The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-12-08

A meeting of Confederate soldiers was held
in Richmond Thursday night, to express their
sorrew at the death of General Lee. Genera
Jubal A. Early presided After the organiza
ton, the President announced Jefferson Davis
as the first speaker. AS Mr.. Davis arose to
walk to the stand, every person in the House
rose to his feet, and there followed such q
storm of applause as seemed to shake the very
foundations of the building while cheer upon
cheer was echoed from the throats of veterans
saluting one whom they delighted to honor.
ADDRESS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE CoNFED
RRACY, COMRADES AND FRIENDS. Assembled
on this occasion, with hearts oppressed with
the grief that follows the loss of him who was
our leader on many bloody battlefield, n
pleasing though melancholy spectacle is pre-
sented. Hitherto, and in all times, men have
been hon0red when successful, but here is the
case of one who, amid disaster, went down to
his grave and those who were his companions
in misfortune have assembled to honor his
memory. Ii is ms much an honor 10 you who
give as To him who receives, for above the vul-
gar test Of merit, you show yourselves compe-
tent TO discriminate between him who enjoys
T..
was my associate and friend in the Military
| Academy, aud we were friends until the hour
Of his death. We were associates and friends
when he was soldier and | Congressman;
and associates and friends when he led the ar
mics of the Contederacy aud i presided in its
Cabinet We passed through many sad scenes
together but | cannot remember that there
was ever aught but perfect harmony between
us. Ii ever there was difference of opinion il
was dissipated by discussion, aud harmony was
the result. ! repeat ace Hcrer disagreed. and
may add that never in my life saw in him the
slightest tendency 10 seltseekiug. Ii was not
his to make record. il Was not his Ia shift
blame 10 other shoulders; but il was his, with
an eye fixed upon the welfare of his country,
never ialtering. 10 follow the line of duty 10
the end His was the heart that brayed every
difficulty; his was the mind that wrought vic
tory out of dcirat He has been charged with |
" want nf dash" / wish 10 say that | never
knew Lee to ialtcr Ia attempt anything ever
man could dare. An attempt has also been
made Ia throw n cloud upon his character be-
cause be- left the army oi the United States 10 |
Join in the struggle for the liberty of his State |
Without trenching at all upon politics. deem |
II my duty In say one word upon this charge. !
Virginia born, descended from a family illus. |
trious 10 Nirginia's annals. given by Virginia
TO the service of the United States. be rrprc.
sentcd her in the Military Academy at West
Point. He was not educated by tho Federal
Government, but by Virginia, for she paid her
fall share for The support of that institution.
aud was entitled to demand in return the ser.
vices oil her sons. Entering the army of the
United States, he represented Virginia there
also, and nobly. In many hard battle Lee
was conspicuous, battling for his native State
as much rs for the Union. He came from
Mexico crowned with honors. covered by brc
vets. and recognized, young as he was. ms one
of the ablest of bis country's soldiers. And to
prove that he was estimated then rs such. let
me tell You that when Lee was n Captain of
Engineers stationed in Baltimore. the Cuban
Junta in New York selected him IN be their
leader in the struggle for the independence uf
their native country. They were anxious to
secure his services. aud offered him every temp.
taton that ambition could desire lie thought
the matter over, and, / remember came 10
Washington to consult me as to what he should
do. and when | began to discuss the compllca.
tions which might arise from his acceptance of
the trust, he gently rebuked me. saying that !
this was not the line upon which he wished
my advice, the simple question was, Whether
II ras right or not" He bad been educated !
by the United States. and felt it wrong to &C. S
cept place in the army of foreign power. II
Such was his extreme dclicacy, such was the
nice sense of honor of the gallant gentleman
whose death we deplore. But when Virginia |
State to whom he owed his
first and last allegiance-the same nice sense
IF honor led him to draw his sword aud throw /
{ in the scale for good or for evil Pardon ,
ne for this brief defense of my illustrous
riend. When Virginia joined the Confedera.
y. Robert Lee, the highest officer in the little
Irmy of Virginia, came to Richmond, and, not r
,atising to inquire what would be his rank in .,
he service of the Confcderacy, went to West
Virginia under the belief that he was still an a
'ficer Of the State. He came back, carrying
he heavy weight of defeat, and unapprecfated
" the people whom he served, for they could q
lot know, rs knew that if his plans and or. ;,
ers had been carried out the result would
ave been victory rather than retreat. You d
i'd not know, for would not have known it q
ad he not breathed it in my ear only ut my
arrest request, and begging that nothing be
aid about it. The clamor which then arose :.
Dllowed him when he went to South Carolina, y
0 that it became necessary on his going to Ii
outh Carolina TO write letter to the Gov. as
rnor Of that State, telling him what manner th
man he was. Yet, through all this, with
rarely equaled, he stood in 81.
,nce, without defending himself or allowing IN
theirs to defend him, for be was unwilling to Il,
fend any one who was wearing sword and nd
;riking blows for the Confederacy. Mr.. Davis An
len spoke Of the straits to which the Confed-
racy was reduced, and to the danger to which
er Capital was exposed just after the battle ",
Seven Pines and fold how Epneral aa ha n an