The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-11-24

MEMORIAL MEETING IN RICHMoND-TIu
CONFEDERATE CHIEFTATN' TRIBUTE
TO HIS TRUSTED LIEUTENANT.
From the Lynchburg News, NOV. $.


A meeting OF the Confederate soldiers was
held In Richmond. Thursday night. 20 eX-
| Dress their sorrow at the death Of General
Zee. Gen. Jubal a. Early presided. After
/ the organization, the President announced
/ jefferson Davis as the hrst speaker ~
/ Mr.. Davis arose TO walk 70 the stand, every
person in the house rose 10 his feet, AMI
/ there followed such a storm OF applause a.
I seemed TO shake the very foundations Of the
building. while cheer upon cheer was
! echoed from the Threats Of veterans salut-
| InQone whom they delighted TO honor.
ADDRESS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
soldiers and Sailors Of the Confederacy,
/ Comrades and Friends-Assembled on this
sad occasion. with hearts oppressed with the
grief that follows the loss OF hifn who was
\ our leader on many bloody battlefield, "A
| pleasing though melancholy spectacle T.
/ presented. Hitherto, and In all times. men
| have been honored when successful. but
/ here Is the case of one who. amid disaster.
went down 10 his grave, and those who were
his companions lin misfortune have assem-
I bled to honor his memory. lt l. a. much al
/ honor TO you who give as 10 him who
| receives, for above the vulgar test Of merit.
\ Won show yourselves competent o. dt-crim-
| mate between him who enjoys aud Dee who
| deserves success. Robert r. Lee wa. nv
associate and friend in the military acade-
N.Y. and we were friends until the hour OF
his death We were associates and friends
4
/ and associates and friends when he led the
4 armies OF the COnfedeTacy and presided In
I its Cabinet. We passed through many sad
scenes together. but / cannot remember
! that there was ever aught but harmony be-
! tween u. II ever there was difference
between us IL WIS dissipated by dizcu- sion,
| and harmony was the result. / repeat that
! we never disagreed. and | may add that |
never I'm my life saw in him the slightest
tendency TO self-seeking. 10 was not his 70
make a record iJ was not his TO shift blame
TO other shoulders; but IL was his, with an
eve fixed upon the welfare of his country.
never faltering, 10 follow the line Ofduty 10
the end. Ills was the heart that braved dit
fculty; his was the mind that wrought vie
tory out OF defeat. He has been charged
with want OF DASH" wish To say that !
never knew Lee 10 falter to attempt any
thing ever man could dare. An attemp,
has been made TO throw "A cloud upon his
character because he left the army of the
United States TO fight for the liberty of his
State. without trenching az all upon poll
ties. | deem IL my duty 10 say one word iu
reference Ia this charge. Virginia born,
| descended from family illnstrious In Nir-
ginia's annals. given by Virginia 20 thC
| service OF the United States. be fpI resented
her in the Military Academy at West Point
He WAS not educated 10y ithc Federal Gov
! eminent. but by Virginia. for she paid her
ull+harc for the support of chat instit, ton
aud Was entitled to demand In return the
| services OF her sons. Entering the army ol
the L nitrd States, he represented Virginia
there also, and uobly. On many hard
fought field Lee was conspicuous. battling
for his native State and for the Union ne
came from Mexico crowned with honOrs.
covered by brevets. and recognized Young
as he was. as one Of the ablest oi his cOun-
try's soldiers. And 10 prove that he WIS
estimated ~ such. let me tell yOn that when
Lee was n Captain OF Engineers stationed
In Baltimore. the Cuban Junta in New York
selected him To be their leader in the sirug-
gle for the independence Of their native
| country. They were anxious To SECURE hi
services, and Offered him every temptation
! that ambition could desire. He thought
the matter over and, remember. came 10
| Washington To consul: me as TO what he
should do, and when began to discuss the
complications which might arise from his
acceptance of the trust lac gently rebuked
me. saying that this was not the line upon
which he wished my advice. the simple
question was, Whether it was right or
not? lie had been educated in the United
! states. and felt it wrong TO accept place IN
the army of a foreign power. Such was his
| extreme delicacy. such was the nice sense
ofhonor of the gallant gentleman whom we
| deplore. But when Virginia withdrew
the State TO whom he owed his first and
last allegiance-the same nice sense Of hon
| or led him to draw his sword and throw IL
| in the scale for good or evil. Pardon me
for this brief defense Of my ilustrlaus
friend. When Virginia Joined the Confed-
y
little army OF Virginia, came to Richmond.
