Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-11-25
FlTZHUGH LEE AT HOME.
HIS VIEWS ON CAMPAIGN ToPIcs-HIs GU.
BERNAToRIAL POLICY.

HIS VIEWS ON CAMPAIGN TOPICs-HIs GU.
BERNAToRIAL POLICY.
An interview with Gen. Lee, Governor
elect of the State, is published in the Balti
more Sun of Nov. 18th, as follows
Evergreen" the home of Gen Fitzhugf
Lee, Governor-elect of Virginia, is three
| miles from Alexandria. On calling founo
| Gen. Lee in his library hard at work on his
correspondence. General Lee began his
campaign on the 31st of August, and from
that time until the day of tie election ht
only rested on Sundays. He traversed the
greater part of the State, and made no les
than II speeches., frequently addressing
gatherings at a wide distance apart on tht
same day. But despite the strain upon both
mind AID body, his vigorous constitution
shows no evidence of the arduous labor t.
which he has been subjected, and his eye il
! as bright and his step as light as when first
met him at the national democratic c,nven-
| tion at St. Louis in 1875. During his alb
sence from home his CO, respondence accu-
mulated very fast, and since his election he
has been perfectly overwhelmed with con-
gratulatory letters and kilograms, many OF
| them of such a character as to call fo,
prompt reply. With the military method
| and precision to which he is accustomed he
| is Catching up' fast. Among his letters
are many from gentlemen in the North OF
| both parties, some from republicans who.
although not noted as partisan leaders,
stand high in the respect and confidence Of
the country at large, and who are pronounc
ed in expressions of pleasure and satisfac-
! tion that the blight and mildew of Malone
ism has been lifted from Virginia.
Referring to the calumnies spread far and
wide by partisan correspondents and parti-
san stump-speakers like Senators She man
and Logan and Judge Foraker, asked Gen.
Lee what were the facts as to the treason
stained saddle" the so-called cavalry pa
rales, the alleged display of Confederate
| flags and his appearance in Confederate
uniform during his canvass. He said that
he was almost dumb with amazement that
partisan malice and partisan ingenuity
could go to the length of misrepr "sentation
and falsehood which bad characterized the
descriptions of his campaign He said the
beginning of the horseback feature of his
meetings and professions was at the Natural
Bridge, in Rock bridge county, ON the 10th
of September. When he arrived there two
of his friends came to him and said, "The
cavalry will turn out to greet you." This
was the first intimation he had of anything
of the kind, and he asked what was meant
as he did not know of any cavalry in that
region. He was informed then that the
citizens of the vicinity had organized an
impromptu cavalry. under the leadership OF
Capt. DAWN, formerly of the French army,
but now nataralized citizen of Virginia.
The mounted detachment which turned out
on the occasion was composed of between
three and four hundred men, most of them
young farmers and he was quite sure there
were not dozen in the whole lot who had
served in the Confederate army. A horse,
saddled and bridled, was rendered him, and
ha rode at the head into Lexington. His
cousin, Gusts Lee, who is the presidens of
the college at Lexington, said he was sorry
that he could not come out to meet him, but
he had sent him saddle. Gen. Lee said it
vas possible that this saddle had belonged
to Custis Lees father, Gen. Robert E. Lee,
but he lid n..s know whether it did or not
When Gen. Robert E Lee died Custis Lee
had sent t. him, as he had sent to other
relatives of the family, certain articles as
mementoes Those sent to him were a tel
escope, saddle. and pair of riding gloves.
The saddle, which had been presented to
his uncle by some Texan admirers, was of
costly material and workmanship, and it
bad been at home all the time he was away.
The iea of mounted demonstrations, Gen.
Lee said, originating with Capt, Dawn, was
adopted elsewhere, and from that time for
ward he was met at different points by
friends on horseback and horse fully ac-
coutred was always provided for him. Of
course he rode different saddle on each
occasion. This was all there was in The
''cavaly parades," and in his riding on his
uncle's saddle. Gen. Lee said if upon any
of these occasions there was display of
Confederate fl 4gs it had escaped his obser-
walton, but the flag of the Union was al ways
conspicuous. 1t had also been said that he
rode around in his Confederate uniform, and
Judge Foraker had proclaimed that when
he was nominated for Governor he had his
picture taken in Confederate uniform and
scattered over the State. These statements
were as destitute of truth as the others. In
1881, at the Yorktown celebration, as brig
adier-general commanding the Virginia
State troops, he wore the uniform prescribed
by law. After that celebration he wished
to resign his commission in the State militia,
but III Difference to the advice of friends he
yielded his own wishes. At the inaugura-
ton of President Cleveland last March he
appeared in the procession in the same uni
form which he wore at yorktown, and af-
terwards, at the request of some of his
friends, lie sat in Washington for photo
graph in his uniform. THIS was picture
circulated after his nomination for Govern
or, and which Judge Foraker said was his
Confederate uniform. After he came back
from Washington he took off his uniform,
and said to his wife that he never intended
to wear one agar, and then sat down and
wrote his resignation to Gov Cameron. He
thought he had had enough of soldering.
He had not worn the uniform since, and
during his entire canvass he never appeared
in anything but citizen clo@hes. Indeed
he had no right to wear a uniform, as he
was private citizen. Gen. Lee said these
libes upon him were the more unjustifiable
because he had been one of the foremost to
recognize the results of the war, to plant his
back 10 the past and his face to the future.
He had done everything in his power TO
prove his sincerity in this whatever influ-
ence he had in Virginia be had given to Ill
rect public attention and consideration to
living issues he ad gone to Bunker Hill,
now nearly dozen years since, and taken
part in the celebration there; he had gone
to Brooklyn to participate in the militia Gel
ebration there, and he had attended with
reverence and respect the funeral of Grant.
During all of the exciting and active poiti-
cal campaign just ended he had never
knowingly or Intentionally uttered one
word calculated to revive the memories of
the war, but in all his speeches had sought
to discuss questions of material and pres
ent moment to the people Of Virginia.
Gen. Lee said any mention of his name in
connection with the Uuited States Senator
ship was entirely vii hont authority. He
had no aspirations in that direction. lie
had been elected Governor of Virginia, and
he intended to be Governor tor four years
if he lived. Messrs. Barbour and Daniel
were the two gentlemen most prominently
mentioned to succeed Gen. Malone. He
was the friend of each OF these gentlemen,
and he considered it would be proper fu1
him to preserve an absolute neutrality be-
tween the two. This course he intended tc
pursue.
| As to the manner of his Inauguration as
Governor. he said he had received several
communications from Richmond, inquiring
| as to his wishes and purpo es. If this was
eft to him he would prefer NO pomp nor cir.
cumslance, no military pageant 1t would
4 4 l. Il