
erection Of the monument. an Executive
Committee OF seventy. five, with president,
secretary, treasurer, auditor, &c, be APP
pointed 10 invite and collect subscriptions,
to procure designs fGc sad monument, to
select tic best, to provide for the organiZa-
ton of central executive committees in
other States which may serve as mediums
of communication between the Executive
Committee of the association and the local
associations OF ;liese States.
/. kesoIoed, That we respectfully invite
the ladies' Of the Hollywood Association to
LEND us their assistance and cooperation in
eshe collection of subscriptions.
). Resolred, That we cordially approve of
the local monuments now proposed to be
erected by other associations at Atlanta,
and at Lexington, his late home, whose
people were so closely united with him in
the last sad years Of his life,
g. Resolued, That while we cordially
thank the Governor and Legislature Of
Virginia for the steps they have taken to
do honor to the memory Of General Lee,