The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-07-25
The Lovely Life of Lee. ees.
THE CHARACTER OF THE
GREAT COMMANDER.
Extract from the Grafton of Major John W. Dan
iaI nR Virninia

Extract from the oration Of Major John W. Dan
iel, OF Virginia
And did he live in vain, this brave
and gentle Lee? And have his works
perished with him? would blush tc
ask the question save to give the an
swer.
A leader of armies, he closed his ca
reer in complete disaster.
But the military scientist studies his
campaigns, and finds in them designs
as bold az d brilliant, and actions as in
tense aud energetic, as ever illustrated
the art of war. The gallant captain
beholds in his bearing courage as rare
as ever faced a desperate field, or re-
stored lost one. The private soldier
looks up at an image as benignant and
commanding as ever thrilled the heart
with the highest impulse of devotion.
The man who wrested victory from
his little band stood wonder-stricken
and abashed when they saw how few
were those who dared oppose them,
and generous admiration burst into
spontaneous tribute to the splendid
leader who bore defeat with the quiet
resignation of a hero. The men who
fought under him never revered or
loved him more than on the day he
shea thed his sword. Had he but said
the word they would have died for
honor. It was because he said the
word that they resolved to live for
duty.
Plato congratulated himself-first,
that he was born a man; second that
he had the happiness of being Greek;
aud third, because he was the cotem-
porary of Sophocles. And in this vast'
throng to-day, and here and there the
wide world over, is many one who
wore the gray who rejoices that he
was born man to do mans part for
his country; that he had the glory of
being confederate, and who feels q
just, proud and glowing consciousness
in his bosom when he says unto him
self, "l was follower of Robert Lee;
was soldier of the army of North
ern Virginia"
Did he WELD patronage and power
No. He could not have appointed
friend to the smallest office. He could
bestow no emolument upon any of his
followers. But an intima;ion of his
wish amongst his own people carried
an influence which the command of
the autocrat can never possess and his
approval Of conduct or character was
deemed an honor, and was an honor
which Outvied the stars and crosses
and titles conferred by kings.
Did he gain wealth?
No. He neither sought nor despised
it. 1t thrust itself upon him, but he
put it away from him. He refused his
companionship because his people
could not have its company. He gave
what he had to weak cause, and to
those whose necessities were greater
than his own. And home itself he sac
rifieed on the altar OF his country. But
he refuted the shallow worlding's
maxim that "every man has his price,"
and proved that true manhood has
none, however great.
The plunderer of India defends him
self by exclaiming that "when he con-
sidered his opportunities, he was as
tonished at his own moderation
Mark Antony appeased the anger of
the Roman pOpulace against the fallen
tyrant by reading the Caesars will,
wherein he left them his rich and fair
possessions-to them and their heirs
forever. The captive of st. Helena,
aggrandized with the tears and blood
of Europe, drew his own long will dis
pensing millions to his favorites. Lee
had opportunities as great as any con-
queror, and took nothing, not even
that which others pushed upon him.
But he has left great, imperishable
legacy to US and our heirs forever.
The heart of man is his perpetual
kingdom. There he reigns transcend
ant, and we exclaim: "Ohl king, live
foreveri"
Did he possess rank?
Not so. Far from it. He was not
even citizen. The country which
gave the right of suffrage to the alien
ere he could speak its language, and to
the African freedman ere he could read
or understand its laws, denied to him
the privilege of free ballot. He had
asked amnesty. He had been refused.
He had not been tried. But he had
been convicted. He forgave. But he
was not unforgiven. He died paroled
prisoner of war, in the calm of peace,
five years after the war had ended
died the foremost and noblest man in
a republic which proclaims itself ''the
land of the free and the home of the
brave" himself and his commander
in-chief constituting the most eonspic-
uovs of its political slaves.
But az the oak stripped of its foliage
by the winter blast then, and then
only, stands forth in solemn and
mighty majesty against the wintry
sky, so Robert Lee, stripped of every
rank that man could give him, tower
ed above the earth and those around
him, in pure sublimity and strength