Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-11-11

S. D. Houston, Capt. George Walker, and
Maj. William B. Myers.
The report was unanimously adopted
amid great applause.
REMARKS OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.
As Mr.. Davis arose to walk to the stand
every person in the house rose to his feet,
and there followed such storm of applause
as seemed to shake the very foundations of
the building, while cheer upon cheer was
echoed from the threats of veterans salutipg
one whom they delighted to honor.
Mr.. Davis spoke at length, and with his
accustomed thrilling, moving eloquence.
He addressed his hearers as Soldiers and
sailors of the Confederacy, comrades and
friends p Assembled On this sad occasion,
with hearts oppre ssed with the grief that
follows the loss of him who was our leader
on many bloody battle field, 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 It is as much an honor to you
who give as to him who receives, for above
the vulgar test of merit you show yourselves
competent to discriminate between him who
enjoys and he who deserves success.
Robert L. lee was my associate and
friend in the military academy, and we were
friends until the hour Of his death We
were associates and friends when he was a
soldier and congressman ; and associates
and friends when he led the armies of the
Confederacy and I presided in its Cabinet
We passed through many a sad scene to-
was ever aught but perfect harmony between
US. II ever there was difference Of opinion
it was dissipated by discussion. and harmony
was the result I repeat, ne neuer disa-
greed, and [ may add that never in my
life saw in him the slightest tendency to
self seeking It was not his to make re-
cord, it was not his to shift blame to other
shoulders j; but it was bis with an eye fixed
upon the welfare Of bis country, never falter-
ing to follew the line Of duty to the end. His
was the heart that braved every difficulty
his was the mind that wrought victory out
Of defeat
He has been charged with Hwant OF
DASH" I wish to say that I never knew
Lee to falter to attempt anything ey4r man
could dare. An attempt has also been made
to throw cloud upon his character because
he left the army Of the United States to join
| in the struggle for the liberty of his State
! Without trenching at all upon politics, [
deem it my duty to say one word in refer
ence to this charge. Virginian born, de-
scended from family illustrious in Virgin
las annals, given by Virginia to the service
Of She United States, he represented her in
the Military Academy at West Point He
was not educated by the Federal Govern
ment, but Virginia for she paid her full
share for the support of that institution, and
was entitled to demand in return the SER
vices of her sons. Entering the army of
the United States, he represented Virginia
there also, and nobly. On many hard
fought field Lee was conspicuous, battling
for his native State as much IS for the
Union He came from Mexico crowned
with honors, covered BY brevets, and re-
cognized, young as he was, as one Of the
ablest Of his country's soldiers. And to
prove that he was estimated then as such,
let me tell you that when Lee was captain
Of engineers stationed in Baltimore the Gu
ban Junta in New York selected him to be
their leader in the Struggle for the indepen-
dence Of their native country. They were
anxious to secure his services, and offered
| him every temptation that ambition could
desire. lie thought tho matter over. and.
remember, came to Washington to consult
me as to what he should d. and when
began to discuss the complications which
might arise from his acceptance of the trust
be gently rebuked me, saying hat was not
the line upon which he wished my advice,
the simple question was, GO Whether 1t a0os
right or not" He had been educated by
the United States, and felt wrong to accept
place in the army Of foreign power. Such
was his extreme delicacy, such was the
nice sense Of honor Of the gallant gentleman
whose death we .leplore. But when Vir-
grnia withdrew-the State to whom he
Owed bis first and last allegIancc-the same
nice sense of honor led him to draw his
sword and throw it in the scale for good or for
evil Pardon me for this brief defence of
my illustrious friend.
When Virginia joined the Confederacy,
/! Robert Lee, the highest officer in the little
army Of Virginia, came to Richmond, and
not paus;ng to inquire what would be his
rank in the service Of the Confederacy, went
to West Virginia under the belief that he
was still an officer of the State. He came
back, carrying the heavy weight Of defeat
and unappreciated by the people whom he
served, for they could not know, as I knew.
that if his plans and orders had been car
ried out tho result would have been victory
rather than retreat. You did not know,
for [ would not have known it had he not
breathed it in my ear only at my earnest re-
quest, and begging that nothing be said
| about it. The clamor which then arose
followed him when he went to South Caro-,
lima, SO that it became necessary on his go
ing to South Carolina to write a lettyr to
the Governor Of that State, telling him what
manner Of man he was. Yet, through all
this, with magnanimity rarely equalled,
he stood in silence, without defending him
self or allowing others to defend him, for
he was unwilling to offend any one who
was wearing sword and striking blows for
the Confederacy.
Mr.. Davis then spoke Of tho straights to
which tho Confederacy was reduced, and Of
the danger to which her capital was ex-
posed just after the battle Of Seven Pines,
and told how General Lee had conceived
and executed the desperate plan to turn
their flank and rear, which, after seven
days Of bloody bait e. was crowned with the
protection Of Richmond, while the enemy
was driven far from the city. The speaker
referred also to the circumstances attend
ing General Lees crossing the Potomac and
the march into Pennsylvania He (Mr
Davis) assumed the responsibility for that
/ movement The enemy had long been con-