Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-11-12

I of Baltimore, aud u. Elder, vi Maryland anu
Sergeant W. Writ Rjbinson.
Secretdries-Capt. F. S. Gregory, Serst
George L. Christian, Capt. c. u. Lawson
| Serg't James p CJwardiu, Capt. w. y. Ander-
son, Private Abner Anderson, Capt. >. u.
houston, Capt. George Walker, and MAJ
William B. Myers. =,
The report was unanimously adopted amid
I great applause.
remarks Of President Darts.
AsMr. Davis arose to walk to the stand ev-
| cry person in the house rose to bis feet, aud
/ there followed such storm Of applause as
seemed to shake the very foundations OF the
building, while cheer upon cheer WAS echoed
/ from thetlrUats of veterans Salhung one whom
they delighted to honor.
Mr.. Davis spoke at length, aud with his ac-
'custumed thrilling, moving eloquence. We
shall not attempt, at the late hour at which
we write, to give full report of his address,
He addressed his hearers as Soldiers aud
sailors Of the Confederacy, comrades and
friends" Assembled on this sad occasion, with
hearts oppressed with the grief that follows
the loss of him who was our leader on many 4
bloody battlefield, a pleasing though melah-
chOly spectacle is presented. Hitherto, anu
in all times, men have been honored wheh
successful, bat here is the case OF one VINO,
amid disaster, went down TO his grave, aud
those who were his companions IN misfortune
have assembled 10 honor his memory. It's as
much an honor to you who give rs to hun
who receives. for above the vulgar test of mer-
it. YOU show yourselves competent to dIscrmI-
nate between him who enjoys aud he who de-
serves success.
Robert L. Lee was my associate and friend
in the military academy, aud we We're friends
until the hour of his death. We were assocl-
ates and friends when he was a soldier aud a
congressman and associates and friends when
4 he Ted the armies Of the COnfederacy aud pre-
sided III its Cabinet. We passed through many
sad scenes together, but ! cannot remember
| that there was ever aught but perfect harmo-
nv between us. If ever there was difference
of opinion it was diSsipated by discussion, and
harmony was the result. repeat, zoe nerer
disaqreed and may add that never in my
| life saw in him the Slightest tendency to Self
seeking. 1t was not his to make record, II
was not his to shift blame to other shoulders;
/ but it was his with an eye fxed upon the wei
/ fare of MS country, never tAtteIing to follow
/ the line Of duty 10 the eud Ills was the
/ heart that braved every difficulty his @aS the
mind that wrought victory out of defeat.
He has been charged with ''waut oi dash.
| | wish to say that never knew Lee to falter
( to attcmp anything ever man could dare. An
attempt has also been made throw cloud.
! upon bis character because he left the army oi
/ the United States, to join IN the struggle Tor
I the liberty of his State Without treuchiug
at all upon pnliticS, deem 1t my duty TO say
oEe word in reference 10 this charge. Virgin
ia born. descended from family iluStrious in
Nirgiuia's annals, given by Virginia to the SER
vice Of the United States, ae represented her
IN the Military Academy at West Point He
was not educated ty the Federal Government,
but by Virginia for size paid her full share
tUy tie SUPPORT of that institution, and was
entitled o. demand IN return the services Of
her sons. Entering the army Of the United
States, he represented Virginia therc also and
uubly. Ga many hard-Iuught field Lee was
CONSPICUOUS battling Tor SlS native State as
rlulh As for the Union. He came from Mexl-
co crowned with houuTS, covered by brevetS,
and recognized, young as he WAS as one OF the
ablest OF his country soldiers. And to prove
that he was estimated then IS such, let me tell
you that @heu lee was a captain o. engineers
stationed in Baltimore, the Cuban Juuta in
New York selected him to be their leader in
the struggle for the independence Of their ua-
tive country. They were anxious TO secure
his services aud offered BIN every temptation
that ambition could desire. tie thought the
matter over, and remember, came to Wash
ngtuu to consult me as to what he should do,
aud when | began to discuss the cumrli
cations which might arise from his acceptance
Of the trust he gently re6uked tue, saying
that this was not the lue upon which he wish
ed my advice, the simple question was, lrheth
or Il lcds r7ght or not He had been educa
ted toy the United States, aud elt it wrong to
accept place in tie army of a foreign power
Such was hiS extreme delicacy. such WAS the
ulce sense OF honor Of the gallant gentleman
whose death we deplure. But when Virginia
withdrew-the State to whum he owed his
first and last a.legIanCe-the same nice sense
of honor led MIN to draw his sword aud 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 IF Virginia, came 10 Richmond, aud not
pauSiug to inquire what would be his rank in
the service OF the Coufederacy, went to West
Virginia under the belief that he was still an
officer of the State. lie came back, carrying
the heavy weight Of defeat, aud uuapprcciated
by the people whom he served, for they could
not know, as knew, that if his plans and or
derS had been carried out the result would
have been victory rather than retreat. You
did not know, Tor would not have known it
had be not breathed it in my ear only at my
earnest request, aud begging that nothing he
said about It. The clamUr which then arose
followed him when he went to South Carolina,
SO that it became necessary on his going to
South Carolina to write a letter to the Cover
nor Of that State, telling him what manner of
man lie was. let, through all this, with
maguauimity rarely equalled, he stood III ST.
hence, without Tending himself or allowing
others 10 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 the strsights to
which the COniederacy was reduced aud ofthe
danger to which her capital was exposed lust
after the battle OF Seven Pines, aud told how
General Lee had conceived and executed the
desperate plan to turn their faux aud rear,
which, after seven days of bloody battle, was
crowned with the protection OF Richmond, |
while the enemy was driven from the city
The speaker referred also to the circumstances |
attending General Lees crossing the Potomac |
aud the march into Pennsylvania He Mr.. |
Davis assumed the responsibility for that |