The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-29
means viii he exhausted beforc'thor

al means will be exhausted beforc'thors
is resort 20 force Sefoskian ts
nothing but revolution. The Trainers OF our
constitution never exhausted 80 much labor
wisdom and iotbearancc I'm i's formation, and
SUR oundcd II with 80 MANY ards and socu-
rites, II II was intended to be broken bv
every member of the Confedcracy al viii Ii
was intended for perpetual uuion.' so OK
pressed In The preamble, and f.rfhc esta,-
lishment OF government. NOS "a compact
which can only be dissolved iiv revolution
or the consent ~ MI the people in conycn-
ion assembled. It's idle 60 talk OF secession.
Anarchy would have been established, and
not government, 10y Washington. hamu-
ton. Jefferson. Madison and the other
PATRIOTS OF the revolution.
SIN. union that can only be maintained by
swords and hayoncfs In which strife and 81
VII war are 90 fake the place OF hroiherly love
and kindness. has no charm for me. shalt
mOurn for my country and for the welfare
and progress OF mankind 1.-THE ulion is dis
solved and the government disrupted. shall
return to my native state and snare the mis-.
cries OF my pcopiy and, save Ina defense, VIII
draw my sword ON nome
Ills POSITION.
His position. then. ut this great crisis. was
simply this On the one hand hc did not
think that secession was The proper remedy
ior southern wrongs. and ON the other he
did not believe in the right or policy of the
general government 90 cocrcc the seeding
states. Three weeks after the above letter
was written, Colonel Lee received orders
Ito report 30 The commandor-in-chicf at
W ashington.' and ne al once obcyed the
summons. reaching there on the lst of
March, just three days before the Inaugural
ton OF President Lincoln.
There is no question that General Scott
wanted him near his person ready 10 take
any command that he might assign him IN
defense of the union. and that from the frs;
he had chosen Lee as the commander OF the
union armies should war cnsuC. We have
the authority Of Hon. MONTGOMERY Blair for
the statement that tat General ScOtrs sug-
gCsti0n) President Lincoln sent his father,
Hon. Francis Prcsson Blair. 90 Colonel Lee
and rendered him the supreme command OF
tbe United states armies in the field, and
this statement is confirmed hy that of Hon.
EcVcrdy johnson, who received 1t from
General Scott. and of several others 10
whom the veteran soldier mentioned IL, and
10 is settled beyond an pcradycnture 10y Cen
eral Lees own statement. To Mr.. Linc0ln's
proposition he firmly replied: " Alr. Blair /
look upon secession as anarchy. II owned
the 100000 OF slaves m the south, / would
sacrifice them all 90 the mion-hut how
can draw my sword upon Virginia, my
native State|'
KEY NOTE OF DECISION.
The words have emphasized are Che key
note % his decision. and his subsequent ac-
ton lie had been trained 90 love and cling
with Glial devotion 90 his state, and 20 re-
gard her claim to hi, service a. paramount
90 an others. lie mad fully imbibed the
teachings and caught tine spirit oinis distn-
guishtd father. who had said. with impress
~iye emphasis. on a memorable occasion :
NO consideration on earth could induce
me o. acct part. however gratifying 90 me,
which could hc construed into disregard or