Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-05-29
FROM THE LONDON Standard I
THE CHARACTER OF LEE.
AN ENGLISH ESTIMATE OF THE GREAT
CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN.
n Peerless Leader.

Inc most interesting, perhaps, cf the
articles in an unusually lively number
of the Edinburg Review is one reviewing
what is, as yet, about the best life Of the
great Confederate commander, and the
best account of the war in Virginia, thut
has been published, and sketching the
later career and character of General
Lee. That career was, in military
point of view; SO glorious, so fill of bril-
liant achievement and of merit more solid
than striking, SO grand lesson in the
art of war and in the qualities of soldier
ship that character is, from every poihht
Of view SO admirable in its moral grand
eur, its perfect simplicity, its close ap-
proach to the highest ideal of the chris
tian soldier and gentleman, that they
command an interest which does not fade
with the fading memory of the keen ex-
citement and often passionate sympathies
OF ten years ago. In the story of the
Confederate war we read lessons of the
highest political moment end of the pro-
foundest military significance; in the
character of the Virginian leader, VIC
have model of all that n hero of an en-
lightened and Christian age should be,
than which no nobler example can
be set before the youth entering on
the temptations of military life, or the
trials and perplexities of great public
career.
We have also au historical question Of
considerable Importance practically solv-;
ed, for-all those who are not too preju-
diced to accept a solution which does not
suit their forejudged conclusions, blythe;
gand,es se,ss,s.sl
'tiIeA ousset Sf the war. No one can
read the story of the secession movement
in the documents Of the time without
seeing that though slavery was the open
sore that kept the passions Of North and
South i'll constant irritation, and afforded
occasion for the violent collisions of Kan.
sas and Harper's Ferry, which precipita-
ted the issue and made its decision by
any other arbitrations than that of the
sword impossible, it was not the issue it
self. Slavery had no place in the coun-
sells which hurried State after State out
of the Union for slavery was the inter-
est of :he few, and it was by the many
that secession was precipitated. The
Southern people resented Northern dicta-
ton, Northern assertions of superiority,
Northern pretensions to an exclusive
right in their territories, Northern inter-
meddling, and Northern inyasions, as
the most furious Of English dissenters
would resent the interposition Of the Ro-
man Catholic Powers in the question of
Church Establishment i'll England
When the seven Southern States had
Withdrawn, the Border States, which
were most deeply concerned in the North
ern attacks OH Slavery. still clung to the
Union; Virginia, despite the piratical
invasion of her territory and the mid
night robbery and murder passionately
sanctioned by her New England sisters,
still refused to secede; and only when
the treacherous attempt of the Federal
Government to reinforce the fort it had
promised to evacuate, and surprise Char.
lesion with an armed fleet, precipitated
the reluctant sections into war, and when
MIR. Lincoln forced upon her the choice
between fighting for Southern freedom
and State rights, or Northern nscendancy
and Federal despotism, did she throw il
her lot with the Confcderates. Slavery
then was not her determining motives
Slavery made no appearance in the pri
vate letters of the men who, ons
after another went with their States. II
is remarkable fact, that while scores Of
leading Northern men denounced tbs
war, not single Southerner of higI
character, education and influence de-
serted the cause of the South. They uni
versally held that their allegiance wal
due to their native States; and on thai
ground alone they threw up career, for
tune, fame, and placed themselves at tn,
disposal of those who claimed their feal
ty. 1t is absurd to cal such men rebels