The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-03-09
Letter OF Hon. l.. @. C. Lamar ON
GR. Lee.


TO deliver an address, on the 18th Of January
next. at the city Of Vicksburg, the stronges
impulses prompted me to an Immediate and
cordial acceptance. Subsequent rejection
however, showed me that / could not &
regulate my engagements as to permit the
making of a positive promise to be present
on that proudly mournful occasion.
III my long delay In giving you a final
answer, seems strange, consider il as due
10 my anxious desire to avoid the necessity
of relinquishing such an opportunity OIL
giving voice TO the emotions which fill my
soul, Wnen contemplating the life that has
row.
While a career Illuminated by every ac-
complement of the soldier ard scholar, as
well as the highest feelings OF the patriot
and gentleman, is beyond all eulogy; il is
nevertheless our duty and delight to make
every effort to give some expression to our
sense OF its grandeur. just as it behooves Us
to make every preparation for eternity, al
comprehension.
The day OF his death will be the anniver-
sary OF the South's great SORROW. But It was
not HIS darkest day. was at Appomatox,
when the flag which had been borne in tri-
umph upon his many battle fields, was torn
from his loving and reluctant grasp. After
| the terms of capitulation had been arranged,
chance brought him to the spot where my
tent was pitched.
had seen him often before. One one
occasion. especially, / remember how he
| appeared in consultation of leading men,
where amidst the greatest perturbations,
his mind seemed to repOse in majestic poise
| and serenity. Again, saw him Immediate
/ ly after one of his grand battles, while the
| light of victory shone upon his brow.
But never shall forget how completely
his wonted composure was overthrow in
| this last sad interview. Every lineament of
| his grand face writhed, and the big tears
fell from his eyes as he spoke of the anguish
of the scene he had just witnessed. And yet
his whole presence breathed the hero still.
| A consciousness of a great calamity to be
greatly endured gave to his face the gran
| deur of victory, as well as the mOurnfulness
| of death. And when he exclaimed ut is
toOrse than death I" could easily see how he
would have welcomed the grave for himself
| and all he loved, could it only have averted
his country's awful woe. All my country
men, well may you weep over his grave;
for there lies one whose great heart broke
in the very tension OF its love for you and
J our country.
Between the characters of Washington
and Lee, DR.. Palmer, in a recent address,
draws a parallel which is no less true than
1t is eloquent and suggestive. The points of
re Temblance between them were indeed
many and striking, Both were Southern
ers; both were Shareholders; both, by in
clinatiOn as well as Inheritance, were plant
ers; both possessed in an eminent degree
those qualities which ennOble and invigo-
rate the Southern character; and both were
inspired by a heroic devotion to liberty and
right. But here the parallel ends. AS the
orbS of Heaven are alike in brilliancy and
grandeur and divinity-while yet zone star
differeth from another star in glOry;" so
were the wonderful virtues which were
common to the souls of both these men
strangely diverse in their manifestations.
Each was man sui genertS. Purely Origi- |
nal in their characters, neither ever thought
of forming his own nature on any protO-
type, or ofesta blishing in himself an archie
type for others. This Indifference to what
men generally seek with greatest assiduity
conformity to some recognized model
naturally produced peculiarities, to some
extent alike, but to larger extent unlike.
For instance, both were of unlocked social
purity.
Washington, however, was cold and aus
tere in his nature. Inaccessible to men,
formal to women, no warmth OF social en-
joyment or rational pleasure ever thawed
the trigid dignity which envelOped him.
Lee, on the contrary, was affectionate and
genial. Cheerful without levity, cordial but
not obstrusiVe, he enlivened the hours of
relaxation with humor almost sportive in
its fancy. while the moments of sorrow
were comforted by the sympathies of 10y
ing heart,
The soul of Washington was pure and
cold, like an Alpine glacier.
The soul of Lee was linpid and warm,
like the waters of the Indian ocean.
Both were just, magnanimous and mod
est.
love for command, and yearning after it.
He fawned upon no one; and scOrned to act
the part of demagogue; but those whom
he suspected of disputing his leadership, he
denounced with fierce and vehement wrath.
Even those who beheld him for the first
time intuitively recognized in him master; |
for the intensity of his will and its calm
self-assertion, placed him in authority over
men, as naturally as the sweep of pinion and
and the strong grasp of talons, place the
eagle in the kingship of birds.
To Lee, self assertion was thing I'M |
known. His growth into universal favor |
and honor, was the result of a slowly dawn
ing consciousness in the popular mind of
his retiring merit and transcendant excel |
lence, of that affinity which silently draws |
together great men and and great places |
when a nation is convulsed.
Washington woed glory like proud, no. |
BILE and exacting lover, and won her.
Lee sought not glory. he turned away |
from her; but glory sought him and over |
took him, and threw her everlasting halo |
aroud him, whilst he, all Unconscious of his |
Both were born to command, and both led |
the armies of mighty struggle.
But Washington, though, in great |
measure, he began and conducted to a sue
accorded to him. by history, the title of a |
great military genius. From want of OPP |
portunity, or some other cause, il was not |
permitted to him to make those brilliant
manifestations of military capacity which |
startle the world into the Acknowledgement |
of that attribute.
Lee, by his splendid generalship and |
grand battles, wrung homage from the lips |
of his bitterest enemies, and inspired his |
qrmies, always inferior to the enemy in |
numbers and appointments, to endure sacri- |
fees and perform prodigies of valor
which excited the wonder and admiration |
of the world.
Washington was man of strictest integ- |
rity and sublime virtue, and there is much /
in his writings which evince a profound |
sense of Divine Providence in human af-
fairs. Buthe could not l apprehend, be
called pious man.
Lee with the same majestic morality. with
the same imposing virtues, truthfulness,
and Justice, blended the sweet and
tender graces of holy heart and q chris
tian life.
Both were patriots. But Washington
stood before the world an avowed revolu-
ZIONIST. The movement he led was an
insurrection against estab-
lished authority. He drew his sword to
sever the connection between colonies and
their legitimate sovereign connection
that rested on historic Foundation and un-
disputed legal rights.
But there was not in Lee, or his cause,
one single element of revolution or rebel
lion. Conservative in his nature and edu-
cation and associations; answering in his
loyalty to the power which for him was
paramount to all others, the cause in de-
tense of which he drew his sword, was
upon historic rights, constitutional
law, public morality, and the inviolable
rights of free and sovereign States. many OF
whose constitutions were established and
in peaceful operation, while that Of the
United States lay unthought of in the far
off years of futurity.
Ithas been said that s1General Lees MEM
hat