The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-11-23
Jefferson Davis on Gen. r. e. Lee.
THE CONFEDERATE CHIEFTAIN'S TRI-
RUTE TO HIS TRUSTED LIEUTENANT.

A meeting of Confederate soldiers
was held in Riehnond Thursday night.
to express their sorrow at the death of
General Lee. General Jubal \ Early
presided. After the organization, the
President announced Jefferson Davis
as the first speaker. As Mr.. Davis
arose to walk to the stand, ever. per
son in the house rose to his feet, aud
there followed snch a storm of applause
as seemed to shake the very founda-
tons of the building, While cheer uron
cheer was echoed from the Threats Of
veterans saluting one whom they de-
| lighted to honor.
ADDRESS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE Con-
FEDERACY, COMRADES AND FRIENDS:
! Assembled on this sad occasion. with
hearts oppressed with the grief that
| folaWs the loss of him who was our
Lender on many 81 bloody battle field, a
pleasing though melancholy spectacle
is presented. Hitherto, and in all
times, men have been honored when
successful, but here is the case of one
| who, amid disaster, went down to his
grave, and those who were his com
panions in misfortune have assembled
to honor his memory. 1t is as much an
homer to yon who give as to him who
receives, for above the vulgar test of
merit, yen show yourselves competent
to discriminate between him who en-
joys and lie who deserves succcsS.-
Robert E. Lee was my associate and
friend in the military academy, and we
F were friends until the hour of his death
We were associates and friends when
he was soldier and IL Congressman !;
and associates and friends when he led
the armies of the Confederacy and !
presided in its cabinet. We passed
through many sad scenes together, but
| canno, remember that there was ever
aught but perfect harmony between
us If ever there was difference ct
opinion it was dissipated by discussion
} and harmony was the result. repeat
we never disagreed. and ! may add
that | never in my lite saw in him the
slightest tendency TO self-seeking. 1t
was not his to make record, it was
not his to shift blame to other sh"nl-
ders; but it was his, with an eye fixed
upon the welfare OF his country, never
ialteriug, TO follow the line of duty t"
/ the end. His was the heart that hraved
every difficulty his was the mind that
wrought victory cut of defeat. He has
, been charged with ''want of dash"
wish to say that | never knew Lee to
talter to attempt anything ever man
e could dare. An attempt has also been
made to throw a cloud upon his charac
n ter because he left the army of the
United States to join in the struggle
: for the liberty of his State. Without
p trenching at all upon politics, l deem
it my duty to say one word in refer
ence to this charge. Virginia born, de-
u seconded from Il family illnstrious ii,
Virginia's annals, given by Virginia tt
IL the service nf the United States, he rep
resented her in the Military Academ,
c ut West Point. He was not educated
by the Federal government, but h,
Virgiria, for she paid her full share fo'
y the support of that institution, and wa.
entitled 70 demand in rrtnrn The ser
It vices of her sons. Entering the arm.
of the United States, he represented
S. Virginia there also, and nohly. Or
: many Il hard fonght field Lee was con
- spieuous. battling for his native Stat,
as much as for the Union. He cam
4 from Mexico crowned with honorS
D. covered by hrevcts, and recognized
young as he was. as one of the ablest q
his country's soldiers. And to prov
le that he was estimated then as such, te
me tell Won that when Lee was II Cap
tain of Engineers stationed in Bait
N more, the Cnhan Junta in New Y"r
~ selected hinlsto be their leader in til
III struggle for the independence of the
IA native country. They were anxious
ne secure lis services. and offered hi
vi every temptation that ambition coul
rs desire. He thought the matter owe
hu and, | remember came to WashinGtt
eu to consult me as to what he Sh0nld d
Ell and when began to discuss the con
DIV plcations which might arise from h
oi acceptance of the trust he gently l.
un buked me, saving shat this was not Il
!ti line npon which he wished my advic
l'h the simple question was, "Whether
We WAS right or not" He had been educ
sse ted 10y the United States, and felt
up wrong to accept place in the army
ef' IL foreign power. Such was his e
ne treme delicacy, such was the nice sen
III, of honor of the gallant gentem;
ho whose death we deplore. But VIII
Il III Virginia wit|tdrew--tlte State to who
ne he owed his first and last allegiance
oi the same nice sense of honor led hi
III to draw his sword and throw it in t
Ign scale tor good or for evil. Pardon I
NC for this brief defence of my ittustri"
am friend. When Virginia joined the Co
federacy, Robert Lee, the highest OF
at Ger in The little army OF Virginia, cal
II il to Richmond, and, not pausing to
M, Quirr what would be his rank in t
'he service of the Coufederacy, went
ae' West Virginia under the belief that
ut was still an officer OF the State.
cut came back, carry ing the heavy weis
vas OF defeat. and unappl eciated by
our people whom he served, for they COZ
me not know, as | knew, that if his pa
OF and orders had been carried ont the
Is suit would have been victury ratl
ofk than retreat. You did not know, fl
ing would not have known it had he
up. hreathed it in my car only at my ca
est request, and begging that Moth
rye he said about it. The cIamor VIII
lai then arose followed him when he W,
ne" to South Carolina, so that it beca
III necessary on his going TO South Ca
ger lima to write a letter to the Cover
am of that State, telling him what man
II Ii ,f n,,n he was Yet .hrouuh all Il