Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-27
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY EVENING. DECEM BEK q.
Mrs. Lee.

Tbero il one thing more i want to say
Tbouch our dead soldiers possess the pleasant
Grounds of Arlington fOrcver-hod them by
the most sacred and awful right, as by title
areds written in blood believe our govern
ment should pay to Mrs. Lee her valuation OF
tbe property now so invaluable to us. 1t was
hers by birthright. Il oortinuedto be hers by
a higher than legal right. She did not forfeit
it nv any overt, individual act Of treason. l
know that it has been said that she ate first OF
the maddening apple of secession, and then
tempted him, and he did eat and so their para
disc was lost. But this is mere mannish
Lypothesis, which find no reason to accept.
tie acted for and by himselfint turning his sword
against the country that had taught him how
10 use it, She was not citizen but vile. and,
first of all, according to prevailing ideas, owed
loyalty to her husband. Surely the conserva-
tive gentlemen OF the Senate who accept the
poets lofty ideal OF true womanly devotion,
know not. ask not if quilts in thy hesrt,
know that I love thee whatever thou art,
should give Mrs. Mary Gusts Lee all honor,
instead of speaking of her sligbtlOgy as "hat
aronan." Had she fled from the Confederacy,
repudiatcd her rebel husband, and sought sane
tuarv and release in Indiana, would even Sen
ator Morton have held her in higher esteem
Or had she been loyal and loug-sighted enough
to hoist the old flag over Arlington and stand
guard over her effects, would not gentlemen
have said Here is matron of Roman virtue
plucky and strong minded; woman to be ad
mired, but not loved"
Her name has for me the charm Of great as.
sociatious, as that Of the daughter OF the be-
loved, adopted son Of Washington. [ respect
her love for the grand old place, the home Of
her childhood but aside from these things,
protest against the Injustice and harshness o.
making her suffer more severely than many o
the ringeaders of the rebellion have suffered
| think Mr.. Patterson is mistaken in saying
that she fled away into the storm, before
her husband. From an Old servant OF. tbt
family. have heard that she fingered in he
home till her husband had repeatedly writer
to her to join him; that before leaving, She
packed up such valuables as she could no
carry, precious heirooms and papers, and lief
them 10 the honorable custody of our soldiers
20 woman, great was thy faith u that at TIT
last, she went all about the house and grounds
and to the graves of her father and mother
weeping bitterly. l have also heard that wher
the time set, by the will Of her father, for tho
emancipation OF certain slaves, arrived, she
promptly and honorably sent through our line:
such az she had with her in Richmond.
AS We are ia the forgivpg line, can we not
forgive this heart broken wife and mother, anc
make her old age comfortable by generously
paying for the noble inheritance forfeited by
no crime OF hers. unless it be crime to slanc
by beloved husband, whom in her happy
youth she took 'tor better, for worse?' May
we not believe that the august spirit Of y ash
irgton himself would approve of such all &C
OF magnanmity towards the daughter c.
Genrge Washington Custis-the dear little lsc
whom he solemnIy adopted by the death bee
vice of the republic?
Iu this matter l have simply spoken ni5
feeling as a woman. and for woman IEash
Cor. ~ Y Tribune.