| and, not pausing 10 inquire what would be
his rank In the service Of the Confcderacy.
| went TO West Virginia under the belief that
he was still an officer of the State. lie came
back, carrying the heavy weight Of defeat
and unappreciated by the people whom he
had served, for they could not know. rs 1
knew, that il his plans and orders had been
carried out, the result would have been vic
! tory rather than retreat. You did not
| know, for would not have known had he
not breathed il In my ear only AZ my urgent
request, and begging that nothing be said
aboutit. The clamOr which then arose fol-
! lowed him when lac went TO South Carroll
| ma, so that IL became necessary on his going
TO South Carolina TO write a long letter e.
! the Governor of that State, telling him what
manner of man he was. Yet. through all
this, with a magnanilnty rarely equaled,
he stood in silence without defending him
! self, or allowing others To defend him. for
! he was unwilling 20 offend any one who was
wearing a sword or striking blows for the
/ COnfederacy. Mr.. Davis then spoke Of the
straits to which the COnfcderacy was re-
| duced. and the danger 20 which her capital
WIS exposed after the battle Of Seven Pines
/ and told how General Lee had conceived
| and executed the desperate plan 90 turn
| their flank and rear, which, after seven DAYS
/ OF bloody battle. was crowned with the
! protection Of Richmond, while the enemy
/ was driven from the city. The speaker re-
/ ferred also TO the circumstances attending
General Lees crossing thc Potomac and the
march into Pennsylvania. lie fMr. Davisl
/ assumed the responsibility for that move
| ment. The enemy had long been concen-
| trating his force, and it was evident that IL
/ they continued their steady progress The
Coniederacy would be overwhelmed. Our
/ only hope TO drive him 20 the defence OF his
own capital, and we being enabled in tho
\ meantime TO reinforce our shattered army
! How well General Lee carried out that dan
gerous experiment need not TO be told
\ Richmond was relieved, the Confederacy
was relieved, aud time was obtained, If 9TH
er things had favored, TO reinforce the army
/ But, said Mr. Davis, shall not attempt 10
review the military career of our fallen
1 chieftain. OF the man. how shall 1 speak
/ lie was my friend, and In that Is included
all that could say of any man. His moral
qualities rose TO the height Of his genius
/ self denying, always intent upon the onr
\ idea Of duty, self-controlled to an extent
that many thought him cold, his feelings
were really warm. and his heart melted
freely at the sight Of n wounded soldier or
/ the story OF the sufierings Of the widow and
/ orphan. During the war he was ever con-
scious Of the inequality Of the means at hls
| control, but it was never his 10 complain or
20 utter doubt-it was always his 10 do.
| When in the last campaign he was beleaO-
uered at Petersburg, and painfully aware of
the straits 10 which lac was reduced lac said
with my army IN the mountains Of Nir-
GINA could carry on this war for twenty
years longer" His supplies were exhaust
ed and his supplies failing, he was unable
TO carry out his plans. An untoward event
caused him 70 anticipate the movement, ana
the Army of Northern Virginia was over
whelmed. Bot In the surrender he antlci-
pated conditions that have not been fulfilled
he expected his army 20 be respected aud
his paroled soldiers TO be allowed the enjoy
ments OF life and prosperity. Whether these
conditions have been fulfilled, let Others
say. Here he now sleeps In the laad he
loved 50 well; and that land r. not virginia
only. for they do iufugtice IN Ice tnhf r.