National Republican., 1884-10-25

Of tho north, hence when they soceded
and the federal government was abolished
according to their view 1t could
not be claimed by the northern states
that they had educated southern
officers who chose TO leave their service
and cast in their lot with their own
states. In other words, the federal gov
ernment was considered to be no longer
In existence, but simply northern union
of states. Now, such reasoning will, Of
course, appear sophistical to the northern
mind, but that it was entertained by the
people Of the seeded states is rs sure as
that the sun shines. am glad to know
that "A Friend" comedies that Gen. Leo
was noble of mind and punctilious about
his honor" Such q man must have had
tender conscience, and was IL likely
that such a man should move along for
four years, dealing heavy blows at the
conscience aforesaid, and increasing its
load with the slaughter of every success
sive battle2 The idea Is preposterous.
Gen. Lees heart and mind were as for
vently devoted to tho success Of the con-
federate cause. If not more so, than those
of any officer or man in his command,
and If that cause, ut last, went down in
darkness Of defeat, 1t was not because ho
had not put forth every energy OF mind
and body to bring about different re-
suit.
Every order he issued, every letter he
wrote, every word spoken by him, indi-
Gated his unshaken belief in the justice Of
his cause, and firm reliance of the
favoring supervision of Divine Provi-
dence. Some men may really believe
that Gen. Lee was man of weak resolu-
tion where q moral decision was required,
but where Is the man who would charge
him with being hypocrite?
My correspondent seems to be strangely
misinformed when he says that the state
of Virginia was for the federal govern
ment. There was u strong union scnti-
ment, 1t is true dts representatives were
in very much of minority, before
President Lincoln called for $4,000 men
to coerce the seeded states, but after that
there were very few union men to be
found within her borders, and the ordi-
nance of secession was ratified by an
overwhelming majority.
So that Gen. Leo did not go with the
minority of the people of his state, rs
intimated by "a Friend.p
When said that had never seen Gen.
Lee otherwise than serious and preoccu-
pied, simply meant that / had never
met him except on the march or on busi-
ness at his headquarters and that then
his mind was engaged with the cares and
responsibilities connected with the COM
mand Of the army. Died Of remorse, for
sooth
Perhaps it may be opportune for me to
say in connection with the above that l
do not believe there are many of the
veterans of the army, in spite of the fact
that the most of them bad lost all prop
erty except the bare land-the soil-who
did not deem the issue of the contest the
best thing that could have happened for
the southern people. Had tho south
succeeded she would have been split
before dozen years into half dozen
confederacies. Why, even during the
war, in the very death throes OF the con-
test, there was talk of Trans-M ississippi
and Cis-Mississippi department or con-
federacy, and the gulf states were in
their legislatures debating tho question
Of splitting off from the border states. II
will be recollected that for agitatinl
these and other matters alleged to bC
reasonable ex-senator Henry s. Foote
was incontinently bundled out of the
confederacy and sent north.
Now l mean to say that, while the con
federate veterans are not ashamed OF
their record, and have no "remorse' fol
the past, for remorse can only be the
result of criminal intention, solemnly y
believe that if this federal government
were assailed from within or without by
any power whatsoever they would spring
to arms In its defense as enthusiastically
as they did for tho confederacy of 1861.
You sec the passage of time changes
the opinions of men. and the confederate
Veterans now. whether republicans ol
democrats land many of their mos
valiant are the former, keep firm step t.
the music of the union. MURRAY.