The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-29
THE GRAFTON.
FILL TEXT OF MAJOR JOHN ". DANIELS
ELOQUENT ADDRESS.
BEAUTIFVL TRIBUTE TO Orr
SOUTHERN HERO.

in the spring OF 1861, when for the fr-t
| time its threshold was darkened with the
omens OF civil war.
browning the green slopes OF the Viz
oinia bills that overlook the Potomac, AMI
empowered in stately trees, stood the yol-
erable mansion Of Arlington, facing pro-
meet Of varied and imposing beauty. u,
broad porch and widespread wings held
ont omen arms, A. il were, 10 welcome tlo
coming guest. IT. simple DOric column
graced domestic comfort with classic ar.
IFS halls and chambers were adorned with
the portraits Of patriots and heroes, anP
with illustrations and relics Of the great
revolution, and % the Father Of his Coun-
try. And within and without history ana
tradition seemed TO breathe their legcnd,
unon n canvas a. soft ~ a dream OF peace.
The noble river, which in it, history s
| we'll as In It's name carries W. back 10 lhr
days when the red man trod ITS Danh''
sweens i'm full and even flow along To-
forefront OF the landscape, while beyond D.,
voters stretch the splendid avenues ana rise
tbe cleaning spires OF Washington, and,
over all. the great white dome OF the na-
tional capitol looms up against the eastern
sky like a glory in the air.
! Southward and westward. toward th'
bIue rim of the Alleghanles, roll away III"
nine and oak-clad bills and the fields on tI"
"Old Dominion" dotted mere and thcfr
with the homes Of people OF simple taste
and upright minds. renowned for their de-
yotion 10 their native land and for the fierce
love OF liberty: people who bad drunk
into their souls with their mothers milk
that man i OF right. and ought to be, free.
ON the one hand there va, Impressed
upon the most casual eye that contemplated
the pleasing prospect, the muniiicence and
grandeur Of American progress, the arts ~
! industry and commerce, and the symbols OF
mower. ON the other hand. Nature >eemed
| TO WOO the heart back 10 her sacred haunts,
with yi,taS Of sparkling waters ana Ner-
| dant pastures, and many wildwood scene
and TO penetrate it, deepest leccsse, with
| the halcvon charm that ever fingers about
/ the thought Of Home.
THE HOST OF ARLINGTON.
The head Of the house established here
was man whom nature bad richly en-
lowed with grlceS OF person and hgh
qualities Of bead aud heart. Fame had AZ
| ready bound hi, brow with her laurel, ana
! Fortune had poured into ms lap her golden
horn. Himself a soldier and colonel IN
]
! that renowned " Light-ilOrse Harry Lee.
who was the devoted friend and compatriot
of Washington I'm the revolutionary strug-
Gle. and whose memorable oulogy upon
! his august chief has become hi- epitaph
descended. indeed, from a lonS line Oh d.
! lustrious progenitors, whose names are
written on the brightest scrolls Of English
and American history. from the conquest
OF the Norman at Hastings 10 the triumph
of the Continentals at Yorktown. be- had
already established his own martial fame 90
/ Vera Cruz. Cerro GOrlo. Contrcras. the-
rubu>co. Moline del Rey. thapuitepec. and
/ Mexico. and had proved how little be- dee
uendcd upon any merit but his own. such
/ was his early distinction. that when but .
captain the Cuban Juna had offered to
make him the leader OF their revolution
AIRY movement for the independence ~
! CUBA position which rs AN American
officer he felt il his duty 10 decline. Ana
so deep was the impression made u his
| genius and bis yalor that General scott,
commander-in-chicf OF the army in which
| he served. had declared that he Twas The
| best soldier he ever saw IN the field '-
- the greatest military gcniu, in America
that "if opportunity Offered he would
| show himself the foremost captain OF his
| times, - and that 81 a great battlewere toh Dee
! fought for The liberty or >layery0 the coun-
| try. his judgment was that The commander
! should he Robert Lee Welded 10 her
who had been the playmate OF his boyhOod.
and who was worthy i'm every relation Ia
be the companion OF his bosom. sons and
/ daughters had risen up to call them bless
ed. and there. decorated with hls cOun-
try'S honors. and surrounded by " love.
obedience. and troops Of friends. the host
OF Arlington seemed 10 have filled the
measure II generous desire with whatever
0f fame or hlppineSs fortune can add Ia
virtue. And bad the Pilgrim started in
pursuit OF some happier spot than the Vale
Of RaSselas. well might he have paused Dos
/ this threshold and dotlcd hi, sandal ,hoon.
TIE ANTECEDENTs JF COLONEL LEE.
| 50 situated w, Colonel Lee I'm the spring
of 1861, upon the verge Of The momont0u>
revolution II which he became so mighty
/ a pillar and 80 glorious q chititain. But
we cannot estimate the struggle &c cost him
| to take up arms against the Mon. nor The
sacrifice he made. nor the pure devotion
with which he cOn,ecratcd his sword to
/ his native state. without looking beyond
! his physical surroundings and following
/ further the suggestions OF hi> history and
/ character for the springs OF actions which
prompted his course. Colonel Lee was
emphaticaily Union man; and Virginia,
10 the crlsi, Of dissolution. was a mon
state. He loved the Mon with soldiers
ardent loyalty for the Government be-
served, and with patriots faith and hope
in the institutions OF hi, country. III, an
ce>tors had been among. the most di,tin-
guished and reycrcd OF IL, founders; I'D,
own lie from youth upward had been
spent i'm it, service. and two cd Dol, sons,
following his footsteps, held commissions
in the army.
lie was born in the same county. and
descended from the same strains az
English blood from which Washington
,prang. and Wa, united in marriage with
Mary Gusts. the daughter Of his adopted
son. lie had been reared In the school oi
simple manners and lofty thoughts which
belonged 20 the elder generation; and with
Washington a> his eXemplar of manhood
and his ideal OF wisdom he reycrencod his
character and fame and work with feeling
Is near akin 20 worship ~ any that man
can have for aught that j. human.
Unlike the statesmen OF the hostile Sec
tiOns who were constantly thrown into
| the provoking conflicts OF political debate,
he had been withdrawn by hi, military oc-
equations from scenes calculated 10 initiate
or chill his kindly feelings toward the peo-
pie Of the North; and on the contrary. i'm
camp, and field, and social circle, ne had
formed many ties Of friendship with it>
most esteemed soldiers and citizens. With
the reticcnce becoming his military office.
he had taken 10 part in the controversies
which preceded The fatal rupture between
the States, other than the good mans part.
TO "speak the soft answer that turns away
WRATH and 10 plead for that f0rbearancc
mud t..l..... NIL. H..