Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-10-22
Election Thursday, October 81
General Robert E. Lee.


meeting Of the citizens of this place, held at
" Lee Hall" on Saturday last, 70 take some
action IN reference to the death Of this great
and good man. The notice having been circu-
lated but a few moments beforehand, very
many could not enjoy the sad privilege Of at
tending; but the resolutions there passed, aud
the prompt observance Of them by cur men
Of business, are some indication Of the love and
reverence with which this community, in COM
mon with every sister community in Virginia
and in the South, regarded the Christian hero
As was eloquently said by one Of the speak
crs the death of General Lee is loss not only
% his State and to the South, but to mankind
We may yainly seek in the whole range Of
history, ancient and modern. for a character
more sublmely great, combining in itself more
n those elements whose estimate changes not
with time and circumstance, but which are
always and everywhere recognised as constitu-
tug the highest dignity Of manhood As 4
great Captain he deserves TO rank with the Sc
Tee: few who tower above all others in the an
nails Of war, and we are persuaded that the eS-
timate Of bis merits will be nightly increased
when it shall be known, in aftertimes against
what odds he had ever to wrestle and over
what difficulties he was so long and so grandly
victorious Even the best informed among
our own people have no adequate idea of the
extent to which the ability and the consun-
mate prudence Of the General supplied defcieu-
c,es in every requisite for offensive and defen-
sivc warfare.
Tia. despite the exhibition Of trlnsceudeut
genius and the exercise Of tho sublimest viz
tues defeat at last overwhelmed him, will not
dim the lustrs Of his fame in the eyes Of posteri-
~ lie adds but another to the roll Of great
warriors who have succumbed TO overpoweriug
resources and relentless fate The career Of
Hannibal, still the most glorious in the lists Of
war. ended in final and disastrous defeat at
Zama; that Of Pompey at Pharsalia; of Napo-
leon at Waterloo But the Muse Of History,
willis; awarding ample justice to victorious
S,ipio, Cesar and Wellington, has never hest
'1ted to write these names highest in the tenn
PIE Of Mars.
But it is not alone as-the leader Of great az
mics and the winner Of great victories that
General Leecoumands the respect Of the world
High military talents have often bseu-aud in
the instances rust mentioned wcre-conioiued
with monstrous vices and vulgar failngs. In
HIM the glory Of the man and the glory of the
Christian outshiue the glory of the warrior. In
him the elements were so mixed that Nature
could have stood up 70 all the world and
owned him as her work
We know but two characters IN history with
whom to compare our Southern hero the up
right Cato-he Of Utica-among the Romans.
aud our own Washington But the virtues Of
Cato were rather harsh than commanding.
while be was destitute Of merit as a soldier aud
sought voluntary death when his cause was
empowered. With Washington. then, let Us
r.u him in our afecti5nate remem brauce and
M glory Both were Virgjuians; both rise
above other men in greatness Of soul, in capaci-
tv for grea; actions, 10 freedom from ambition
ard in the purity and dignity Of their lives
The character Of the one was tried by success +;
that Of the other by defeat. The greatness Of
Washington received no added brightness from
me blaze Of glory which eayelopod his latter
years. tae greatness Of Lee vas never dimmed
by The cloud and the shadow vhich settled over
lis closing days. Both now belong to mankind
as examples which Is " honorable 70 admire
and virtuous 20 initiate
As TO the meeting which has suggested these
remarks, /, was an appropriate and spontaneous
expression Of toe sincere feeling Of our whole
community As VirgjniaDs thoroughly iaau-
tined II fortune and sympathy with the State
% 4er recent history, 10 was fitting that we
should join IN the general expression Of sorrow
which the announcement Of General Lees
death has called forth, 20 the general expires
sion Of love Of puls and OF reverence which
the coatsmp laugu Of his Life vii, never cease
'1 call forth. And especially wa, 10 fitting
TIA. those who haJ served under It, immediate
command and With ;he.r ovu ewes witnessed
tie majestic qualities that excited and secured
tie admiration OF mankind should gather o.
onmminsle then tears. 90 give some f'rma. ex-
precision 10 their a1T1e. and % tsus some
garland, however bubble. .or lis -.a1sas. and
urdecayiu- shrine
{ba Kinglg form unaa ur.sr our eve. Te-