Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-03-24

times / thought he carried this great
virtue too far. Neither the President
nor Congress nor friends could get his
views upon any pEblic question not
strictly military, and no mani has as
much quiet, unObtrusive contempt for
what he called military statesmen
and political generals" Meeting him
once on the streets of Richmond, as l
was going out and he was going in the
executive office. I said to him. "Gener-
al, | wish you would give US your opin-
ion, as to the propriety of changing the
seat of government and going further
South"
That is a political question, Mr..
Hill, and you politicians must deter
mine it. I shall endeavor to take care
of the army, and you must take the
laws and control the government"
"Ah, General" | said, "but you will
have to change that rule. and form and
express political opinions; for. if We
establish our independence, the peo-
pie will make you Mr.. Davis success
SOr
"Never, sir" he replied with firm
dignity that belonged only to Lee
That will never permit. Whatev-
er talents L may possess land they are
but limited), are military talents. My
education and training are military.
1 think the military and civic talents
are distinct, if not different, and full
duty IN either sphere is about rs much
as one man can qualify himself to per-
form. 1 shall not do the people the
injustice 10 accept high civil office with
whose questions it has not been my
business to become familiar"
We'll, but General insisted, his
tory does not sustain your view. C8-
sar, and Frederick of Prussia, and Bo-
naparte, were all great statesmen, as
well as great generals
And we've great tyrants, he prompt
" responded. Il speak of the proper
rule in republics. where, l think. We
should have neither military states
men nor political generals
But Washington was both, and yet
not tyrant,' repeated.
And with beautiful smile he said !:
Washington was an exception to all
rule. and there was none like him.
[ could find no words to answer
further, but instantly l said in
thought; Surely Washington is not
longer the only exception, for one like
him, if not even greater, is here.
Lee sometimes INDUCED in satire, to
which his greatness gave point and
power He was especially severe on
newspaper criticisms of military
Observation-Disclosures about which the
| writers knew nothing.
We made a great mistake, Mr.. Hill,
| in the beginning of our struggle, and,
| | fear, in spite of ali we can do, it VIII
| prove to be a fatal mistake he said TO
me after General bragg ceased to COM
| maHd the army of Tennessee, an event
Lee deplored.
| What mistake is that General%
why, sir, in the beginning, we APP
| pointed all our worst generals to COM
| maud the armies and all OR best gen
| erals to edit the newspapers. AS you
| know, | have planned some cam
| paigns and quite number of battles.
| have given the work all the care and
| thought could, and sometimes when
! nv plans were completed, as far as
| could see, they seemed to be perfect
| But. when have fought them through
| | have discovered defects, and occa-
| sIonaIiy wondered i did not see some
| of the defects in advance. When il
was all over, | found 10y reading q
newspaper that these best editor gen.
erals saw all the defects plainly from
| the start. Unfortunately, they did
not communicate their knowledge to
me until it was too late Then, aftel
a pause. be added with beautiful
| grave expression | can never forget
Il have no ambition but serve the Con
fcderacy, and to do all | can to viii
our independence. | am willing tc
serve in any capacity to which the au'
thorities may assign me. | nave dont
the best could in the field, and have
| not succeeded as | could wish L an
willing to yield my place to these bes'
generals, and I will ITO my best for the
cause editing newspaper"
JEFFERsOF DAVIS
was as great in the cabinet as was Lee
in the field. He was more reSentfu
in temper, and more aggressive Ill hi:
nature than Lee. His position, too
was more exposed to assaults from
within. He had to make all appoint
ments, and though often upon recon-
mendation of others, all the blame o
mistakes was charged to him, andmis
takes were often charged by disap
pointed seeker and their friends wh;cf
were not made. He also made recon-
mendations for enactments, an6
though these measures, especially thu
military portions, invariabie had the
concurrence of, and often originated
with, Lee, the opposition OF malcon
tents was directed at Davis. 1t Is as
tonishing how men in high position
and supposed to be great. would MAKE
war on the whole administration to
the most trivial personal disappoint
ment. Failures to get places for favor
ties of very ordinary character ha
inspired long harangues against thu
most important measures, and the.
were continued and repeated even nj
ter these measures became laws, 'Cai
YOU believe he said to me once, tina
en-statesmen-in a struggle Tx
this, would hazard an injury to tn
cause because of their personal grievan
ces, even if they were we'll founded 2
Certainly | replied, L not only be
lieve it, but know it. There are mel
who regard themselves with more de
votion than they do the cause. II sucl
men offer you counsel you do not tax
or ask appointments you do not make
I uO"cNcI JOu DS - SNO-
action by Lee and all the Cabinet am
even the Congress, they acceptyour re
fRsal as questioning their wisdom, AM
as personal war on tlrem.' 1 canno
conceive of such feeling, he said,
have but one enemy to fight, and tina
: ia our common enemyi may max
mistakes, and doubtless I do; but l d
the best | can with all the tights at tn
time before me. God knows 1 woul
sacrifice most wiflrrgly my life, nue.
more my opinions, to- defeat the enc
N.Y. We all remember the fierce wa
which was made in Georgia agafns
f certain war measures of the Congress
and against Mr.. Davis for recommend
ing them. Consumption and impress
ment, especially, were denounced a
unconstitutional and void, and no
binding OH soldiers or people An
thcn, the limited suspension OF habea
cOrpu; was made the occasion for
concert. d movement on the Legisf.tar
assembled N entra session, 10 array IN
State in hostility to the Confederat
administration. 1t failed. This wa