Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-12-07
WfSriEip scorr,
Commanding L. S. Army.
A copy Of this lettor to General
Scott was enclosed in the annexed
letter to bis sister Mrs. A. NJ.

letter to bis sister Mrs. A. NJ.
AntNoToS, Va, April 20, 1861.
Ny DrAn sisrrn-I am gricycd at my inability
10 see you. / have been waiting ioi
ga morcconyonient season" which has brought tc
many before me deep and lasting regret Now
We are 10 a state Of war which will yiuld 10 moth.
ing. The whole South is In a state Of revolution
into which Virginia amer a long struggle has been
drawn, and though recognize NO necessity for ,uel
state Of hirgs and would have fo5borne aud
pleaded to the end for redress Of gricyancos-rea
or supposed Yet in my eWn person | had tC
meet The question whothc pouR tote par
against my as'ire State.
with ali my devotion 10 shc Union aud N,
feeling Of loyalty and duty OF an American citizen
/ h8yo not been able TO make up my mind to rails,
my hand against my relations, my children, my
home. l have therefore resigned my commission
in the army and save in defence Of my native
State, with n sincere hope that my poor service,
may never be needed. ! hope ! may ncycr b,
called on 10 draw my sword.
/ know you will blame me, but you mus; ihnb
of me o. kindly a. You can, and believe that
have cndcavorcd 70 DO what thought right. Tc
show you the feeling and struggle ID has cost me-
I send you a copy Of my letter to General Scott
which accompanied my resignation. ! have nc
time Tor more.
May God guard and protect you and yours, and
shower upon you every blessing, Is the prayer Of
your devoted brother r. Z. LEE.
OF course, it will be said that Gen.
| Lee committed fatal error when he
resolved to resign his commission in
the I. S. Army, and follow the for.
tunes of his State. But would it not
have been amazing if he bad resolved
to do anything else? He had been
taught by Jefferson, the father Of the
Declaration of Independence, that
States could withdraw their dolcga.
1 ted powers. lie bad also been in.
structed by President Madison, the
father Of the Constitution, that "a
delegated is not q surrendered power
and "that there is no power above
that Of State TO Judge in the last re.
sort" This doctrine had never been
called into question BY any sane man,
or respectable statesman, from the
foundation Of the Government to the
unfortunate election of Abraham Lin.
coin. And more than this, he knew
that Virginia had ratified the Consti.
tuition and became member Of the
Union only on condition that she
should have the right TO resume her
delegate powers whenever in her opin.
ion il should become necessary for
her own safety. More still, ho know
that from time TO time, for more than
a quarter ofa century, various north.
crn States had pctitioned Congress for
l a dissolution Of the Union, and that
the New England States had several
times taken steps to withdraw 'pcaco.
ably if they could, iorcibly If they
must" Under these circumstances
was there any depraviiy on the part
of Gen. Lee in the course he pursued
We dare answer this question with
an emphatic no. We dare 20 further
and say that we firmly believe il will
be tho verdict of history that this act
involved no crime, aud was not in the
least inconsistent with the lof(icst pa.
triotism and the most illustrious vir
tue. We should despise ourselves il
We were wanting in the integrity and
courage to thus plainly utter oul
honest opinions in relation to a publ,
character, whom VIC believe was one
Of the foremost ,Rsa as we'll as one o.
thepurest patriots that lived in tn,
present century. Aud ii is a question
which impartial and incxorablc history
must sooner or later SETTLE whether
q success on his part would not have
proved benefit TO his country ant
the great principles Of civil and reli