Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-11-11
The Memory ofGen. lee.

=
Richmond, to organize the Lee Monument
Association.
Gen. Jubal A. Early was elected Tempo
rary President, and, taking the Chair, de-
livered the following address:
''Friends and Comrades: When t e in
formation Of the death of our illustrious
commander was flashed over the telegrsphic
wires to all parts of the civilized world,
good men everywhere mourned the loss of
him who in life was the noblest exemplar of
his time Of all that is good, and true, and
great in hman nature and cry Of anguish
was wrung from the hearts Of every true
Confederate soldier, which was equalled
only BY that which came up from the same
hearts when the fact was realized that the
sword Of Robert e. Lee was sheathed forev-
er and the banner to which his deeds had
given such lustre was furled amid gloom
and disaster. After the first burst OF grief
had subsidized, the inquiry arose in the breasts
of all, What can we do to manifest our es-
TEEN and veneration for him we loved SO
well =? 1t was but necessary that the sugges-
ton should be made to elicit an expression
of the general sentiment. [ thought that [
could take the liberty Of making that sug-
gestion to my old comrades, and I therefore
made the call under which you are here as
sembled. Although I made that call as the
former senior in rank of all the officers of
the Army Of Northern Virginia now living
in the State. | desire to say to you that at
the tomb of General Lee all distinctions of
rank cease. The private soldier who in
tattered uniform and sore and bleeding feet
followed the banner upheld by Lee and
jackson, and did not desert or skulk in the
hour Of danger, but did his duty to the end
of the war, and is now doing his duty by
remaining true to the principles for which
he fought, is the peer eff the most renowned
in fame or exalted in rank among the sur
vivors. He has an equal share in the proud
heritage left us in the memory Of the glori-
GUS deeds and bright virtues of our great
chieftain. All such I meet and welcome
here, claiming them as my friends, comrades,
and brothers.
Ny friends, if it is expected that shall
on this occasion deliver eulogy on Gen.
Lee. You will be disappointed. I have not
the language with which to give EXPRESSION
of my estimate of the greatness and goodness
Of his character. will say, however, that
as exalted as is his fame, the world at large
has not fully appreciated the transcendant
abilities of Gen. Lee, nor realized the per-
lection of his character. No one that has
not witnessed the affectionate kindness and
gentleness, and often playfulness, of his
manners in private, his great self-controi
and dignity in dealing with important public
affairs. the exhibition of his high and I'M
yielding sense Of duty on all occasions, and
the majestic grandeur of his action and ap-
pearance amid the shock Of battle, can form
more than an approximate estimate Of his
real character.
Monuments Of marble OF bronze can add
nothing to the fame Of General lee, and it
is not necessary to preserve it that snch
should be erected. But the student Of his
tory in future ages, who shall read of the
deeds and virtues Of our immortal hero, will
be lost in amazement at the fact that such a
man went down to his grave DISTINGUISHED
citizen by the edict Of his contemporaries -
which Infamous edict has been forced to be
recorded on the statute book OF his native
State by the fat Of an memorable despotisin.
We, lny comrades, owe ii to ourselves at
least to purge ourselves Of the foul stain BY
erecting an enduring monument to him,
that will be a constant protest, for all time
to come, against the Righteousness of the
Judgment pronounced against him, without
arraignment, without trial, without evidence,
and without justice The exact locality of
that monument [ do not now propose to sug-
gest. When we are in condition to erect
it, it will, in my opinion, be the proper time
to settle definitely its locality; and I merely
say now that it should be where it will be
accessible to all his boys and their decen-
dants
Something has been suggested with re-
gard to the final resting place Of all at was
mortal of our beloved commander. This is
question at this time solely for the deer
mination of the immediate friends Of General
Lee. Let us respect the feelings of those
who have sustained SO terrible bcreave-
lowed him through such dreadful trials will
have regard for the wishes Of that noble
Virginia matron who, being allied to Wash
ington. has been the chosen bosom compan-
Ion through the life OF Lee.
I am more than gratifed at the fact that
the great statesman and pure patriot who
presided over the destinies of the Confeder-
ate States, who selected General Lee to lead
her armies, and gave him his entire conf
dence hroug bout all his glorious career, is
here to mingle his grief with ours, and to
Join in paying tribute tie the memory Of
him we mourn"
These remarks were repeatedly interrupt
cd by applause, and one very enthusiastic
ex-Confederate deliberately arose whenever
particularly pleased and waved his hat with
a cheer. The allusion to Mrs Lee was re-
| ceived with more noticeable demonstrations
| of applause. and when reference was made
to the presence Of Dir. Davis, the applause
was loud, long, and almost deafenipg.
Rev. Dr. Minnigerode was then called to
the pulpit and offered up fcrvent and EN-
inently appropriate prayer. He thanked
the Almighty for having given to US and tho
country one SO great in every virtue and
grace. SC true to his God and his country,
and that we have reason to believe that he
had been translated from this world Of sor-
row to Gods own presence. He thanked
God for the lofty character and noble life
now before southern youth as an example Of
all that is good and great, and for the eleva-
ted reflections ever accompanying Our recol,
lections of this son of Virginia. He prayed
earnestly that the great afiiction be sancti
fed to this mourning people, and that VIC
may follow him as be followed Christ
Committees on Permanent Organization
and on Resolutions were there appointed
and retired, and in few minutes returned