The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-14
THE DEATH OF GEN'L LEE.
A DAY OF MOURNING In
RICHMOND
BssrS Ess NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ADMINISTRATIONS OF GRIEF. 3.
ACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE,
CITY. COUNCIL, AND TOBACCO
ASSOCIATION. ...
THE OBJ S E Q Y I E S.


Yesterday was q day Of mourning In
Richmond, and the busiest streets were al
most deserted. In compliance with the re.
commentator OF the Chamber Of Com
merce, there was general suspension OF
business in token Of sorrow, and every
where were to he seen evidences of the de-
preston caused by Virginia's great afllic'
tiou. After 10 o'clock In the morning
nearly ali the stores on Main, Broad. and
Cary streets were closed, and upon the
the doors appeared badges of mourning,
accompanied usually by the simple inscrip'
ton: "Closed In consequence Of the deatn
Of Gen. Robert +. Lee" A photograph OF
be departed hero draped in Grape ire
quently accompanied the card, and in many
windows were to be seen faithful portraits
handsomely framed and hung with black;
Many private residences also were draneu
with mourning emblems. intertW!ned Win
wreaths of laurel and cypress.
The public offices OF the State govern
ment were closed MI day, and the pellS al
he Capitol square bell house and the ponce
stations were toiled from sunrise until sum
>et. The United States and Virginia nags
IN the Capitol We're displayed at haf-mast,
md the same token Of grief was maze by
he shipping In the harbor. The flag upon
The Union Hotel for colored persons, on .th
street, WAS also furled during the entTe
day. In fact, wherever the eye turned IL
rested upon signs Of sorrow, ana the tElo-
lltes of respect We're confined to no one
lass of persons. The whole community
was PROSTATE beneath the dispensatton OF
Providence so painful, but so hard TO
realize.
Aetinn OF the Legislature.
The Senate met at noon. In the absence
Of the Lieutenant-Governo Hon. JAMES
4. NADpELL, OF Augusta, occupied the
chair.
Rev. DR.. Peterkin offered most appro.
pirate prayer.
Colonel owen, Secretary to the Governor,
presented message from the Executive,
conveying TO the General Assembly the
painful intelligence OF the death Of General
utobert r. Lee, at Lexington. on Wednes-
lay morning.
iThis message appears in the House p7o-
ceedings.]
A message was received from the House
# Delegates by Mr.. KELLEY, informing the
Senute Of the adoption Of joint resolutions
n relation to tho death of Gen. Lee ; where
Upon, ~
On motion OF Mr.. TAYLOR, Of Norfolk,
he JOINT resolutions were unanimously
incurred III.
u motion of Mr.. RIDDIcK, the message
If the Governor was ordered TO be spread
lpon the journal Of the Senate.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. announced the
!ppointment OF the following Senators as
/; he committee provided for in the joint re-
solutions Mcssrs. Taylor of Norfolk, Kid
lick of Nanscmond. and Pendleton Of Bote-
tourt.
IN motion Of Mir. TAYLOR, the Senate adj
i,uIncd until Tomorrow (F'rlday) at Il
o'clock.
Tha House met ut u NJ, and was called to
rider by Mr.. HANGER, Of Augusta county.
PRAYER BY REV. DR.. EDWARDS.
In the midst Of the most profound silence,
.ey. Or. John r. Edwards. of the Broad.
:tract Methodist Church, feelingly and de-
youtly pronounced the following prayer
"God Of orr fathers, God of Isaac, OF
Abraham, and of Jacob, God Of all man
l,nd, God of the heavens and the earth,
God of the universe, have mercy upon us
n this our latest and greatest anl!ction
rne tollIng bells remind Us solemnly mat
Death has been busy at his relentless work
n high place., and that no virtues, no
u 'sresn "a any member Of the human
family from the common fate OF Gil.
lie whose loss we mourn-the whole coun-
nv, nay, the whole world, being involved
in the grlevous }oss--was one whose puzzle
services were only surpassed by his private
virtues. lie was, In truth, ct all times, IN
Ill places, under all circumstances, that
highest type Of humanity-a Cody man.
Always great-great in the peld, great IN
council. and greatest Of all, perhaps, IN the
social and domestic circle-his goodness pa
Il stil surroundsit) with holy halo. Great,
good honored, and beloved-he Is dead
What lesson to us, o God who have but
small claim to the eminent qualities which
made him what he was. May we learn
rom his death that we must also die, and
nav his life teach us 80 to live that we may
lie like him. We thank Thee, Father, that
ne whose departure we deplore was ready
or the stern summons, and that in death
ne was supported, as In his life he had al.
ways been guided, BY the principles of Thy
holy religion.
I'VE pray Thee. our God, to be with the,
widow and family of the deceased in their
heavy bereavement. Especially help her
The tender companion Of his joys aud sor-
.ows-t0 endure with fortitude and resig-
nation the separation from him to whom
.ne WAS so devoted. Dear TO us all,
how many fold more dear to her was he,
he partner of her life i. Let Thy hand up
mold her, let Thy angels minister to her,
md let her heart be filed with grace that
made him what he was. Teach her, o God,
hat earth has no sorrow that Heaven can
not cure, and make her to say from lip and
heart, The Lord gave and the Lord taketh
away blessed be the name Of the Lord
"Bc Thy blessings, too, Heavenly Fne
.her, upon the college over which no pre-
,ided, and upon the students who have telt
the Influences of his presence, his example,
and his care. May these youths remember
md revere him, 50 that they may initiate,
disseminate, and perpetuate his virtues !;
and NAV the order of his life still hang and
hover about and within the institution
which was under his charge, that his glory
and goodness may mould rising generations
70 the latest syllable Of recorded time,
"And finally, our God, may all differences
of the past, all bitter memories, and all the
feuds and quarrels that still keep two great
sections Of our country in angry STRIFE anu
controversy, be buried in his grave. over
his hullowed sepulchre let ola DIVISIONS 10
composed. and may complete ana earnest
reconciliation of thosc Yho have been SO
cruelty and widely estranged DO eaected M
the tomb where all alike drop tears oil
uearttul sorrow. 9. .si ,,,
COL God, may this manifestation Of Thy
,rov;dence convince us oil Of the vanity OF
tiie and mortal things. and how fleeting
and eyune>cent is human fame and great
ness. q There Is nothing enduring but good
deeds and holy principles. May his life he
an example to us, and may our death at
last be like his he closed with the
Lord prayer.l