The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-10-19
THE w WATCHMAN|
OCT'R 10.
a. A. GILBERT ----- ..-,- ..EDiT0R
The SumteT Watchmasa has by
far the largest circulation lespe-
'ciuzly in the s,ovou,ae,ing couaatry)
of any paper pu6lsshed IN S4mter,
and acas established sn 1850.
md acas established IN 1850.

|DEATH OF GEN. ROBERT Il. LEE.
The whole South is in mourning
and the nobler and uuprejudioed North.
|orn heart is moved, whilst the civilized
world will not fail to record the fact
that great and good man has departs
led from earth.
It is not in the spirit with which we
viewed the great captain, as he stood
with his weak and decimated ranks,
tho invincible barrier against which
tho heavy lcgions of tho North reooiled
with disaster and defeat, that we some|
now to look upon him, as he passes away
from mortal sight. The nobler and]
purcr and higher instincts of our nature, j
call upon US and upon tho country, to|
look upon him, as he rises to view, the
embodiment Of the more grand and|
enduring principles which have adorned
mankind in every age Of the Civilized
world; and American history, wten|
the passions and prejudices Of the times
shall have gone to oblivion, will not fail
TO accord him position foremost amongI
those who have given lustre to our ma
tional namo.
In his great character and sublime|
virtues, Gen. LEE can never be estimat-
led from the narrow stand point which!
views him merely as the leader of the|
Southern patriot soldier in our strug-|
|gle for civil liberty. 'Tis true that here
he won distinction, and the affections|
of tho soldiery aud of tie whole people,
for whom lie battlcd, to an extt which
would shed additional lustre, and add
u fresh wreath Of laurel, to the brow
of tho proudest cl'ieftain of earth /; butt
his name and history belong to the world ]
and will bo enrolled, on the scroll Of fame i
high among those mankind will delight
to cherish, as great and good. Side by|
side with that of "the Father Of his
country" his fame will 20 down to future|
generations
And now that he has passed forever
away from us, the lessons his lie and|
character teach, address themselves to|
us with fresher and moro earnest ap-|
peal.
The soul Of manly coura SO and endu
rance, he was not only great amid the
clash Of arms aud tho shock of bait 10, |
but great amid the wreck, aud ruin, audi
darkness Of disaster and defeat. The
,aIno faith and trust in his God, which /
savo nerve to bis arm and placid hero
ism to his heart, as he moved amid the
'husdcrs Of artillery and rain Of the
deadly bullet, supported him in the
moro trying ordeal that followed and
brought to view tho sublimer virtues Of
his character. Hs raises no voice OF
condemnatisa against he foci
with whom lie coutendcd; but, with the
culm meekness Of tho christian soldier.
RESIGNS liimsclf to the terrible change
that ensues, and exhibits the same
patient, endurance throughout oil the
crushing humiliation that follows.
We fee! tlat our poor pen is too weak
md impotent to rooord his virtues; bur
hey live in the hearts Of the people, and
"ill shine with brighter lustro as|
years aud geucrations roll on.
r-----. --ss<HDse-
NORTIS3RN ELECTIONS.
State elections wsro held, last week,
10 Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana.
rhero las beuu SONS Dem uoratio painy